:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/60974265/usa_today_11095953.0.jpg)
The city of Las Vegas was built on a dream, and all those glittering casinos and hotels have grown on the backs of people looking for a good time and a quick buck.
The Cleveland Browns have spent the past two years building off a similar dream, one that will hopefully pay off in the near future with the team’s first NFL championship since 1964.
Despite the optimism that is running high through Browns Town, it seems unlikely that will happen this season, however, although the people filling up the sports books in Las Vegas apparently have a different opinion on that subject.
According to ESPN’s David Purdam, the Browns are a popular pick to capture their first divisional title since 1989, with some bettors going as far as placing actual hard-earned on the Browns to reach the Super Bowl.
It is something that has one sportsbook manager at Caesars Palace scratching his head, according to Purdam:
“There are more bets on the Browns to win the AFC North than the other three teams combined. Only the Raiders and Steelers have more bets to win the AFC [than the Browns]. The public likes the Browns, and I’m not sure why.”
If you happen to be heading to Vegas, you can get 7-1 odds at Caesars for the Browns to win the AFC North and 20-1 odds to bring home the AFC title.
Like we said, those shiny buildings did not build themselves.
It all sounds good, and far be it for us to throw a damper on anyone’s fun, but since returning to the NFL in 1999, the Browns have posted a winning percentage of .233 in games against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals.
The Browns are on the rise, that much is not in question, but expecting the team to make a jump all the way to the division title may be nothing more than a sucker’s bet.