Everything to know for Commanders at Browns in Preseason Week 1

The Washington Commanders begin their preseason engagements with an away tie against the Cleveland Browns tonight.

It's been a long, dramatic offseason for the Washington Commanders. One that's seen a change in ownership, some vast improvements to the coaching staff, plenty of player turnover, and another roll of the dice for Ron Rivera at the quarterback spot.

Now, football is back.

The Commanders are in Cleveland to test their mettle against the Browns tonight (7.30 p.m. ET). This is the first of three preseason games before their eagerly-anticipated Week 1 opener versus the Arizona Cardinals in front of a reborn fanbase at FedEx Field.

It's been a fascinating training camp with plenty of intriguing storylines attached. The energy has noticeably improved thanks to the presence of Josh Harris and his new ownership group, which also heightens the urgency with landmark changes afoot if things don't go according to plan.

Rivera is planning to start the game with Sam Howell under center. How many reps are allocated to the former fifth-round selection out of orth Carolina wasn't revealed by the head coach, although it would be surprising to see anything more than a series or two at this stage of preparations with two more warmup games on the horizon.

One would anticipate the likes of stud defensive end Chase Young won't be risked. The Browns are also starting Deshaun Watson - who is in dire need of a strong run of performances after looking a shell of his former self after returning from suspension in 2022.

Commanders at Browns odds for Preseason Week 1

According to the latest odds from FanDuel Sportsbook, the Commanders are 3.0-point underdogs at the Browns on Friday evening. This can be wagered on either side of the spread at -110 (bet $110 to win $100).

Anyone who fancies betting Washington on the money line can do so at +135 (bet $100 to win $135). Cleveland is unsurprisingly favored to come away victorious on home soil with odds of -160 (bet $160 to win $100).

FanDuel has set the over/under at 39.0 points. Again, this is available at -110 in both directions.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

Commanders at Browns best bets

Preseason games are notoriously difficult to predict. This makes it an absolute minefield on the betting side of things.

Much will depend on how things go early on and how long the starter for each team stays in the game. There is always some rust to shake off, which leads to poor execution and mistakes aplenty more often than not.

With that in mind, backing the under 39.0 points seems like a smart wager at -110 with FanDuel Sportsbook (bet $110 to win $100). But approach any preseason bet with extreme caution.

How to watch Commanders at Browns

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The game is also available to view on NFL Game Pass.