As Week 1 is on our heels, the majority of national analysts believe the Cleveland Browns should be victorious this Sunday as they host the New Orleans Saints. Out of 8 expert panelists on ESPN.com, 5 pick the Browns. Six experts on CBS Sportsline make their picks and five go with Cleveland. Yahoo’s four analysts, however, were split in their opinions. Here’s a look at a few other national views on the game.

Vinnie Iyer, SportingNews

New Orleans at Cleveland. In the most anticipated Lake Erie debut since LeBron James, Bush will have his moments, but not too many against Romeo Crennel’s well-coached and significantly upgraded 3-4. The Browns, however, don’t need to face that same problem in the Saints’ woeful linebacker corps, and they should take the game out of Charlie Frye’s hands with a successful dose of Reuben Droughns. Browns 20, Saints 10.

Peter King, Sports Illustrated

It’s not an ideal debut for Reggie Bush, losing his opener and getting pelted with milkbones at the same time, but I have a feeling he’d better get used to it — at least the losing part.
Cleveland 20, New Orleans 17

All 32 teams at this point are entering the 2006 season with high hopes and believe they can go into Week 1 with a real, legitimate shot at winning that first game. We as Browns fans are no different. Roughly 88% of the voters on the team’s web site pick the Browns to beat the Saints. Optimism is reigning supreme around Brownstown as we enter the season. In all seriousness though, this game is one that the Browns can and should win. Like they have for each of the past seven seasons since they returned to the NFL, the Browns will open up a season at home. As inconsistent as the Browns’ offense has looked thusfar in the preseason, they should be able to exploit a weak Saints defense, especially on the ground. In front of the soldout home crowd, the Brownies pull out a win. Browns 17, Saints 13.

The Indians had a heartbreaking end to their 2005 season and just barely missed a spot in the postseason. They are light years away from the playoff picture this season and have been for quite some time but still have a chance at ruining the chances of some other American League teams that are in the playoff hunt, namely the Chicago White Sox.

It was them who put the dagger in the hearts of Tribe players and fans at the end of last season and the Indians, should they choose to accept it, have an opportunity to give the South Siders a little bit of payback this September. As it sits now, the Sox are trailing the AL Central-leading Tigers by five games and are jockying for position atop the Wild Card standings with Minnesota. With six games remaining against Chicago, the Indians can really make life difficult for the Sox should they take care of business against them. As frustrating as the 2006 season has been for us Tribe fans, I for one would be able to sleep a little easier if the Indians somehow could play a tiny role in derailing the Sox’ playoff chances this season.

Thursday night, it was the Indians who played like they were in the midst of a postseason run, not the White Sox. The Tribe got on the board first and built a sizable 7-0 lead through five and put it in cruise control the rest of the way, beating the Sox 9-1. Cliff Lee was rock solid, carrying a no-hitter into the fifth. He gave up a run through six and the gave way to the bullpen. Rafael Betancourt and Jason Davis combined to throw the final three scoreless innings.

The Tribe’s offense came back to life and pounded 17 hits against Mark Buerhle and White Sox. They got home runs from Grady Sizemore and Victor Martinez. In addition, Ryan Garko, Jason Michaels, Aaron Boone, and Andy Marte all enjoyed three-hit nights. Jhonny Peralta, finishing 0-for-5, was the only player left out of the Tribe hit parade.