The AFC is probably the most brutal and competitive division in the NFL. With the great rivalries and awful weather, the AFC North is the hardest to predict. The Steelers are favored to win the division at +110, and the rest follows with the Ravens coming second at +175. Both of the top two bets are extremely interesting and both have good potential. The Bengals come in at +250 and the Browns are dead last at a whopping +3300.
Courtesy of Clevelandbrowns.com
What is their to say about the Cleveland Browns? They have been the laughing stock of the NFL for the better part of eight years and have constantly finished among the bottom three teams. The Browns find themselves with high draft picks who never materialize into anything.
Look at Trent Richardson, Josh Gordon and Johnny Manziel: All had high ceilings, but all had different issues that kept them from reaching them. With the Browns sitting at +3300, putting money on them to take the division would be like investing in Newbury Comics.
Courtesy of IGN.com
Three years ago, if you told me that the Cincinnati Bengals were going to be the best team in the AFC North I might have believed you. Sadly, for Andy Dalton and head coach Marvin Lewis, you would have been dead wrong.
The Bengals went into last season with the most hype surrounding the franchise in a long time, thanks to the duo of Dalton and A.J. Green. Unfortunately, Green was sidelined during the season, missing four games and the other receivers just couldn’t make up for the explosiveness of Green.
This season, Dalton and Green will put up big numbers, but it won’t materialize into enough wins to take home the AFC North title. At +250, the Bengals do have an enticing money line that holds a lot more value than the Ravens. Use this pick at your own discretion but it could be a big payout at the end of the year.
The Ravens have been an interesting team in that when you think they’re on the right path for a good year, they stink it up yet when the expectations are low they cause big upsets. Offseason acquisitions like Jeremy Maclin, Danny Woodhead and Brandon Carr and also drafting some help at offensive line shows the Ravens have made a serious attempt at competing with the Steelers.
With their line being at +175, you’re not getting a much better line than the favored Steelers so the money is certainly safer in Pittsburgh.
Courtesy of Sportskings.com
The Steelers have been owning the division in recent years with some of the best offensive weapons in Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell. The availability of Ben Roethlisberger has come into question during the last few seasons and getting a year older isn’t going to do you any favors in the toughest division in football.
The Steelers have a bunch of talent on the offensive end and although the defense has some holes, they’re still good enough to make things happen.
That said, I will surely be putting my money on the Steelers to take the division and give me a nice pay day at the end of the season. #ThanksBen
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