AFC North Betting Preview: Who Wins The AFC North?

It's the toughest division in football.

While the Baltimore Ravens are the betting favorite (+120), the Cleveland Browns also have enticing odds (+145). Also, can we really count out the reigning champion Pittsburgh Steelers quite yet?

Let's take a look and see just how wide open the AFC North is.

Baltimore Ravens (+120)

According to Vegas, the AFC North belongs to the Baltimore Ravens.

They returned former league MVP Lamar Jackson, and added some passing weapons for him in Sammy Watkins and Rashod Bateman.

They lost Orlando Brown Jr. via trade demand to the Kansas City Chiefs. Defensively, they lost pass rushers Matthew Judon and Yannick Ngakoue in free agency.

Baltimore added free agent Andrew Villanueva who was a 2x Pro-Bowler for the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, it seems as if his better playing days could be behind him at age 32.

Despite some losses, the Ravens are still going to be a good football team that plays sound defense and runs the hell out of the football. They're a safe bet to win the division.

Cleveland Browns (+145)

The Browns are my pick to win the division.

It's an organization that has wandered the desert for over 20 years without a solution at head coach or quarterback. They have both now. And GM Andrew Berry has made strides to plug holes all over the roster.

If there were ever a year for the Browns to win the AFC North, it would be right now.

With Baker Mayfield still on his rookie deal, and potentially the final year of both Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry in Cleveland, the Browns need to take advantage. 

Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney and linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. are two rentals that the Browns were able to bring in to help overhaul the defense, and the win column needs to reflect that.

Pittsburgh Steelers (+450)

Something just doesn't feel right about seeing Pittsburgh with the third best odds to win the division, but this is a byproduct of how their offseason went.

Center Maurkice Pouncey retired and they lost Villanueva in free agency after their first-round playoff exit at the hands of the Browns. Then, the Steelers elected to draft a first-round running back in Alabama's Najee Harris. 

Defensively, they lost linebacker Bud Durpee and corner Steven Nelson in free agency and now T.J. Watt is holding out of practice in search of a contract extension.

Ben Roethlisberger is 39 now and looked like a complete shell of his former self down the stretch last season. Despite the enticing odds, unless Mike Tomlin pulls a rabbit out of his hat, I just can't see Pittsburgh being anything but a Wild Card team.

Cincinnati Bengals (+2400)

It's obviously a long shot for the Bengals to win this division.

They have talent, but it's all very young and unproven. Mix that in with Zac Taylor, who is 6-25-1 as a head coach, and the Bengals could be eyeing up another early draft pick this season.

Second-year quarterback Joe Burrow will need to bounce back from an ACL and MCL tear that also resulted in structural damage. Rookie wideout Ja'Marr Chase has had his ups and downs in Training Camp. 

Cincy's defense is very underrated, but still a work in progress.

At the end of the day, the Bengals did not surround Burrow with a sturdy line up front, so I would be very cautious of that offense this year,