AFC North Odds: Ravens, Bengals Expected to Pace the Division
The AFC North has long been a division in the NFL that has displayed some of the best rivalries in football. Fans of each team within the team take the disdain the players have for the opposing squads to heart when they square off against each other twice a season.
The Baltimore Ravens are the reigning division champs, producing a 13-4 record in the 2023 regular season before losing to the Kansas City Chiefs -- who they will kick off the 2024-25 season against -- in the AFC Championship Game. Despite injuries to notable players, the Cleveland Browns improbably finished as the second-best team in the AFC North a season ago, tallying an 11-6 record prior to falling to the Houston Texans in the Wild Card Round.
Following a year where Joe Burrow missed the final seven games of the season, the Cincinnati Bengals are looking to get back to contention in the AFC. Lastly, the Pittsburgh Steelers are hoping the additions of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields will solve the issues they've experienced under center in recent years.
FanDuel Sportsbook is offering markets -- via their NFL odds -- on NFL win totals, odds to make the NFL playoffs, and NFL division odds among others. Let's take a look at each AFC North team's offseason moves and discuss their outlook for the upcoming season.
All NFL odds are from FanDuel Sportsbook, and they may change after this article is published.
AFC North Odds
Team | AFC North Odds |
---|---|
Baltimore Ravens | +140 |
Cincinnati Bengals | +170 |
Cleveland Browns | +500 |
Pittsburgh Steelers | +650 |
Baltimore Ravens 2024 Outlook
Projected Win Total: 11.5 (-162 on the under)
Odds to Make the Playoffs: -260
Odds to Win the AFC North: +140
Odds to Win the AFC: +490
Odds to Win the Super Bowl: +950 (3rd-best)
The Ravens have consistently been in the playoff mix in recent years under head coach John Harbaugh, and that looks like it'll remain the case next season. Having the reigning NFL MVP -- Lamar Jackson -- is a fantastic start to building a roster talented enough to beat the Chiefs.
Baltimore continues to make a concerted effort to surround Jackson with more weapons on offense, with Derrick Henry forming a lethal backfield combo alongside the exhilarating signal-caller. With the Ravens likely leaning on Henry often -- especially near the end zone -- the All-Pro back has his over/under for rushing touchdowns sitting at 10.5 with the over holding +112 odds.
In the past six seasons, the Ravens have advanced to the postseason in five of them, and they have won the AFC North three times in that span. Despite losing defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, Baltimore's defense is still a ferocious unit upon bringing back Justin Madubuike, Brent Urban, and Kyle Van Noy along the defensive front.
Roquan Smith, Kyle Hamilton, and Marlon Humphrey remain centerpieces on defense, giving the Ravens a well-balanced roster entering the 2024-25 campaign. First-year cornerback Nate Wiggins is also tied for the ninth-shortest odds to win Defensive Rookie of the Year (+3000).
Being that the Ravens have won double-digit games in five of the last six seasons, they enter 2024 as one of the Super Bowl favorites, listed at +950 to win it all.
Cincinnati Bengals 2024 Outlook
Projected Win Total: 10.5 (-134 on the under)
Odds to Make the Playoffs: -225
Odds to Win the AFC North: +170
Odds to Win the AFC: +700
Odds to Win the Super Bowl: +1300 (tied for 4th-best)
Once again, the sight of Burrow returning under center for the Bengals will be welcomed despite the team going 4-3 in his seven-game absence last year. Before sustaining a season-ending wrist injury a year ago, Burrow began showing signs of overcoming an ankle ailment that limited him at the start of the 2023-24 season, leading Cincinnati to a 4-1 record in his final five healthy games.
Heading into this campaign, Burrow is tied for the third-shortest odds to win NFL MVP (+1000).
Besides the return of Burrow, the Bengals retained Tee Higgins via the franchise tag, added Mike Gesicki at tight end, and bolstered their offensive line by signing Trent Brown. Amid trading Joe Mixon to Houston, Cincinnati replaced him with Zack Moss while the Bengals took Jermaine Burton in the 2024 NFL Draft to form a dynamic receiving trio with Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase.
On the defensive side of the ball, Cincy notably added Sheldon Rankins, Vonn Bell, and Geno Stone during free agency. While they strengthened their safety position, Cincinnati could be leaning on a young cornerback duo of Cam Taylor-Britt and DJ Turner.
Assuming Burrow -- who is 3-1 against the Patrick Mahomes-led Chiefs in his career -- can remain healthy, it's hard to argue against the Bengals being a legitimate AFC contender in the upcoming campaign, which is why they carry the fourth-best Super Bowl odds.
Cleveland Browns 2024 Outlook
Projected Win Total: 8.5 (-138 on the over)
Odds to Make the Playoffs: +126
Odds to Win the AFC North: +500
Odds to Win the AFC: +2000
Odds to Win the Super Bowl: +4000 (tied for 15th-best)
The entirety of the 2023-24 NFL season for the Browns transpired like it was straight out of a movie. Their starting quarterback -- Deshaun Watson -- suffers a season-ending injury, only for a former rival quarterback -- Joe Flacco -- to emerge from out of no where to lead Cleveland to its first playoff berth since 2020.
Even though Watson is set to return at quarterback, there isn't much confidence from oddsmakers in the Browns repeating their success from a season ago. Flacco has since been replaced by Jameis Winston and Tyler Huntley, along with Cleveland notably adding Nyheim Hines, D'Onta Foreman, and Jerry Jeudy to an offense that already features Amari Cooper, Elijah Moore, and David Njoku.
Uncertainty lies within the unknown return for Nick Chubb, who is recovering from a season-ending knee injury that forced him to undergo two surgeries. Chubb had produced four consecutive seasons of 1,000-plus rushing yards and eight-plus rushing touchdowns before being sidelined last year.
The defense figures to remain elite for the Browns next season with Za'Darius Smith and Shelby Harris returning and the arrivals of Quinton Jefferson and Jordan Hicks in the front seven. Myles Garrett -- the reigning Defensive Player of the Year -- holds the second-shortest odds to win Defensive Player of the Year (+700) in 2024-25.
The success of the Browns in the upcoming season is dependent on the performance of Watson at quarterback. This team has a lot of the other pieces in place.
Pittsburgh Steelers 2024 Outlook
Projected Win Total: 7.5 (-184 on the over)
Odds to Make the Playoffs: +156
Odds to Win the AFC North: +650
Odds to Win the AFC: +2500
Odds to Win the Super Bowl: +5000 (tied for 18th-best)
Speaking of consistency, head coach Mike Tomlin has still yet to have a losing season in his 17 years leading the Steelers. It is a fact that is often said over and over again each season, but it is still an impressive feat given the changes that each team experiences every year, especially under center in recent campaigns.
The most notable changes this offseason took place at quarterback, with Pittsburgh replacing Kenny Pickett with the aforementioned Wilson and Fields. The best quarterback play on the Steelers a season ago came from Mason Rudolph, so Pittsburgh should see some improvement under center from either one of the new faces in the building.
Arthur Smith is now the offensive coordinator, and Diontae Johnson is now a member of the Carolina Panthers, putting a heavier workload on the shoulders of Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren, and George Pickens. The Steelers continue to bolster their offensive line, using draft picks on Troy Fautanu, Mason McCormick, and Zach Frazier.
The defense looks to be an improved group upon the arrivals of Donte Jackson, Patrick Queen, and Dean Lowry. T.J. Watt remains one of the premier pass rushers in the NFL, and he is tied for the third-shortest odds to win Defensive Player of the Year (+800).
The Steelers' win total is set at 7.5 -- the over has -184 odds -- so it looks like Tomlin will have his work cut out for him to keep his streak alive. The schedule does them no favors, either, as the Steelers have the NFL's toughest schedule going by 2024 win totals.
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