Odds to win the AFC North Division – Courtesy of Bookmaker
Baltimore Ravens -160
Pittsburgh Steelers +115
Cleveland Browns +1000
Cincinnati Bengals +2500
The 2011 National Football League season is less than a month away and the lines makers have placed odds on each team to win its respective division.
Don’t miss out on a tremendous opportunity to turn a profit this year and get a long term package from your favorite NFL handicappers at Maddux Sports.
Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore is still seen as one of the best team’s in the AFC and it’s certainly represented in being favored over the Pittsburgh Steelers to win the division. The Ravens dropped two of last year’s three meetings against the Steelers, including a 31-24 divisional round playoff loss on the road.
Some veteran faces will not be along for the ride, as the team released veterans Todd Heap and Derek Mason. The two were unquestionably the franchise’s best offensive players during the Ravens’ era.
The Ravens also failed to resign running back Willis McGahee, but made a move during training camp in bringing in former Dolphins runner Ricky Williams. He gained 673 yards and scored two touchdowns in splitting time with Ronnie Brown in Miami.
Fourth-year quarterback Joe Flacco will need to take another step forward if this franchise is to make the playoffs, as he’s got weapons in running back Ray Rice and wide receiver Anquan Boldin at his disposal.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh just missed winning its second Super Bowl in three years, falling 31-25 to the Green Bay Packers last year. The Steelers have to be incredibly happy with the results nonetheless, especially since quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was suspended for the first four games under the league’s personal conduct policy.
League experts do have some concerns with the team starting to age on the defensive end, as eight starters are into their 30s. The unit did finish last year atop the NFL in rushing defense, allowing just 62.8 yards a game.
Bettors benefited from a seemingly undervalued team the entire 2010 season, as the AFC champions finished 12-7 ATS.
Cleveland Browns
Cleveland has a new head coach in Pat Shurmur, who brings in 23 years of coaching experience, including 12 in the NFL. He has been brought in by team president Mike Holmgren to resurrect the franchise.
The Browns finished last year with a 5-11 SU record and a matching against-the-spread mark.
A move from a 3-4 defensive scheme to a 4-3 setup is being made during camp under the direction of Dick Jauron, who many in the league consider one of the best defensive coaches around.
Plenty of emphasis is also being played on the passing game during the preseason, a group that ranked 29th in the league a year ago by averaging just 186.8 yards a game. Quarterback Colt McCoy is likely to open the year as the starter, but how long he assumes that role is a major question mark.
Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati has undergone a major change offensively, as quarterback Carson Palmer and wide receiver Chad Ochocinco are now part of the franchise’s past. A past that had its moments of success, but ultimately turned into failure.
Rookie quarterback Andy Dalton has quickly risen to No. 1 on the team’s depth chart and will start the preseason opener. He will get the opportunity to quickly build a chemistry with fellow rookie A.J. Green, who was the squad’s first-round pick out of Georgia.
The Bengals may likely find themselves as a home underdog often this year due to inexperience and it will be interesting to see if they improve upon the team’s 6-1 ATS mark in that role the past two years.
