Future Odds
AFC North Betting Lines
Here are the odds at Bodog to win the AFC North division
Baltimore Ravens 15/2
Cincinnati Bengals 9/2
Cleveland Browns 7/4
Pittsburgh Steelers 10/11
Baltimore Ravens - 2007 record 5-11
The Ravens head into another season with QB problems, as there are 3 QB's who will be vying for the starting job. Kyle Boller, Troy Smith, and top draft pick Joe Flacco will all have the chance to win the job. Flacco is a strong-armed QB, but comes from a small college, Delaware, so the leap to the NFL will be a big one. The Ravens have a good ground game with RB's Willis McGahee, (1207 yds) and rookie Ray Rice, drafted #55 overall. The Ravens have 3 new WR's, but they need a legit QB to get them the ball. The Ravens D is still their strength, as last year ranked 6th overall and were tough against the run. Terrell Suggs and Ray Lewis are a nightmare for opposing offenses, but can they score enough points to win games this year? That is the big question in Baltimore.
Cincinnati Bengals - 2007 record 7-9
The Bengals have the offense, as they can light up the scoreboard, but the problem is so can their opponents. Their D was horrid last year, as the Bengals ranked 27th last year and were bad against both the pass and the run. Their Run D should be better with the drafting of OLB Keith Rivers (#9 overall), but there are still many question marks in their secondary. QB Carson Palmer had an off year last year and he will need to bounce back for the Bengals to compete in the AFC North. Palmer also ruffled some feathers of fans in Ohio with his disparaging remarks about the Ohio State Buckeyes. RB Kenny Watson led the team with 763 yards rushing and the Bengals could use a better running game to ease the pressure off Palmer. WR Chad Johnson showed for camp on time, but he may not be in a Bengals uniform when the season starts. If the Bengals play some D they can compete in the AFC North with the talented offense they have.
Cleveland Browns - 2007 record 10-6
Even though the Browns did not make the playoffs last year they were 10-6 and are headed in the right direction. After years of instability at the QB position Derek Anderson had a great year at the helm and was awarded with a fat contract. RB Jamal Lewis (1304 yards) showed he still has some gas in his tank and Anderson has two legit targets in TE Kellen Winslow and WR Donte' Stallworth. So the offense for the Browns should not be a problem, but their defense is where they need to improve in order to make the playoffs. The Browns D ranked dead last in the NFL last year and could not stop the pass or the run. The Browns addressed that need by signing DT Corey Williams, but that will not be enough. The team traded away many of their draft picks and their first pick in the draft was not until #104, as they tool ILB Beau Bell. The Browns need help on D and if they do not get it Anderson and the offense will have to put a ton of points on the board in order to be successful this season.
Pittsburgh Steelers - 2007 record 10-6
The Steelers are favored to win the AFC North, but may also be a dark horse Super Bowl pick. They did not make many off season moves of significance, but if QB Ben Roethlisberger (3154 yds 32 TD's 2nd overall QB rating) plays like he did last year, RB Willie Parker (1316 yds before injury) comes back from injury, and their D performs like it can then the Steelers will be tough to beat. The Steelers D ranked 1st last year and were almost impossible to run against. The Steelers had a great draft day as RB Rashard Mendenhall fell all the way to #23 and they may have found a great playmaker in WR Limas Sweed. The Steelers have all the pieces to make another run at the Super Bowl, but they are definitely the team to beat in the AFC North.
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