If there’s an NFL division that epitomizes smashmouth football, it’s the AFC North, and this upcoming season should be hotly contested once again. The Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns will vie for the AFC North title, with the Ravens the slight favorite at +110 odds ahead of the Browns at +155 odds.
The Ravens will seek their third AFC North division title since 2018, but the Pittsburgh Steelers are the defending division champs. The Steelers are +500 odds to win their fourth crown since 2016, but they’re third in the division on the NFL futures board over at DraftKings.
| 2021 AFC North Odds |
- Baltimore Ravens +110
- Cleveland Browns +155
- Pittsburgh Steelers +500
- Cincinnati Bengals +2500
The Ravens are the third-favorite in their conference to win the AFC Championship at +600 odds. The Browns are +800 odds to win the AFC. The Ravens are +1400 odds to win Super Bowl 56, or the fifth-highest teams on the board. The Browns are +1600 odds to win the championship.
Baltimore Ravens +110
The Ravens will ride or die with Lamar Jackson once again. Jackson looks unstoppable in the regular season, but the postseason has been his kryptonite. Until L-Jax finally gets the Ravens over the hump in the playoffs, backing the Ravens to win the division sounds more feasible than hammering away at an AFC Championship or Super Bowl futures wager.
All eyes will be on the Ravens who enter the season as the favorite to win the AFC North at +110 odds. Their wide receivers are banged up or old, and they have a tough schedule against several of the elite defenses in the league. However, when in doubt, the Ravens love to pound the rock. Plus, when passing plays break down, Jackson scrambles his way out of a jam.
Cleveland Browns +155
Baker Mayfield finally delivered a playoff berth for the Dawg Pound, but more importantly, Mayfield led the Browns to a road victory in the AFC wild card against their division rival for their first playoff win since 1994.
If Odell Beckham finally shows up — both mentally and physically — the Browns will be tough to beat. Even if ODB isn’t a major factor, Mayfield still has plenty of talented wideouts to make plays, including Jarvis Landry and Rashard Higgins. Don’t forget the Browns also have one of the best one-two punches in their backfield with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. That’s what makes the Browns dangerous on offense; Mayfield can air it out or they have the ability to just ground and pound with the running game.
Pittsburgh Steelers +500
The Steelers won the AFC North last season, but lost to the Browns in the AFC Wild Card game. Is this really Big Ben’s last season? Too bad the Steelers have a shoddy offensive line to protect the aging quarterback who’s one big hit away from early retirement. The Steel Curtain defense will keep the Steelers in games this season, but Mike Tomlin hopes Big Ben can work his magic and muster up enough offense to compete for a wild card spot. You can take a flier on the Steelers at +500 odds to win the division for old time’s sake, but they lack the firepower to compete against their rivals.
Cincinnati Bengals +2500
Oh, those Bungles are at it again. Just as soon as they ditch Andy Dalton and draft Joe Burrow with the #1 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Burrow went down with a season-ending knee injury. Burrow is back and ready to avoid the draft bust moniker. Even so, it’s still an uphill battle for the Bengals, who come in as severe long shots to win the AFC North at +2500 odds.