NFL Divisional Previews – 2012 AFC North Betting Breakdown
The Steelers and the Ravens have pretty even odds to win the AFC North this season, but can the young and upstart Bengals improve upon last season’s playoff appearance and can Brandon Weeden give the Browns a legit QB. Which they have sorely missed for a long time?
AFC North Team Pages
Baltimore
Cincinnati
Cleveland
Pittsburgh
Baltimore Ravens
Odds To Win AFC North 2.30
Odds To Win Super Bowl 21.50
The Ravens’ defense led the team, yet again, last season, but they got some bad luck this off-season when Terrell Suggs tore his right Achilles tendon and is out for some time. However, Courtney Upshaw fell to them in the 2nd round in the draft and he may give the D immediate impact. Another question on defense is can Ray Rice still playing at such a high level for another season? On offense Joe Flacco and Ray Rice are the leaders and Flacco has some weapons in Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith, but Baltimore only ranked 19th in the league in passing yards per game.
Ravens AFC North Prediction – Yet again the Ravens will have a solid defense and they will battle it out with the Steelers for the AFC North title.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Odds To Win AFC North 2.40
Odds To Win Super Bowl 23.00
Pittsburgh does not have many holes heading into the season, but the health of Ben Roethlisberger and RB Rashard Mendenhall is a key issue. WR Mike Wallace and his contract issue may be a distraction and he needs to get in camp for Pittsburgh. The Steelers addressed their iffy offensive line by taking 2 linemen in the first 2 rounds of the draft. With Hines Ward out of the picture getting Wallace back in the fold is key. Like the Ravens the Steelers are, again, led by their defense, which ranked 8th against the run and 1st again the pass last season [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Steelers AFC North Prediction – The Steelers will be in a dogfight with the Ravens for AFC North supremacy, but I think they have more talent and will win the division this season.
Cincinnati Bengals
Odds To Win AFC North 5.50
Odds To Win Super Bowl 41.00
The Bengals were 9-7 last season and QB Andy Dalton and WR A.J. Green showed they might be one of the best young and exciting combos in the league. Drafting OL Kevin Zeitler in the first round was a great call since Dalton is not the most mobile of signal callers and he was sacked 24 times last season. The RB position is an issue with the departed Cedric Benson, but they have Brian Leonard, Benard Scott, free agent signing BenJarvus Green-Ellis, and rookie Dan Herron. Still, replacing a 1,000-yard back like Benson is not easy. For the most part Cincy stayed pat with their defense, which ranked in the top 10 last season against the pass and against the run.
Bengals AFC North Prediction – Dalton has to avoid the sophomore slump and I think that will be difficult now he does not have Benson in the backfield. The Bengals will not sneak up on anybody this season, but while I think they will be decent they will only finish around .500 and not challenge the Steelers and Ravens for the AFC North crown.
Cleveland Browns
Odds To Win AFC North 36.00
Odds To Win Super Bowl 201.00
The Browns failed to win a division game last season, but on the off-season they had a solid draft taking RB Trent Richardson and QB Brandon Weeden in the 1st round. Weeden should win the job of the starting QB, but he does not have a good WR corps and Richardson is an untested rookie. Still, the Browns may be a much better offense this season with their new pieces. On D the Browns were stellar against the pass and horrid against the run and I think that will happen again.
Browns AFC North Prediction – I do not think the Browns will be as bad as last season, but they will still finish a few games under .500.
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