AFC North Betting Guide: Who can Catch the Ravens?

Nov 21, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) throws a pass
Nov 21, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) throws a pass / Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
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The Baltimore Ravens are atop the AFC North, but the other three teams are close on their tail.

Baltimore scored a massive come from behind win against Chicago to keep off the Cincinnati Bengals, who remain a game back of the Ravens, while the Pittsburgh Steelers are a game-and-a-half back and the Cleveland Browns sit two off the pace.

What's fascinating about all four teams is that they make up the four toughest remaining schedules in the league, per Tankathon.com, considering there are a bunch of divisional games left.

Let's handicap the AFC North race and see who has the most betting value.

Here are the odds to win the division courtesy of WynnBET Sportsbook.

AFC North Division Odds

  • Baltimore Ravens: -165
  • Cincinnati Bengals: +325
  • Cleveland Browns: +450
  • Pittsburgh Steelers: +1100

Baltimore Ravens: -165

The Ravens have a game up on the Bengals, but still have to play five division games, so this is far from settled.

In the next three weeks, Baltimore will play Cleveland at home, at Pittsburgh, and at Cleveland. With so much up in the air for this team, as well as the health of Lamar Jackson in flux, I can't recommend laying this price.

If you do believe in the Ravens, it may be more advantageous to look at their Super Bowl odds, which are +1100 at WynnBET.

Cincinnati Bengals: +325

Cincy got back on track against the Raiders last week, and already have a game in the pocket against the division leading Ravens.

The team is at home against the Steelers on Sunday, who they also beat on the road earlier in the season. However, Joe Burrow and co. have a difficult non-division schedule down the stretch, playing the Chargers, 49ers, Chiefs and at the Broncos down the stretch.

While the price may seem attractive with a good tiebreaker situation so far, I don't see the Bengals as the most attractive bet to win the AFC North...

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Cleveland Browns: +450

Even though it seems like the sky is falling for the Browns half the time, Cleveland is still in good shape heading into the final third of the season.

Cleveland is starting to get healthier, with the likes of running back Kareem Hunt and tackle Jack Conklin expected back at practice this week, and has the opportunity to make up the two game deficit in the division in three weeks.

Cleveland plays at Baltimore on Sunday, goes on their bye week, and then plays Baltimore at home right after. Not to mention, the Ravens play the Steelers in between. In a few weeks the AFC North may look much different.

Look, the Browns are going to need better play from Baker Mayfield, no doubt about it, but the opportunity is there for Cleveland to control their own destiny in the AFC North.

If Mayfield can raise his play a bit, the Browns running game can push them into the AFC Championship conversation as they rank second in EPA per Rush this season.

The Browns beat the Bengals a few weeks back and meet them against in Week 18, while they need to make up a game to the Steelers, who they lost to at home early in the year.

Pittsburgh Steelers: +1100

The Steelers' record looks fine on the surface, 5-4-1, but this team is a paper tiger.

The Steelers are 16th in defensive EPA/Play and 23rd in offensive EPA/Play. The team has won all five games by eight or less this season.

Further, I question how much Ben Roethlisberger can give during the stretch run with his diminishing arm strength and the glut of injuries on the roster. Last week, the team didn't have arguably their two most impactful defensive players in Minkah Fitzpatrick and T.J. Watt available, and are already down wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster.

Ultimately, I can't get on board with Pittsburgh at these long of odds, I think it's more likely they finish below .500 than they make a division push.