AFC North odds – Syndication Server

As we inch closer and closer to Week 1 of the 2021 NFL season, it’s time to evaluate the best future bets in each division. Below, we analyze the AFC North and make our best NFL picks, predictions and bets.

The AFC North is composed of the Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Although it was the Steelers who started 11-0 and won the division with a 12-4 record last season, the Ravens will enter the season as the favorites to win the division in 2021 with former MVP QB Lamar Jackson leading the way.

Odds to win AFC North

Odds via Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday at 11:40 a.m. ET.

Ravens: +110 (bet $100 to win $110)

Browns: +140 (bet $100 to win $140)

Steelers: +380 (bet $100 to win $380)

Bengals: +2000 (bet $100 to win $2,000)

Given that they’re all plus-money odds, betting $100 on any of the four will return more than your original bet. The Bengals are the biggest long shots in the division with the +2000 odds representing an implied win probability of 4.76%.

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AFC North picks and predictions

The best value in the AFC North division winner odds is the STEELERS (+380).

Pittsburgh won the division in three of the last five seasons and 10 times since 2000.

While the argument can be made that their defense isn’t going to be as strong as in 2020, they still have perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate DE T.J. Watt and Pro Bowl-caliber LB Devin Bush.

Although QB Ben Roethlisberger is aging, the Steelers have done a great job of surrounding him with elite up-and-coming playmakers.

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RB Najee Harris was the team’s first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. WR Chase Claypool was their second-round pick in the 2020 draft.

There’s quite a lot to like about the Ravens; the Browns arguably had the best offseason in the division and the Bengals will have QB Joe Burrow back to health in 2021. For now, I wouldn’t trust a run-heavy Baltimore or a QB Baker Mayfield-led Cleveland.

The best value in the AFC North future odds is the Steelers to win the division.

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It’s never too early to get into NFL Futures betting, even if we are just completing the scouting combine in Indianapolis and the draft and free agency hasn’t yet occurred. In fact, sometimes you can get a good price on a team before all hell breaks loose.

Case in point – the 2019 Cleveland Browns. They were near the bottom of the pack last spring before landing WR Odell Beckham Jr. from the New York Giants. After several other moves, which appeared to be shrewd, they went from long shots to one of the favorites two win the Super Bowl, seeing their number shrink exponentially. We see now that it was foolish to take them early or late, as they wet the bed and didn’t even come close to making the postseason.

Below, we look at the futures odds to win the AFC North.

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday, March 3 at 10:25 p.m. ET.

2020 AFC North odds: Baltimore Ravens (-250)

The Ravens are one of just four division favorites with minus-odds, meaning you need to lay more than your potential return. That’s how heavily favored they are. In fact, they’re tied with the New Orleans Saints (NFC South) with the third-best chance of winning their respective division based on the odds – behind only the New England Patriots (AFC East) and defending champ Kansas City Chiefs (AFC West).

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QB Lamar Jackson took the NFL by storm last season, and there is no reason to believe he will be slowing down anytime soon. Plus, the Ravens defense is nasty. Couple that with the fact the Pittsburgh Steelers are still not hitting on all cylinders, the Browns are still the Browns, and the Cincinnati Bengals are picking No. 1 overall in the draft, and this should be a slam-dunk play.

2020 AFC North odds: Pittsburgh Steelers (+340)

The Steelers are expected to have QB Ben Roethlisberger back under center after losing him to a season-ending elbow injury in Week 1 last season. While he is getting a bit long in the tooth, he is much better for the team’s outlook than if Mason Rudolph or Devlin Hodges were taking snaps. They just missed out on a playoff spot with that duo at the helm. If the Steelers can grab a wideout playmaker in free agency or the draft, and plug a few holes, they could easily challenge the Ravens for the top spot. Coach Mike Tomlin seems to always have his team right there challenging in the end.

2020 AFC North odds: Cleveland Browns (+650)

The Browns still have an impressive offensive core with QB Baker Mayfield, RBs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, Beckham and WR Jarvis Landry, etc. Plus, their defense is sick, too, returning DE Myles Garrett from his helmet-swinging suspension. They’re worth a small-unit wager, especially if they can add some beef to the O-line so Mayfield isn’t running for his life every down. The Browns will face a semi-favorable schedule due to their tumble down the standings to third place in 2019. Will they win the division? Probably not. But stranger things have happened, and their skill position players rival anyone in the NFL.

2020 AFC North odds: Cincinnati Bengals (+2000)

The Bengals are going to improve their personnel with the No. 1 overall pick, but they’re still much further away from the competition even with possibly adding a Heisman Trophy winning quarterback. In fact, QB isn’t really their biggest issue, as Andy Dalton was more than serviceable for many years. He is expected to be dealt, perhaps to the Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts or New England Patriots. They might get more draft picks in return from someone, helping them improve even quicker. However, they have so many holes to fill that it’s not worth taking a flier on them, even at this rate, which is sure to decrease slightly after some additions.

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