2020 NFL Futures Betting: AFC North Division Winner

Analyzing the 2020 NFL futures odds for which team will win the AFC North Division, with sports betting picks, tips and best bets.

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).

Get some action on 2020 NFL division winners by betting at BetMGM. New customer offer: RISK-FREE First Bet (up to $500!) paid in free bets.

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.

Want action on the AFC North Division winner? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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6 possible trade destinations for Andy Dalton

Andy Dalton could be traded from the Bengals and there will be suitors like the Bears, Bucs, Jaguars and others.

It’s very odd to think that one of the biggest offseason quarterback dominoes that is going to fall is an eventual trade of Andy Dalton. There is no reason for Dalton and his $17 million dollar cap hit to stay in Cincinnati if the Bengals are going to draft Joe Burrow — and they are definitely taking the Heisman winner and national champion with the first pick.

There will be suitors of Dalton. For all the jokes about Dalton as a quarterback, the Dalton line — copyrighted by Around the NFL podcast — and the Bengals playoff record with Dalton under center, he’s a decent quarterback. He can’t win you a Super Bowl unless you have a ton of talent surrounding him, but he’s better than a lot of other options. If Ryan Tannehill can have a comeback season where the Titans are thinking about keeping the former Dolphins quarterback instead of making a run at Tom Brady, then anything is possible for Dalton.

The Bengals probably aren’t going to outright release him either since his $17 million cap hit is actually a pretty good number. Some team will be interested. Let’s take a guess at which ones may make the call.

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4 backup QBs Bengals should target in 2020 NFL free agency

Here are four backup QBs Bengals should target in 2020 NFL free agency Marcus Mariota Case Keenum Josh McCown Blake Bortles

4 backup QBs Bengals should target in 2020 NFL free agency

Here are four backup QBs Bengals should target in 2020 NFL free agency Marcus Mariota Case Keenum Josh McCown Blake Bortles

Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s Browns at Bengals NFL matchup, with NFL betting odds, picks and best bets

The Cleveland Browns (6-9) and host Cincinnati Bengals (1-14) will tangle at Paul Brown Stadium Sunday at 1 p.m. ET (on Fox). We analyze the Browns-Bengals sports betting odds and lines, with NFL betting picks and tips for the Week 17 matchup.

Browns at Bengals: Week 17 preview, betting trends and notes

Get some action on the game at BetMGM by placing a sports bet!

The Bengals wrapped up the No. 1 overall pick in 2020 NFL Draft with their overtime loss last week in Miami.
The Browns topped the Bengals 27-19 in Week 14, covering as 6.5-point favorites as the Over (43) connected.
The Browns are 0-5 against the spread in the past five road outings and 3-7-1 ATS in the past 11 games overall. They’re also 2-5-1 ATS in the past eight as a road favorite, and 1-4 ATS in the past five on the road against a team with a losing home record.
The Bengals are 1-4 ATS in the past five games overall, and 1-4 ATS in the past five inside the division. They’re also 1-5 ATS in the past six against teams with a losing record, and 1-6 ATS in the past seven at home.
The over has connected in four in a row for the Browns against losing teams.
The under is 12-3-1 for the Bengals in the past 16 as an underdog, and 10-4-2 in the past 16 vs. AFC.

Browns at Bengals: Key injuries

Browns: DE Olivier Vernon (knee), WR Odell Beckham Jr. (illness – expected to play) and TE Ricky Seals-Jones (illness) are all listed as questionable.

Bengals: CB William Jackson III (shoulder) has been ruled out for Week 17.

Browns at Bengals: Odds, betting lines and prediction

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 2 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Bengals 23, Browns 20

Moneyline (?)

The BENGALS (+125) can’t ruin their chances at the No. 1 overall pick with a win, and they showed last week in a hellacious comeback in Miami that they’re not throwing in the towel. The Browns (-154) have nothing to play for in this one and are primed for the taking.

New to sports betting? A $10 wager on the moneyline returns a $12.50 profit with a Bengals victory.

Against the Spread (?)

The BENGALS (+2.5, +105) are plus-money at home, and therefore a pretty nice value. The Browns (-2.5, -129) haven’t been terribly consistent this season, and they’re especially erratic on the road.

Over/Under (?)

PASS. The 44.5 total is going to be close. If there was a lean, it would be to the under, which is actually 41-14-3 in the past 58 in December for Cleveland and 12-3-1 in Cincinnati’s past 16 as a ‘dog.

Want action on this game? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. Looking for more sports betting picks and tips? Visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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AJ Green will skip Bengals OTA’s if franchise tagged

Georgia Football great AJ Green will skip OTAs if franchise tagged by the Cincinnati Bengals.

Georgia great AJ Green is one of the most humble, drama-free players in the NFL.

However, when it came time to step up and think about himself first, Green did so.

Good for Green, who has sat the whole season, a contract year, with injury.

Last offseason, Green said multiple times that he would like to stay in Cincinnati and finish his career there.

The two parties have not reached a deal that would allow him to play out the rest of his career in Cincy, and the Bengals have said they would franchise tag Green if they could not reach a long-term deal.

To that, Green responded that he would play the regular season, but will skip OTAs and maybe training camp.

A.J. Green said if he is franchise tagged he would definitely not be participating in any of the OTAs and maybe not all of training camp next year.

On TC: "I don't know. It's still a business."

On proving he's healthy in offseason: "I don't have to prove anything to nobody."

— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) December 18, 2019

Green, 31, would be paid $18m next season if he is tagged by the Bengals.

Green gets that, but he said it makes him feel like the team is not committed to him.

“But that also shows that they’re not committed, and in that circumstance,” Green told ESPN, “I have to protect myself.”

If the Bengals do tag Green, they will have until July to reach a deal before the tag turns into a one year contract.

If no deal is reached, Green will not participate in much preseason training.

Can you blame him, though? He’s on the wrong side of 30, he has a history of getting injured and he’s still one of the best receivers in the NFL when healthy.

He does not need training camp or OTAs anyway. He’s AJ Green.

Why risk injuring yourself in practice when you’re franchise tagged rather than under a long-term deal?

Bengals say they are ‘aware’ of Patriots reportedly ‘videotaping play calls’

Cincinnati Bengals coach Zac Taylor responded to a question during his news conference Monday about a Patriots employee taping the Bengals’ play calls during their recent game against the Cleveland Browns.

Things just got interesting for the New England Patriots.

The Patriots play the Bengals in Cincinnati on this upcoming Sunday.

Taylor answered he had “no comment” and is “aware there was an incident” which the NFL in investigating.

Watching Bengals HC Zac Taylor’s press conference. A reporter just asked if he could confirm if a Patriots employee was videotaping their play calls at the last game? Coach said “No comment and they are aware”
Um….

— Dianna (@diannaESPN) December 9, 2019

Reports have already surfaced via NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport that the Patriots had a videographer at the stadium as part of a team video series called “Do Your Job” which has inside looks at all members of the New England organization… such as scouts.

The Bills play their AFC East rivals in Week 16 and the contest will have AFC title implications regardless of what happens in Week 15 for both teams.

Per another report from NFL Network, a Bengals scout noticed the questionable conduct from the Patriots’ staffer and alerted an NFL representative, who obtained the video under question.

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Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns Week 14 matchup, with NFL betting odds, picks and best bets

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The Cincinnati Bengals (1-11) and Cleveland Browns (5-7) play the latest installment of their ‘Battle of Ohio’ rivalry Sunday at 1 p.m. ET at FirstEnergy Stadium. We analyze the Bengals-Browns sports betting odds and lines, with NFL betting picks and tips for the Week 14 matchup.

Bengals at Browns: Week 14 preview, betting trends and notes

Get some action on the game at BetMGM by placing a sports bet!

The Bengals enter on a high after their first victory of the season in Week 13, while the Browns suffered a 20-13 loss against the Steelers in Pittsburgh.
Cincinnati is 8-2 ATS across their past 10 road games, and they’re 17-8 ATS in the past 25 games against AFC opponents.
The Browns are 7-3 ATS across their past 10 games inside the AFC North, but they’re just 11-23-1 ATS in the past 35 at home.
The Under is 4-1-1 in Cincinnati’s past six games against the AFC North, while going 12-3-2 in the past 17 games overall.
The Under is 18-8-1 in the past 27 at home for the Browns, while going 15-5-1 in the past 21 at FirstEnergy Stadium against teams with a losing road mark.

Bengals at Browns: Key injuries

Bengals: WR John Ross (collarbone) and LB Nick Vigil (ankle) are expected to play, while DE Sam Hubbard (knee) and TE Drew Sample (ankle) are out.

Browns: TE David Njoku (wrist) and DE Olivier Vernon (knee) are expected to be ready, while QB Baker Mayfield (hand) will also be fine. WR Odell Beckham Jr. (groin) is expected to be ready, too.