2016-17 AFC North Odds to Win
The Cincinnati Bengals have won the AFC North twice in the last three years but they are not favored to win the division this upcoming season.
According to oddsmakers from online sports book Bovada.lv, the Bengals have the second-best odds to win the AFC North in 2016-17 at +175, while the Steelers are the current favorites at +130. The Ravens, meanwhile, are +275 to take home the division crown next season, while the Browns have the longest odds to win the AFC north at +2000.
The AFC North is also competitive but this season the division would appear to be open for the taking. The Bengals won the division last year but lost offensive coordinator Hue Jackson (now the head coach of the Browns) in the offseason, as well as receivers Marvin Jones (Lions) and Mohammad Sanu (Falcons). Still, Cincinnati returns receiver A.J. Green, quarterback Andy Dalton, running backs Jeremy Hill and Gio Bernard, as well as defenders Geno Atkins, Domata Peko and Carlos Dunlap so the Bengals figure to be competitive.
The Steelers won’t look much different from the team that won 10 games a year ago and was bounced out of the playoffs by the Broncos in the Divisional round. Familiar faces Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell all return, as well as defensive standouts Cameron Heyward, Ryan Shazier and Lawrence Timmons.
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The Ravens will have a slightly different look along their offensive line now that guard Kelechi Osemele is in Oakland. But the team invested its first round pick in tackle Ronnie Stanley and the offense will receive a boost from the return of injured receivers Steve Smith and 2015 first-rounder Breshad Perriman. The Ravens also have a slew of tight ends after signing Ben Watson to join a depth chart that already includes Crockett Gillmore, Maxx Williams and Dennis Pitta.
As for the Browns, they once again have a new head coach as Jackson takes over in Cleveland, as well as a new quarterback after the team signed Robert Griffin in the offseason. Gone are center Alex Mack (Falcons) and receiver Travis Benjamin (Chargers), but the team has some intriguing young talent on both sides of the ball. The question in Cleveland, as always, is whether or not that talent will come together and surprise.
2016-17 AFC North Odds to Win
Pittsburgh Steelers +130
Cincinnati Bengals +175
Baltimore Ravens +275
Cleveland Browns +2000