NFL Over/Under Win Totals Preview: AFC North

The AFC North is the subject of our next NFL win totals preview and could prove to be the most intriguing division in the league. It’s hard for it not to be considering that the current betting favorite to win the division is two years removed from a miserable 0-16 season. The Cleveland Browns have done a complete 180 since then and that’s where we’ll begin:

CLEVELAND BROWNS: For years, the Browns have been the laughing stock of the AFC North. Since the division came into existence when the NFL re-aligned in 2002 the Brownies have never won the division which immediately puts them on a lower qualitative level than Pittsburgh (8 wins), Baltimore (5 wins) and Cincinnati (4 wins). This Browns also enter the season with a run of 11 straight losing years and missing the playoffs in 16 straight seasons. So can this team be trusted to turn over a new page and make Cleveland into a winner? It sure looks like it. Baker Mayfield is the real deal–not only does he have considerable skills as a quarterback he’s got the perfect mentality for the game. He’s a leader and his swagger is what this team needs. And his head for the game? Here’s what QB coach Ryan Lindley says:

“He’s got an extremely quick mind. Sometimes he’s jumping six steps ahead of where I’m coaching. He’ll ask the question before I get to it in our meetings. But that’s part of what makes him great. He’s also taken that role of coaching guys not only in our room, but outside. So it’s been a really good progression.”

Quarterbacks who combine talent, leadership, swagger and smarts are downright lethal. GM John Dorsey brought in a ton of talent to put around him and underrated RB Nick Chubb. They picked up some blue chip players on defense with Olivier Vernon and Sheldon Richardson but everything the Browns did was overshadowed by their acquisition of wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. who is as dominant as anyone in the league when healthy. Cleveland also brought in a haul from the draft with a focus on defense where LSU cornerback Greedy Williams and BYU linebacker Sione Takitaki could contribute immediately. The offense looked nasty in their only series in Cleveland’s preseason opener with Baker Mayfield going 5 of 6 and scoring a touchdown with most of his top receivers on the bench.

CLEVELAND BROWNS OVER 9 WINS -110 (BEST BET)

BALTIMORE RAVENS: Lamar Jackson is now the franchise quarterback and if he shows the form he did after he took over last year the Ravens could be contender. They did a good job getting ‘younger and better’ over the offseason. Gone are Joe Flacco, Terrell Suggs and C.J. Mosley and at this stage of career Jackson along with Mark Ingram and Earl Thomas plus with top draft pick Marquise Brown out of Oklahoma are likely upgrades. Plenty of changes in personnel but this team is steady as a stately clipper ship elsewhere. As always, exceptional coaching and strong fundamentals via head coach John Harbaugh on the sidelines. A class franchise and a solid coaching infrastructure that knows how to get the most out of the players they have.

BALTIMORE RAVENS OVER 8 WINS (BEST BET)

PITTSBURGH STEELERS: With Mike Tomlin and Ben Roethlisberger returning you know that the Steelers won’t fall off too much. If anything, the departure of Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown are likely ‘addition by subtraction’. They are definitely elite talents but their negative impact on the chemistry and cohesion of this team can’t be overstated. James Conner and JuJu Smith-Schuster are next in line to take their place. T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward are ferocious pass rushers and first round pick Devin Bush out of Michigan is out of the same mold. The defense has plenty of talent but has to improve on their #16 scoring defense from a year ago. I keep vascilating on the Steelers–several people whom I respect very highly really like them to go ‘Over 9 wins’. I’m not convinced so I’ll lean to the ‘Under’.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS UNDER 9 WINS +105

CINCINNATI BENGALS: Speaking of ‘not convinced’. Marvin Lewis is gone as head coach after 17 seasons and Zac Taylor is the new man in the job. He’s got a few tools to work with–quarterback Andy Dalton, running back Joe Mixon and after he comes back from injury receiver A.J. Green. The defensive line looks solid. Everything else is a huge question mark and particularly the offensive line. In a very tough division the Bengals are just a cut below everyone else.

CINCINNATI BENGALS UNDER 5.5 WINS +110 (BEST BET)

Get the latest NFL football odds and information–follow BetOnline.ag on Twitter!