NFL betting is back with a vengeance, baby. It won't be long before preseason action starts up – so we better get going on divisional breakdowns, agreed? We'll start with the division most people call the roughest, toughest in football: the AFC North. We'll peruse each team alphabetically.
BALTIMORE RAVENS
NFL futures odds: -135
To me, the only thing holding Baltimore back not just from a divisional or conference title, but from a Super Bowl, could be the age of the defense. Ed Reed, Ray Lewis and company are a bit long in the tooth; how much longer before they break down for good?
The Ravens' offense should continue its rapid development this year. Rocket-armed Joe Flacco now has two outstanding possession receivers in Anquan Boldin and Derrick Mason. Ray Rice may be the best pass-catching back in the league. If Donte Stallworth can emerge as a viable deep threat, they'll be unstoppable. And how can you not love Flacco in 2010 when he has Michael Oher protecting his, er, Blind Side?
CINCINNATI BENGALS
NFL futures odds: +285
The Cincinnati Bengals are like that kid in high school who does something dumb at a party and can't shake the reputation no matter what. Even though they're the reigning AFC North champs – and went 4-0 against Pittsburgh and Baltimore last year – they have the third best odds to win this year.
Why? What did they lose? They had a top-four defense in the league last year and their stud cornerback tandem of Jonathan Joseph and Leon Hall returns. Their offense has only added, not subtracted; Carson Palmer now has Terrell Owens, rookie tight end Jermaine Gresham and, if he's healthy, Antonio Bryant to throw to on top of Chad Ochocinco.
The Bengals may not be the class of the AFC North but they sure as heck aren't the Bungles anymore.
CLEVELAND BROWNS
NFL futures odds: +825
It's a long road to respectability for the Cleveland Browns but new team president Mike Holmgren could eventually steer them in the right direction. They had a respectable offseason, bolstering the secondary by drafting Joe Haden and acquiring Sheldon Brown. Their quarterback situation isn't great with Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace, but this sports audio shows site would probably take those two over Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson. Well, at least Wallace.
The Browns' main strength this year could be the running game. Jerome Harrison looked like a star late last year and he could form a nice tandem with rookie Montario Hardesty running behind a good line.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Betting odds: +225
The books are trying to screw you by giving the Steelers the second best odds for the AFC North. It's not that Ben Roethlisberger and Santonio Holmes carried the team by themselves; the Steelers still have an amazing defense and Rashard Mendenhall could get the running game back to where it was in the glory days of Jerome Bettis and Willie Parker.
But with Holmes gone and Ben suspended for four to six games, defenses won't respect backup Byron Leftwich (or Dennis Dixon, who I think deserves a shot). They can stack the box against Mendenhall. I think the Steelers will find themselves in too deep a hole before Ben returns.
I definitely think people underestimate the Bengals – at least as a Wild Card team. But I admittedly think they'll relinquish the division title to Baltimore this year. The Ravens destruction of New England in the playoffs last year was a sign of things to come. Pick the Ravens.
