Online Sports Betting at Sportsbook

2008 AFC North Predictions

Jeff Alexander’s 2008 AFC North predictions provide a run down on the division from top to bottom.  Can Baltimore pick itself back up after a tough season?  Can the Browns continue to win?  Jeff answers these questions and more as he rates the division.
 
1st – Pittsburgh Steelers: 16-1 odds to win the Super Bowl
 
The Steelers managed to hold onto the top spot in the North despite struggling down the stretch.  They lost four of their last five games, including one at home in the playoffs.  The Steelers saw their best player on the offensive line, Alan Faneca, leave in the offseason as well and not much was done to strengthen what is now the team’s weakness.  Still, Big Ben has proven he can take a hit and then get right back up and deliver.  The Steelers added Illinois running back Rashard Mendenhall and Texas receiver Limas Sweep through the draft to give Roethlisberger more offensive weapons to work with.  Head coach Mike Tomlin’s defense was ranked No. 1 in his first season and I think you’ll see strong defensive units year after year as the trend in Pittsburgh.  It will be another tough battle, but I like the Steelers to come out on top.  The betting line on Pittsburgh is 10-11 odds to win the AFC North Division at BodogLife.com.
 
2nd – Cleveland Browns: 25-1 odds to win the Super Bowl
 
The big question is if Cleveland can build off of a 10-win season.  I think the team made enough moves in free agency to challenge the Steelers again for the division top spot.  The Browns made major deals to get Corey Williams and Shaun Rogers to upgrade the team’s weak defensive front.  The Bengals also upgraded the offense with the addition of deep threat Donte Stallworth to stretch the defense.  If QB Derek Anderson proves that he is the real deal, the Browns should be in the playoffs.  The betting line on Cleveland is 7-4 odds to win the AFC North Division at BodogLife.com.
 
3rd – Baltimore Ravens: 75-1 odds to win the Super Bowl
 
Another poor offensive season finally cost Brian Billick his job.  New head coach John Harbaugh wasted no time making a very smart move – hiring offensive mastermind Cam Cameron as coordinator.  The Ravens landed big QB Joe Flacco in the draft to be their QB of the future.  He looks like a perfect fit for Cameron’s vertical passing game.  The defense will still have to carry this team until Flacco is ready, but the offense should be better under Cameron.  The betting line on Baltimore is 15-2 odds to win the AFC North Division at BodogLife.com.
 
4th – Cincinnati Bengals: 60-1 odds to win the Super Bowl
 
Things keep getting worse in Cincy as defense and off-field issues continue to bring this team down.  This off-season the Bengals lost three of their best defensive players in free agency and Chad Johnson created plenty of distractions with his trade demands.  Head coach Marvin Lewis responded by drafting a handful of defensive players and three receivers.  The Bengals aren’t far off now from a complete rebuild.  They’ll try to outscore teams once again with Carson Palmer’s air strikes, but we all saw that that didn’t work out too well a season ago.  The betting line on Cincinnati is 9-2 odds to win the AFC North Division at BodogLife.com.
 

If you liked this article, you may also be interested in:

Online Sports Betting at Sportsbook

Deposit Instantly Using Your Credit Card at Sportsbook.com!

July 28, 2008

Comments

Got something to say?

You must be logged in to post a comment.