2023 AFC North Division NFL Odds & Predictions
Even though the Bengals have won the AFC North in each of the last two seasons, the division is always wide open for the taking every offseason. The current betting odds would agree, as Cincinnati is not a runaway favorite to pull off a three-peat for the division crown this year. How do Cincy and the rest of the division stack up as we eagerly await the start of the new season?
Nitrobetting is here to take your bets into the end zone this 2023 NFL season. This time, let’s break down each team from the AFC North and their corresponding NFL odds of winning the division title in 2023.
2023 NFL Odds to Win the AFC North
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Cincinnati Bengals
As the reigning two-time division champs, the Bengals enter the new season as the odds-on favorite to win the AFC North once again, and with good reason. Cincinnati is led by MVP candidate Joe Burrow and his dynamic receiver Ja’Marr Chase, with this lethal combination arguably being the best one-two punch on offense in the league right now.
Four-time Pro Bowl tackle Orlando Brown also arrives from the Chiefs to bolster the offensive line and give Burrow even more room to operate in the pocket. The departures of safeties Jessie Bates and Von Bell hurt, but other than their defensive secondary, the Bengals are still geared up to have another fantastic campaign.
Baltimore Ravens
Had it not been for a slew of injuries last season and a highly-publicized contract extension dispute with Lamar Jackson, Baltimore would’ve likely been in great contention for the AFC North crown, if not the Super Bowl itself. Thankfully, Jackson agreed to stay with the team long-term and will be back at full strength come Week 1.
The Ravens had one of the better defensive units last season but did see stud defensive lineman Calais Campbell leave for Atlanta. That means the offense has to pick up more slack than usual, which makes the signing of Odell Beckham Jr. to improve Baltimore’s subpar passing game worth monitoring. All things considered, though, being under the guidance of John Harbaugh still gives Baltimore enough reason to challenge the Bengals for the division crown once more.
Cleveland Browns
Deshaun Watson’s maiden campaign in Cleveland was far from fortuitous for both parties, as Watson looked lost after coming back from his lengthy suspension. The Browns have one of the best offensive lines along with a top-tier running back in Nick Chubb, so upgrading the receiving corps with the signings of wideouts Elijah Moore and Marquise Goodwin further improves a unit that already has standout Amari Cooper and rising talent Donovan Peoples-Jones.
Defense, on the other hand, remains a huge question mark for the Browns. They had one of the worst run defenses in the league last season, and the addition of former Minnesota front-seven members Za’Darius Smith and Dalvin Tomlinson should improve their run D. But until Cleveland gets a bounce-back campaign from Watson on the other side of the ball, the team can be considered no more than a sleeper pick to win the NFC North in 2023.
Pittsburgh Steelers
There’s a ton of promise in the Steel City, with rookie and local product Kenny Pickett performing above expectations under center after the Mitch Trubisky experiment had failed early last season. Pickett did throw more interceptions than touchdowns in his debut campaign, but his 63 percent completion percentage is a positive sign. George Pickens and Diontae Johnson are solid options at wideout while running back Najee Harris needs a bounce-back third year with the Steelers bolstering its offensive line this offseason.
What will likely decide Pittsburgh’s success in 2023, though, remains the team’s star-studded defense. Former Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt carried the Steelers to an 8-2 record with him on the field and they tanked hard when Watt was out due to injuries, losing six of the seven other contests last season. Linebacker Alex Highsmith was a revelation in the pass-rushing department, while the likes of Minkah Fitzpatrick Cameron Hayward, and Terrell Edmunds are also notable forces on that side of the ball. With a rock-solid D and a questionable offense, Pittsburgh is a fascinating sleeper pick as well to reclaim the NFC North title for the first time since 2020.
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