If you’re a fan of smashmouth football, where the hits are bigger, the crowds are buzzing, and bad blood is real, then look no further than what’s offered every NFL season by the AFC North. Home to some of the biggest rivalries in all of football, each year the hatred and competitiveness within this division ramps up, leading to can’t-miss clashes throughout the regular season.
With historic franchises sporting superstar talent, the only way the action of the AFC North could get any better is by placing a bet on the latest division odds.
As the Pittsburgh Steelers look to defend their divisional crown in their first season in 20 years without Mike Tomlin at the helm, the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals are hungry to get back into Super Bowl contention, all the while the Cleveland Browns hope to show the Dawg Pound still has some bite to go along with their bark.
Don’t miss out on your chance to win big on this year’s NFL action, check out our expert AFC North predictions and win big thanks to our in-depth division betting preview.
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AFC North – AFC South – AFC East – AFC West – NFC North – NFC South – NFC East – NFC West
Baltimore Ravens to Win the Super Bowl
Baltimore Ravens
Super Bowl Odds: +1100
To Win Conference Odds: +500
Division Odds: -105
Odds to Make Playoffs: Yes (-340) No (+250)
Season Win Total: Over 11.5 (+115) Under 11.5 (-145)
2025 Record: 8-9
Key Additions: EDGE Trey Hendrickson, C Danny Pinter, DE Calais Campbell
Key Subtractions: TE Isaiah Likely, C Tyler Linderbaum, LB Kyle van Noy
Most Important Game on the Schedule: A late-season collision course that will no doubt put some wind in their sails as they push toward the postseason, the most important game on the schedule for the Ravens will come in Week 15 when they take on the Steelers on the road. Always a must-see showdown when these two teams do battle on the gridiron, this matchup will serve as both a mental and tactical test for the Ravens as they prove to the football world that they can handle the pressure and prevail, taking down a tough division rival and cementing themselves as the team to beat in the AFC North in 2026.
Prop to Watch: Coming off a down year in terms of his typical production, bank on Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson to get back into MVP form, throwing 25+ passing touchdowns in 2026. While it’s Jackson’s legs that have turned him into one of the best QB talents the league has ever seen, don’t sleep on his passing ability inside the pocket. In 2025, Jackson threw for 21 TDs in just 13 games, showing that if he stays healthy, he’ll have no trouble surpassing the 25 passing touchdown mark this season.
Potential Breakout Player: At risk of sounding like a broken record, the Ravens are still in search of a go-to wide receiver. While Zay Flowers has performed admirably in his role, it’s safe to say he isn’t a true number-one receiver at the NFL level. With the opportunity to form an elite tandem with Lamar Jackson, look for rookie wide receiver Ja’Kobi Lane to emerge as a breakout star in his first season as a pro. A third-round pick out of USC, Lane has shown tremendous versatility in his game, able to work as a serious threat as well as a dependable third-down route runner. Coming off a 745-yard campaign in just 11 appearances in his Junior year with the Trojans, expect big things from Lane in his rookie season.
Betting Projection: Last year, everything that could go wrong for the Ravens happened. From injuries, to lacklustre production, the Ravens were easily one of the biggest disappointments of the year. Don’t expect this to become a trend, however, as the re-tooled, new-look Ravens are poised to get back on track and should be kept on a shortlist of Super Bowl contenders this season. Sporting a well-rounded roster chock-full of talent, look for the high-powered offence of the Ravens to run the score up on defences all year long, while their high-upside defence rediscovers its game, finishing the 2026 season with one of the best records in the NFL, en route to a deep playoff run.
Lamar Jackson 25+ Passing Touchdowns
Cincinnati Bengals
Super Bowl Odds: +2000
To Win Conference Odds: +1000
Division Odds: +175
Odds to Make Playoffs: Yes (-200) No (+155)
Season Win Total: Over 10.5 (+105) Under (-135)
2025 Record: 6-11
Key Additions: DT Dexter Lawrence, DT Jonathan Allen, DE Boye Mafe
Key Subtractions: EDGE Trey Hendrickson, LB Logan Wilson, S Geno Stone
Most Important Game on the Schedule: Coming off their Bye Week in Week 7, the Bengals will have their biggest test of the season when they take on a divisional rival in the Ravens. Not only will this be a pivotal matchup in the AFC North standings, but it will also be their first meeting against a truly elite offensive unit. With the defence of the Bengals having been the crux of their existence since reaching the Super Bowl in 2021, the Bengals defence will need to show signs of life and an ability to make a stop against top-tier competition. If they have the doors blown off them and can’t secure consistent stops, this could signal more of the same for the Bengals.
Prop to Watch: With his team needing him to generate points in droves in order to remain competitive in every game they play, look for the Bengals’ elite passing attack to lead directly to quarterback Joe Burrow leading the NFL in passing yards in 2026. Having led the league in passing yards once already in his career with nearly 5,000 back in 2024, Burrow’s big arm is sure to help propel him to the top of the season standings this year. With Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins set to continue dismantling defensive backs all year long, look for the dynamic trio in Cinci to cook secondaries, en route to Burrows’ second passing yards title.
Potential Breakout Player: Coming off a career-best season with the Bengals in 2025, look for defensive end Myles Murphy to continue evolving as a player, breaking out for the orange and black this season. Last year, Murphy piled up 5.5 sacks after appearing in every game of the season for the Bengals, showing durability and tenacity. With top edge rusher Trey Hendrickson now a Raven, Murphy will be looked at to make up for the high-volume output from the outside in what could be a career-defining season for the former first-round pick.
Betting Projection: Unfortunately, it’s the same old story for the Bengals. You can’t win if your defence has more holes in it than a slice of Swiss cheese. While their defensive line should be formidable, with Dexter Lawrence and Jonathan Allen set to control the interior, elsewhere the Bengals are completely devoid of talent. Watch this season as teams have a cakewalk down the field, scoring routinely, barely breaking a sweat in the process. As they say, “defence wins championships”, and without it, the Bengals are looking at their fourth straight year of missing the NFL Playoffs.
Joe Burrow to Lead the NFL in Passing Yards
Pittsburgh Steelers
Super Bowl Odds: +5000
To Win Conference Odds: +2500
Division Odds: +500
Odds to Make Playoffs: Yes (+150) No (-190)
Season Win Total: Over 8.5 (+110) Under 8.5 (-140)
2025 Record: 10-7
Key Additions: WR Michael Pittman Jr., RB Rico Dowdle, S Jaquan Brisker
Key Subtractions: RB Kenneth Gainwell, G Isaac Seumalo, TE Jonnu Smith
Most Important Game on the Schedule: The Steelers are entering a new era as they play their first game without Mike Tomlin as head coach. Looking to begin building their new identity under head coach Mike McCarthy, expect their Week 1 meeting with the Atlanta Falcons to set the tone for what’s to come in 2026. With no shortage of questions swirling around the Steelers organization with a 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers standing in the pocket, as well as a contract holdout looming with cornerback Joey Porter Jr., Week 1 will be telling of how far this current roster construction can take them in a competitive AFC.
Prop to Watch: Set to get back to his old ways, back All-Pro linebacker T.J. Watt to assault quarterbacks this season, tallying Over 11.5 sacks for a +125 payday on your NFL bet slips. Having finished six of his seven seasons in which he’s played at least 15 games with 11.5 sacks or more, if Watt is able to remain healthy, he’ll have no trouble collecting heads and recording sacks this season. Playing alongside an explosive front seven, Watt will have plenty of help from his teammates in generating pressure and creating holes for him to shoot through in order to bring the QB to the turf throughout the 2026 season.
Potential Breakout Player: Coming off of back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons, look for newly acquired running back Rico Dowdle to usurp the starting spot in the Steelers backfield from Jaylen Warren, finally showcasing that he can be a true number-one running back in the NFL. After a “Linsanity” stretch that saw him average 130.4 rushing yards over five games with the Panthers last season, it looked like Dowdle had truly arrived in the NFL. While his play slowed down and the Panthers running back room shifted to younger prospects, there’s no question that the 28-year-old has tremendous upside. Competing for a starting job with a back that’s never finished with more than 1,000 rushing yards in four NFL seasons, bank on Dowdle to get plenty of touches as he’s reunited with former head coach Mike McCarthy, finishing with a career-best season in his first year in the Steel City.
Betting Projection: Somehow, some way, the Steelers always remain competitive in the AFC North, but I firmly believe much of that had to do with the magic of Mike Tomlin. With him no longer roaming the sidelines, expect a horrid season from the Steelers, finishing Under 8.5 wins. Once again, the Steelers overperformed in 2025 and had no business winning the division. With their defence beginning to get long in the tooth and their offence looking incredibly shaky, expect a down year in the Steel City as they finish at the bottom of the AFC North in 2026.
Division Exact Order – 1st Ravens/2nd Browns/3rd Bengals/4th Steelers
Cleveland Browns
Super Bowl Odds: +20000
To Win Conference Odds: +9000
Division Odds: +2000
Odds to Make Playoffs: Yes (+600) No (-1000)
Season Win Total: Over 5.5 (-130) Under 5.5 (+100)
2025 Record: 5-12
Key Additions: G Zion Johnson, C Elgton Jenkins, T Tytus Howard
Key Subtractions: EDGE Myles Garrett, TE David Njoku, G Wyatt Teller
Most Important Game on the Schedule: Determined to prove that this isn’t the same ol’ Browns team we’ve grown accustomed to, look for Week 1 of the 2026 season to be a coming-out party for one of the biggest sleepers in the AFC as they take on the Jacksonville Jaguars in Duval County. Taking on the reigning AFC South champions, this is a golden opportunity to start the season off on the right foot, demonstrate a sense of cohesion, and start the season 1-0 for the third time over the last 20 seasons.
Prop to Watch: After having his stellar rookie season cut short last year due to injury, look for second-year running back Quinshon Judkins to truly break out this season, leaving his mark in the NFL and piling up 10+ rushing touchdowns. In his rookie campaign, Judkins finished with seven rushing scores, five of them in his first six NFL games, but his production slowed as the Browns struggled to stay competitive, losing handily in seven of the eight games played afterwards. With a solid offensive line in front of him and a new head coach in Tom Monken, look for a career year from Judkins as he hits paydirt 10+ times in 2026.
Potential Breakout Player: Possessing a massive stature at six-foot-six and 315 lbs, the Browns may have a future Pro Bowl tackle on the blind side as ninth overall pick Spencer Fano is primed to impress in his first season in the NFL. Still in search of a player ready to fill the legendary shoes of Browns great Joe Thomas, Fano appears to be the perfect candidate to build their offensive line around. With great size and strength, look for Fano to look like a man among boys this season, taking on the challenges of several elite edge rushers in the AFC North and giving his backfield a chance to generate big plays thanks to his pass-protecting ability.
Betting Projection: Entering the 2026 season with the easiest strength of schedule in the NFL, look for the Browns to fight their way back into contention in the AFC North as they finish with the second-best record behind the Ravens in 2026. While there’s still some uncertainty in the locker room surrounding the quarterback play, whether it’s Deshaun Watson or Shadeur Sanders, they have enough talent on both sides of the football to be competitive this season and are a more well-rounded football team when compared to the Steelers and Bengals. With oddsmakers counting them out, make them pay and back the Brownies to win Over 5.5 games, and make a dark-horse run toward the AFC Playoffs.
