Odds to win the AFC North

The NFC North is the home to the defending Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers return the majority of their championship squad, less Nate Washington and a few others. Nate Washington is expected to be replaced by Texas wideout Limus Sweed. Sweed spent a good portion of the season on the bench, but was drafted with the expectation to produce. This year will be sink or swim for one Mr. Sweed.

Also expected to step up his role for the Steelers is running back Rashaard Mendenhall. Mendenhall went down mid-season with a broken shoulder at the hands of division rival poster boy Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens. The Steelers go off at five to seven odds, which are appropriate, given the relatively weak division.

The Baltimore Ravens return under the reigns of Joe Flacco. Flacco was surprisingly effective last season, despite not appearing at the top of the Ravens depth chart. The Ravens finished a game behind the Steelers and did make the playoffs. Some, including Steelers coach Mike Tomlin that the Baltimore Ravens could well be the team to beat in the AFC for the 2009-2010 season, say it. The Ravens score nine to five odds.

Perhaps the biggest joke of the division is the Cleveland Browns. Coached by newly hired Eric Mangini, the Cleveland Browns are nine to one favorites to win the division. Yet, when checking the NFL Odds for the super bowl, the Browns score a 60 to 1 payday should they make it to the Super Bowl. The Browns are a lost franchise, as the team is absent discipline, as well as work ethic. Brady Quinn may be thought of as the savior of the franchise, though he will not be saving them anytime soon. The Browns will be lucky to score five wins this season and will not compete for anything in the division beyond the basement.

Speaking of cellar dwellers, the Cincinnati Bengals sit nine to one to win the North. Led by the animated Chad Ochocinco, the Bengals will fail to surface as a contender in the division. Historically plagued by legal issues of their players, the Bengals focus more on off-field antics than that which occurs on the field. Add to the mix Quarterback Carson Palmer has returned from a season long elbow injury, only to be plagued with issues in his legs.

The Bengals – Browns battle for the basement will be as interesting as the battle for division supremacy between the Steelers and Ravens. In the AFC North, my money has to go on the champs – Steelers to win the division (5 to 7), over 11 wins and return to the Super Bowl (pays 15 to 2).