Baseball season is barely more than a month old, but what does that matter when fresh over/unders have been released for the upcoming NFL season?
Thanks to Sportsbook.og, we have an early look at what Las Vegas believes will be the win totals for each NFL team.
I’ll take a look at each team this week and will continue today with the AFC North.
Baltimore Ravens: over/under 8.5 (even over/-130 under)
Oddsmakers aren’t showing much love for the Ravens despite the plethora of injuries that have hampered them during the previous two years. This isn’t the same team we’ve become accustomed to seeing over the years, but Baltimore should still compete in a rugged division, as long as the injury bug doesn’t creep up again.
Last year it was a revolving door at almost every position, including quarterback, running back and wide receiver. It’s not a smart strategy to bet on injuries, so that’s why I love the over in this instance. If injuries don’t happen, the Ravens should win at least nine games, especially with two games against Cleveland and matchups with the NFC East. This is a team that could completely reverse course from its start a year ago.
Last season, the Ravens were 1-6 to open the season. This year, before its bye week in week 8, the Ravens host Buffalo, Oakland and Washington, and travel to Cleveland, Jacksonville and New York in back-to-back weeks to face the Giants and Jets. The Ravens could easily be 6-1 in that stretch. — Over
Cincinnati Bengals: Over/under 9.5 (-130 over/even under)
If I believe Baltimore will be better and Pittsburgh should compete for a Super Bowl (more on that later), some team in the AFC North has to take a hit. The Bengals have been one of the most consistent teams in the NFL lately. They make the playoffs and then proceed to lose in the opening round.
Last season, the Bengals had a legitimate shot to make the Super Bowl if Andy Dalton stayed healthy. That didn’t happen and the way that last year’s game ended against Pittsburgh will weigh heavily on the players’ minds. That hangover will stop the Bengals from making the playoffs again in 2016. Couple that with a division that will be better, and road games against Dallas, New England and the New York Giants out of division, and I’m not banking on the Bengals going over nine wins this season. — Under
Cleveland Browns: Over/under 4.5 (-140 over/even under)
The Browns are atrocious. I get that. But should we be dismissing them to the tune of less than five wins?
Games against Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Baltimore make it difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but there were flashes of decent games last season. With Robert Griffin III getting a rebirth in Cleveland, maybe that translates into some new momentum.
However, upon further examining the schedule, there’s likely no shot at more than four wins. Other than divisional home games, Cleveland plays New England, the New York Jets and Giants, Dallas and San Diego. The Browns could get past one of the New York teams, but that’s about it. And I’m just conceding losses on the road. Cleveland resembles more of a 3-13 team than a team competing for five or six wins. — Under
Pittsburgh Steelers: Over/under 10.5 (over -130/under even)
I get better value with the under, but I can’t dismiss my hunch of a special season for the Steelers.
Pittsburgh is absolutely loaded on the offensive side of the ball. And defensively, the team continually got better throughout the season last year and I anticipate that will continue this year.
Home games against Cincinnati, Baltimore, Dallas and New England will present challenges, but it’s easily conceivable to believe Pittsburgh will be at least 6-2 at home, leaving five more wins to find on the road. Thankfully for Steelers fans, they have road games at Buffalo, Washington, Philadelphia and Miami, in addition to divisional games, which includes a game at Cleveland.
Even if the Steelers lose two games at home, I see at least five road victories in the future. The Steelers are loaded and should be considered as a Super Bowl contender. — Over
