Joe Burrow will be out until December with a foot injury
Derrick Henry has two fourth-quarter fumbles lost this season
Jake Browning passed for just 140 yards and threw two INTs in Week 3
The Ravens entered the season as a popular pick to win the AFC Championship game, but they haven’t looked the part. The team has lost two of its first three games, with issues arising on both sides of the football. While the team has stumbled to start the 2025 season, do their AFC North rivals have enough to capitalize on this?
Below, we will share the latest insights into all four AFC North squads, including the Ravens' 1-2 start, along with our pick to win. We’ll be using odds taken from bet365, which is offering new customers the chance to earn $200 in wagers when they bet $5, win or lose!.
Discover our podcast, Ride the Line, which is dedicated to all things sports and sports betting. Dive into Grant and Tanner's expert selections for the AFC North.
The odds have been taken from the bet365 sportsbook. Register at bet365 with our promo code WSN365 and claim the following welcome bonus: Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose.
Team | Odds |
---|---|
Baltimore Ravens | -350 BET HERE |
Pittsburgh Steelers | +475 BET HERE |
Cincinnati Bengals | +1200 BET HERE |
Cleveland Browns | +2500 BET HERE |
We aren’t ready to panic about the Ravens yet, but they are giving us plenty of reasons to doubt their talent. Most of those concerns are on defense, but the most significant involved Derrick Henry. After dominating in Week 1, he posted 73 yards and a TD on just 23 carries over the next two weeks. He has also lost two brutal fourth-quarter fumbles, which have been alarming to see. While we believe he can still dominate, it's possible the 31-year-old back could finally be starting to feel his age.
The Bengals lead the division at 2-1, but that won’t last long. The two wins occurred when Joe Burrow was at quarterback, but now he is expected to be out until December due to a toe injury. While backup Jake Browning has had success in the past, he isn’t good enough to carry this team. We saw that proven true in Week 3 as the quarterback passed for 140 yards and turned the ball over twice, leading to a 48-10 loss to the Vikings.
On top of Browning’s struggles, running back Chase Brown has been awful. The back was expected to be one of the best in the league, but has failed to deliver since the first half of the season. His struggles will add pressure to the passing game, which is bad news for everyone.
The Steelers' defense bounced back from a brutal first two weeks to deliver an impressive performance last weekend. While it was a promising sign, it doesn’t fix the team’s problems on offense. Aaron Rodgers has been bad, and that won’t change with matchups against the Vikings, Browns, Packers, and Colts over four of his next five games. This team may be 2-1, but expect them to lose a lot of games over the next few weeks.
The Browns' defense is elite, but he offense is terrible. We don’t suggest betting on them, but it is worth monitoring what the team decides to do at quarterback. If they can find someone to perform better than Flacco, it could suddenly make this team a competitor in the AFC North.
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There is a reason why the Ravens' odds jumped despite starting the season 1-2. While there has been a lot of talk about the weaknesses emerging for this team, there isn’t anyone we believe can overtake them. We can’t see any of the other three teams doing enough winning to push the Ravens while they are struggling. This Baltimore team will heat up as the season progresses, putting an end to discussions about their ability to compete for a Super Bowl.
Betting on the AFC North is a straightforward task for bettors of all backgrounds, but learning where to find and place these bets can take time. If you find yourself stuck, we have you covered.
Here is an easy step-by-step guide to help you get started:
Choose the sportsbook you want to wager with
Select “Football” or “NFL” from the betting catalog, usually found on the top or side menu
Once you reach the NFL page, click on the tab for “Futures”
Read through the options for the “Division Winner” section
Scroll down to the AFC North
Select the team you want to win
Navigate to your betslip to enter how much you want to wager
Hit submit, and you are all set!
Before placing any future bets, remember that the bet will take months to settle. That means your money will be locked in and unavailable for withdrawal during that time.
All division futures bets will be paid out once the season ends and a champion is officially crowned.
NFL futures odds work the same as any other bet. Each bet includes a number following the team or player, preceded by a plus or minus sign.
A plus sign before the number usually indicates an underdog, which is common with futures bets. If the odds next to a team or player have a plus sign, that is the amount that you will win for every $100 you bet.
A minus sign usually indicates the favorite to win, though they are rarely seen for future bets. A minus sign in front of the odds means that is how much you need to bet to win $100.
For example, you bet $100 on the Steelers at +500 to win the AFC North. If they win the division, you will win $350.
If you aren't looking to bet $100 at a time, don't worry! Check out our odds calculator to help you determine potential winnings based on different wager amounts.
Are you ready to start betting on the AFC North but unsure where to start? If so, we have you covered with our best sportsbooks reviews. Here are our three favorite online sportsbooks we use when betting on NFL futures:
Caesars Sportsbook: This is our favorite platform due to the favorable odds, frequent promotions, and live streaming of almost every NFL game. This means you can track bets from your phone, no matter where you are. Combine that with the Las Vegas-style experience, and you’ll quickly see why we love Caesars. New users at Caesars who use our promo code WSN20X will get the following welcome offer: Bet $1, Double Your Winnings Next 20 Bets.
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bet365 Sportsbook: bet365 may not have the brand recognition of FanDuel or Caesars in the US, but there is a reason it has become one of the world’s most popular sportsbooks. They are already growing in the US and are eager to attract new customers, meaning they’ll ensure your experience is as smooth and enjoyable as expected. Use our promo code WSN365 to register at bet365 today and get the following bonus: Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose.
Over the last decade, the AFC North has been a three-team race, with the Steelers, Bengals, and Ravens battling for supremacy. While Baltimore has won the division in two consecutive seasons, it will face another competitive race in 2025.
Below are the last ten teams to win the AFC North.
Year | Winner | Playoff Results |
---|---|---|
2015 | Cincinnati Bengals | Lost in WC Round |
2016 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Lost AFC Championship |
2017 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Lost Divisional Round |
2018 | Baltimore Ravens | Lost in WC Round |
2019 | Baltimore Ravens | Lost in Divisional Round |
2020 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Lost in WC Round |
2021 | Cincinnati Bengals | Lost in Super Bowl |
2022 | Cincinnati Bengals | Lost in AFC Championship |
2023 | Baltimore Ravens | Lost in AFC Championship |
2024 | Baltimore Ravens | Lost in Divisional Round |
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