NFL Over/Unders 2017, Best Picks: AFC North
By Dan Salem
The NFL Over/Under lines are out for 2017, making now the best time to place your bets. Over in the AFC North we find multiple playoff teams and no sure thing.
NFL minicamps have opened. OTAs and training camps are getting underway. We are officially out of the offseason and into the preseason. With that, it is time to speculate wildly on everything from depth charts to position battles to standings to signings.
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We debated quarterback battles in Cleveland and Chicago, as well as Cincinnati‘s running back battle. But the 2017 NFL Over Under lines are out, meaning its time to make your bets with our best picks. Based on opening Over/Unders (per Westgate Las Vegas, via ESPN), we have an idea of how each division is expected to finish. Vegas isn’t always correct with its assessment though. There are flaws to exploit in its projections. Next up is the AFC North where there are no sure things.
Two brothers from New York, Dan Salem and Todd Salem, discuss the 2017 NFL Over Under lines in today’s NFL Sports Debate.
AFC North Over/Unders
Pittsburgh Steelers 10.5 wins
Baltimore Ravens 9 wins
Cincinnati Bengals 8.5 wins
Cleveland Browns 4.5 wins
Verdict
Todd Salem: Let’s just get this out of the way. The Browns’ number is too high. Vegas is looking for equal action on both sides of a wager. I can’t imagine the people who think Cleveland is going to go 5-11 or better this season.
Their offense is an absolute mess at nearly every skill position. Maybe the revamped offensive line can lead to a good Isaiah Crowell season, but that is more useful for fantasy football than real life. The team got worse at wide receiver and tight end, at least for the short-term. And with this spread, all we care about is short-term. There is officially legit talent on the Browns defense, but I’m not sure that will all come together right away either.
As for the rest of the AFC North, it is always a battle between Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and Cincinnati to be good. They all aren’t always good, even though we’ve almost come to expect that. It is hard to know which member of the trio will be up when the others are down or vice versa.
As a group, the North got a pretty nice draw this year. It faces the AFC South and NFC North, two divisions that could total two playoff teams. Because of that, placing everyone’s Over/Under above .500 sounds right.
I also enjoy Cincy’s bounce-back potential thanks to a third-place schedule and having better health. That’s my main takeaway from this logjam. I like the Bengals’ over more than any other pick and could easily imagine them regaining this division crown.
Dan Salem: I actually like the Browns to improve upon their record of a season ago, but that still puts them at three or four victories. Take the under with Cleveland. The team is young and hungry, but completely rebuilding. Five wins seems way too high. Its a similar story for the Pittsburgh Steelers. I don’t believe they are an 11-win team. Ben Roethlisberger is likely playing his final season and who knows how he’ll rebound from his most recent injury. I like the Steelers, but not for over 10wins. They were up last year, so I expect a small slide to the middle in 2017. Take the Under.
I’m going over on Baltimore and Cincinnati. The Ravens feel like an improved team which is more likely to win ten games than only eight. I also am on the Bengals rebound bandwagon. They made the playoffs every season of Andy Dalton‘s career up until last year. Expect a bounce back that nets them at least nine victories. An under .500 record feels unlikely for Cincinnati.
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Ultimately I think the AFC North is the strongest in the conference this season. At least one Wild Card team will be coming from this division and I like the Ravens to win it. Its all about quarterback stability and the AFC North has it in droves. Three teams with three winning quarterbacks. Need you know more?