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Each NFL division’s non-favorite with the best chance to win

By Lucas Schuh

CLEVELAND, OHIO - AUGUST 22: Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns watches from the sidelines during the first quarter against the New York Giants at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 22, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - AUGUST 22: Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns watches from the sidelines during the first quarter against the New York Giants at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 22, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – JANUARY 10: Kareem Hunt #27 of the Cleveland Browns celebrates a touchdown with Baker Mayfield #6 during the first half of the AFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on January 10, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – JANUARY 10: Kareem Hunt #27 of the Cleveland Browns celebrates a touchdown with Baker Mayfield #6 during the first half of the AFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on January 10, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

AFC North odds for 2021 NFL season

  • Baltimore Ravens: +115
  • Cleveland Browns: +130
  • Pittsburgh Steelers: +400
  • Cincinnati Bengals: +2250

Best non-favorite pick to win: Clevland Browns +130

The AFC North may be one of the most competitive divisions in the NFL and they showed it last year as the Steelers won the crown with a 12-4 record while the Browns and Ravens had 11 wins apiece. But Pittsburgh now has the third-best odds in the division, which makes sense. They’ll have a shot at the playoffs but the AFC North will come down to the Ravens and Browns.

For as good as the Ravens are, though, Cleveland might have the best roster in the NFL. It’s hard to find a weak spot on the Browns after some ingenuis team-building by the front office. Behind an elite offensive line, they have a tremendous 1-2 punch at running back with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. Baker Mayfield has also proven himself and has a nice cast of passing weapons to work with.

The big improvement this offseason came on defense, however. Not only did they bolster the secondary with the likes of John Johnson III, rookie Greg Newsome and Troy Hill but they addressed the big hole at linebacker with two ultra-versatile rookies in Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and Tony Fields. Furthermore, the Jadeveon Clowney signing helps shore up the line.

Not only do the Browns have the second-best odds to win the AFC North but they would be my pick to win the division. So as a non-favorite, they were the easy choice here as the sleeper with the best chance.

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