The excitement has begun in Pittsburgh, as the NFL preseason kicks off. Fans across the Mountain State are eagerly anticipating the performance of their beloved professional team in the upcoming year.
After Kenny Pickett’s game-winning touchdown in the final seconds, securing a preseason victory for the Steelers against the Seattle Seahawks, the anticipation for the regular season is building, leaving us to wonder: Who will be next in line after Big Ben?
The highly anticipated Sept. 11 game, marking the start of the season for most NFL teams, particularly the intense AFC North rivalry between the Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals, is rapidly approaching.
Can Will Pickett, Mitchell Trubisky, or Mason Rudolph successfully step into the role left by retired Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger? Additionally, what level of success can we expect from the Steelers?
We should analyze the entire division.
AFC North futures odds at WV sportsbooks
The AFC North odds to win, as per DraftKings Sportsbook WV, are as follows:
- Baltimore Ravens +155
- Cincinnati Bengals +180
- Cleveland Browns +320
- Pittsburgh Steelers +1100
The projected wins and betting odds available at the online sportsbook are as follows:
- The Steelers’ win total is set at 7.5, with the over listed at +100 and the under at -120.
- The Cincinnati team is predicted to achieve 10 wins, with the option to bet on them surpassing (+100) or falling short (-120) of this mark.
- The projected number of wins for Baltimore is set at 9.5. Betting on the over has odds of -160, while betting on the under has odds of +130.
Cleveland Browns victory totals and individual props have been met with hesitation by WV sportsbooks.
More than 20 women have accused Deshaun Watson, the anticipated starting quarterback, of sexual misconduct, leading to his absence from multiple upcoming games.
Prop betting markets for the AFC North
Steelers odds
Is it possible for Diontae Johnson, Najee Harris, and Pat Freiermuth to collectively exceed a total of 15.5 touchdown passes? The odds for a positive outcome are +280.
The trio’s combined score of 18 from last year makes it a reasonable proposition. However, the decision to proceed depends on the bettor’s evaluation of the quarterbacks and their individual chemistry with the team.
Is it possible for Will Harris to accumulate over 1,250 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards? The odds for this outcome are +275. It would only require a small increase in his performance, as Harris achieved 1,200 rushing yards and 467 receiving yards in the previous year.
Can the Steelers score more than 360.5 points this season? They scored 343 points in the previous year, which averages to just over 21 points per game. The odds for this outcome are +100.
Once more, these odds are equitable for a situation with a 50-50 probability. In light of Big Ben’s inability to run, the energetic pace and nimble skills of Trubisky or Pickett could ignite the overall offensive performance.
Ravens odds
Is it possible for Baltimore to score a minimum of 450 points during the regular season? This bet has odds of +140 and looks intriguing.
Although the Ravens possess explosive potential, opposing teams have started to discover effective methods for containing Lamar Jackson. In order to achieve this objective, they must score at least 27 points per game.
Is it possible for Justin Tucker to go through the entire season without missing a field goal? The odds of that happening are +2500. However, it is a demanding task for any player, even though Tucker has achieved it before. Nevertheless, he has recently started to miss some field goals that were previously considered easy for him.
Bengals odds
Is it likely that the Bengals will surpass 425.5 points this season? The odds for the yes option are +100. The Bengals achieved a total of 460 points in the previous year.
Is there a possibility that Ja’Marr Chase will achieve a game with 200 yards? Can you sense the allure of placing a bet on this outcome? The odds are +450. It’s worth noting that he accomplished this feat twice last season.
Is it possible for Joe Burrow to throw for over 4,500 yards and achieve 35 touchdowns? The odds for this outcome are +250.
Last year, Burrow achieved an impressive feat by throwing for 4,611 yards and recording 34 touchdowns. However, his journey was not without obstacles as he underwent an appendix removal surgery in late July. While he is expected to recover in time for Week One, the possibility of missing a game could potentially impact his projected performance.
Is there a possibility that Burrow will have a game with 500 yards passing? Yes, the odds are +900.
The same concept applies to the Chase prop bet, where achieving a 500-yard game is exceptionally uncommon. Only once did Burrow accomplish this feat last year, which is precisely why the bet exists.
Examining the AFC North teams
Reasons to be bullish on a prop from each of these teams and reasons to be bearish on a prop from each of these teams.
Steelers over 7.5 wins
In a year where there was a limited demand for quarterbacks in the NFL draft, Pickett stood out as an exceptional choice. His exceptional skills led him to win the prestigious 2021 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, recognizing him as the top upperclassman quarterback in college football.
In 2019, Joe Burrow emerged as the victor and later competed in a Super Bowl. Mac Jones, on the other hand, claimed his stake in 2020 and now leads the New England Patriots. The question remains: How successful will Pickett be this year?
However, Big Ben opted for alternative choices in second, third, and fourth place. The invaluable intuition he possesses for the game cannot simply be replicated, potentially causing difficulties for his eventual replacement.
Ravens over 450 points
The team possesses an impressive running game as a whole. Mark Andrews stands out as a top-tier tight end. And let me share a little secret: Tyler Huntley is not far behind Jackson in terms of performance. He demonstrates remarkable running abilities and arguably throws a superior pass.
Defenses are simultaneously adapting to contain Lamar Jackson, forcing him to rely more on his passing skills. Is he evolving into the next Michael Vick?
Browns
Jacoby Brissett is a fairly solid player, offering an additional running threat. Nevertheless, the Browns retain the league’s strongest overall backfield with the dynamic duo of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt.
The team is currently experiencing a state of disarray. They made the decision to give up on Baker Mayfield prematurely and invested heavily in resolving Watson’s issues. Additionally, Hunt has expressed his desire to be traded. As a result, there is a possibility that the team might lack direction and leadership.
The division will be won by the Bengals.
A nice price of +180 awaits them if they can simply outperform the confused Browns and rebuilding Steelers, and emerge victorious against the Ravens.
The Bengals’ vulnerability lies in the fact that any disturbance involving Burrow would have a severe detrimental impact on the team.
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