AFC North Win Total Over/Under Predictions For 2017 NFL Season

Will Ben Roethlisberger and the explosive Pittsburgh Steelers win double-digit games again after racking up 11 victories in 2016? Can Joe Flacco and the Baltimore Ravens get back to being a double-digit winner after going a modest 8-8 and missing out on the playoffs for the second straight season and third time in the last four years? Will the Cincinnati Bengals get back to being a playoff participant in 2017 after seeing their streak of five straight postseason appearances snapped a year ago? Last but not least, can Hue Jackson get his Cleveland browns to look more competent than they ever did in his first season in 2016? You’re going to find out the answers to all of the aforementioned questions as I offer up my expert analysis on each NFC North team’s 2017 regular season win total odds. Find the latest NFL betting odds here.

In Depth Analysis On The AFC North Win Total Over/Under Predictions For 2017 NFL Season

   

AFC North

Baltimore 9.5 Wins

Home: Bengals, Browns, Steelers, Texans, Colts, Dolphins, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions Away: Bengals, Browns, Steelers, Jaguars (in London), Titans, Raiders, Packers, Minnesota Vikings Analysis: The Ravens (8-8) will open with a road loss at Cincinnati before coming home in Week 2 to beat Cleveland. A road win at Jacksonville and home win against Pittsburgh will come in Weeks 3 and 4 followed by a road loss at Oakland. I like Flacco and the Ravens to pound Chicago senseless at home in Week 6 before squeaking past Minnesota on the road a week later. A home loss to Miami and road loss at Tennessee will likely come just before Baltimore’s week 10 bye. After that, I’m seeing a road loss at Green Bay, a narrow home win over Houston, a home victory over Detroit and a road loss against the Steelers. I then like Baltimore to close out the regular season with a road win at Cleveland and home wins over Indianapolis and Cincinnati to finish at 9-7 and just narrowly under their 9.5-game win total odds. Baltimore needs to put more points on the board after finishing 21st in scoring (21.4 ppg) in 2016. Pick: Under 9.5 Wins

Cincinnati 8.5 Wins

Home: Ravens, Browns, Steelers, Bills, Colts, Texans, Bears, Lions Away: Ravens, Browns, Steelers, Broncos Titans, Jaguars, Packers, Vikings Analysis: The Bengals fell all the way to 6-9 after making the playoffs in each of the previous five seasons, but they could rebound nicely after making some nice offseason acquisitions. I’ve got Cincy beating Baltimore at home in their opener before losing at home to Houston in Week 2 and falling at Green bay a week later. The Bengals will pound Cleveland in Week 4 before squeaking past Buffalo just prior to their week 6 bye. I like the Bengals to beat Pittsburgh on the road in Week 7 before beating the Colts at home in Week 8 and Jacksonville on the road the following week. A pair of road losses at Tennessee and Denver will follow before Andy Dalton and company complete their regular season sweep of Cleveland in Week 12. A home loss to the Steelers should come in Week 13 followed a pair of home wins against Chicago and Detroit in Weeks 14 and 16 should sandwich a narrow road loss at Minnesota in week 15 before the Bengals drop their regular season finale in Baltimore to finish at 9-7. Cincinnati really lost a lot of their explosiveness on offense last season as they ranked in the middle third in total yards, passing and rushing while finishing a discouraging 24th in points scored (20.3 ppg). Pick: Over 8.5 Wins

Pittsburgh 10.5 Wins

Home: Bengals, Browns, Ravens, Patriots, Jaguars, Titans, Packers, Vikings Away: Bengals, Browns, Ravens, Texans, Colts, Chiefs, Bears, Lions Analysis: The Steelers (11-5) will be looking to take a step forward after falling short of their Super Bowl hopes a year ago despite finishing an encouraging 11th in scoring (24.9 ppg) and 10th in points allowed (20.4 ppg). In 2017, I’ve got the Steelers winning in Cleveland in their opener before coming home to beat Minnesota in Week 2. I like the Steelers to win in Chicago before falling at Baltimore in week 4. A home win over Jacksonville will take place just after that, followed by another loss at Kansas City. I then like Ben Roethlisberger and company to win at home against Cincinnati and at Detroit before their Week 9 bye. I’ve then got the Steelers winning in Indianapolis and at home against Tennessee before getting upset at Heinz Field by Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. A road loss at Cincinnati will take place in Week 13 before the Steelers get impressive home wins against Baltimore and New England, a road win at Houston and a home win in their finale against the Browns to finish at 12-4 or an identical 11-5 like they went last season. Pick: Over 10.5 Wins

Cleveland 4.5 Wins

Home: Bengals, Ravens, Steelers, Jets, Jaguars, Titans, Packers, Vikings (in London) Away: Bengals, Ravens, Steelers, Chargers, Texans, Colts, Bears, Lions Analysis: The Browns didn’t get the quarterback they still need, but they did have a very good draft and that alone should help them take a slight step forward in 2017. I like Cleveland to beat the Jets and Jaguars at home in Weeks 5 and 11 and the Chicago Bears on the road in Week 16. I also have to say that I don’t think Cleveland will lose all six AFC North division matchups either, so, I’m thinking 4-12 sounds about right or maybe 5-111 in a best case scenario, although five wins could be pushing it a bit seeing as how the Browns still need to identify who their starting quarterback will be and finished the 2016 season ranked a pitiful 31st in scoring (16.5 ppg) and equally disturbing 30th in points allowed (28.2 ppg). Pick: Under 4.5 Wins