Best bet to win every AFC division
The NFL season is just over a week away, and there's still plenty of value in the division markets, where plus-money wagers can pay off in a big way. Here are the odds for every division in the AFC and our best bet to win each one.
AFC North
| TEAM | ODDS |
|---|---|
| Cleveland Browns | Even |
| Baltimore Ravens | +115 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | +400 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | +1800 |
The Ravens were the favorites to win this division as recently as this week before losing sophomore star J.K. Dobbins to a season-ending knee injury. Is that enough to fade them as division champs? Baltimore still has a starting-caliber back in Gus Edwards and a former MVP in Lamar Jackson, who is primed for a bounce-back season after a health-challenged 2020.
The Browns have a legitimate Super Bowl roster and are rightfully priced as contenders in this division. Still, there are more questions around quarterback Baker Mayfield and head coach Kevin Stefanski than there are about Baltimore's duo of Jackson and John Harbaugh. Bet on the better team here at the slightly better price.
Pick: Ravens +115
AFC East
| TEAM | ODDS |
|---|---|
| Buffalo Bills | -160 |
| New England Patriots | +300 |
| Miami Dolphins | +380 |
| New York Jets | +1700 |
I loved the Bills a year ago at +200 to win this division, which wasn't in doubt once the Patriots collapsed early in the year. Buffalo is still the best team in the AFC East with a stacked roster and MVP-level quarterback in Josh Allen, but there's too much regression risk to lay such a short price.
Instead, give me the Dolphins, who invested two early picks in April's draft to improve a defense that already ranked in the top five in points allowed per drive in 2020. On the other side, Tua Tagovailoa is healthy with a full offseason to prepare as the starter and is surrounded by a more dynamic receiving corps than a year ago.
Pick: Dolphins +380
AFC South
| TEAM | ODDS |
|---|---|
| Tennessee Titans | -120 |
| Indianapolis Colts | +140 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | +650 |
| Houston Texans | +2200 |
The Texans are an absolute mess on both sides of the ball, and the Jaguars are clearly a year or two away with a first-year coach and quarterback and developing roster. That leaves this division as a two-team race between the Titans and Colts, who both finished 11-5 a year ago and have improved their rosters over the summer.
The safer bet is Tennessee, which added former All-Pro receiver Julio Jones to an offense that ranked fourth in points and second in yards in 2020. Indianapolis should improve this year with Carson Wentz at the helm, but his availability is an open question entering the season and lingers over any futures bet for the Colts.
Pick: Titans -120
AFC West
| TEAM | ODDS |
|---|---|
| Kansas City Chiefs | -310 |
| Los Angeles Chargers | +490 |
| Denver Broncos | +600 |
| Las Vegas Raiders | +1600 |
Is there any justification for betting against the Chiefs other than price? They've won this division for five straight seasons with a 26-4 record against the AFC West in that span. Even an unlikely injury to Patrick Mahomes - he's missed just two games with injury in his three years as a starter - probably wouldn't be enough, as his team has gone 1-1 and averaged 25 points in his absence.
He should be able to stay upright behind an overhauled offensive line, which was the easiest vulnerability to attack heading into this season. If the Chiefs' big gambles pay off up front, it's hard to envision fewer than 12 wins, which should be enough to take this division with ease.
Pick: Chiefs -310
C Jackson Cowart is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on Twitter (@CJacksonCowart) or email him at cjackson.cowart@thescore.com.