[Hman]

Browns open as favorites to win AFC North

Ben Fawkes


The Cleveland Browns suddenly have become a talented -- and public -- team this offseason.


Their Super Bowl odds shifted from 25-1 to 14-1 at the SuperBook at the Westgate Las Vegas after their trade for wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., and they're now the most bet-on team to win the Super Bowl by tickets and money at DraftKings Sportsbook in New Jersey.


Add favorites to win the AFC North to the list of offseason accomplishments, too.


The SuperBook on Saturday opened the Browns as +140 favorites to win the division, trailed closely by the Pittsburgh Steelers at +160 and Baltimore Ravens at +250.


"They have the most talented roster in the division, and they are the team the public will be looking to bet," SuperBook director John Murray told ESPN. "Multiple big-name stars means public fascination, and I think they would've won the division last season had they gone with Kitchens/Mayfield duo from Week 1."


Some other notable divisional odds:


• The New England Patriots are the biggest divisional favorites at -700 to win the AFC East for an 11th straight season.
• The Miami Dolphins have the worst divisional odds at 40-1. The Indianapolis Colts are AFC South favorites (+125), followed by the Houston Texans at +225.
• The Philadelphia Eagles are slight favorites (even) in the NFC East over the Dallas Cowboys (+125).
• The Chicago Bears (+160) are the favorites in the NFC North, with Minnesota and Green Bay at +200.
As ESPN's David Purdum reported, the addition of Beckham to the Browns' upgraded roster is worth ".5 to 1 point" to the team's power rating, in line with other elite players such as Julio Jones and Antonio Brown. Cleveland also added defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson and defensive end Olivier Vernonthis offseason.


According to sportsoddshistory.com, the Browns have never closed as the AFC North favorites (dating to 2002 when the four-team division was created).

[Chi_archie]

been a few other teams recently that made some splashy off season moves and suddenly their odds for superbowl exploded

keep a close eye on the early season lines

this is still the Browns, and improving via free agency doesn't typically work out as well as it seems on paper

[Cuse0323]

been a few other teams recently that made some splashy off season moves and suddenly their odds for superbowl exploded

keep a close eye on the early season lines

this is still the Browns, and improving via free agency doesn't typically work out as well as it seems on paper

They were so close last year and would have come in with expectations of competing even if they didn’t go big in free agency. I’m allin on the Browns bandwagon.

[flipacoin9698]

This should not be considered news to anybody here.... before all the acquisitions the Browns finished last season the best in the AFC North. Many people are just taking some time adjusting to the fact that the Browns are now relevant once again

[flipacoin9698]

Although it is still possible the RAvens have something to say about this... remember that they played the first half of the season with Flacco and then went on a tear with Jackson. should be interesting... if Jackson can maintian his growth as a performer I would put my money on the Ravens just because they are less of a tire fire as an organization. Browns will find some way to fuk it up... the OJB deal could be part of that.

[Stallion]

Baltimore is worth a shot here.

[Matt17]

Beckham is a nice late christmas present for Baker. Good running game and good defense, could see them in a wild card game easily in 2019.

[deltgen]

The Browns??? Man, I just woke up to see this thread title--how long was I asleep?

[deltgen]

And--Go Steelers.

[thechaoz]

Steelers still the play. Cleveland looking for a wild card.

[GunShard]

Ravens won that division last year with a bad quarterback and bad wide receivers. They just need to fix that to stay dominate.