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Updated AFC North Odds After Week 5: Ravens Become Heavier Favorites, Browns Listed at +140

Angelo Montilla

by Angelo Montilla in NFL Football

Updated Mar 27, 2020 · 4:38 PM PDT

Baker Mayfield
After a 31-3 loss in Week 5, Baker Mayfield and the Cleveland Browns are now listed at +140 to win the AFC North Division. Photo from @ESPNStatsInfo (Twitter).
  • Ravens move to -150 after victory over Steelers
  • Cleveland falls to 2-3 this season following blowout loss on MNF
  • Baltimore faces tough schedule ahead with upcoming games against Seahawks, Patriots, Texans

The picture in the AFC North got a little clearer for the time being following Cleveland’s blowout loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

With Cleveland’s MNF defeat, the Baltimore Ravens moved into sole position of first in the AFC North and are now listed as heavier -150 favorites to top the division, according to the latest NFL divisional odds.

Are the Ravens a sure bet to win the division or can the Browns still be considered contenders at +140?

Here’s a closer look at the odds and stats following five weeks of action.

2020 AFC North Odds

Team Odds
Baltimore Ravens -150
Cleveland Browns +140
Pittsburgh Steelers +1200
Cincinnati Bengals +10000

*Odds taken on October 8, 2019

The Ravens hovered around the -120 mark and stayed at those odds heading into their Week 5 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

After starting the season at 2-0, the Ravens went as short as -150 to win the division, before two straight losses moved them back to -120.

Ravens QB Lamar Jackson didn’t turn in his best performance against the Steelers, but still managed to complete 19-of-28 passes for 161 yards and one TD pass as Baltimore edged Pittsburgh 26-23.

Ravens Face Tough Schedule Ahead

Baltimore looked unbeatable in the opening two games and a pair of games against the Cincinnati Bengals upcoming will help pad the overall record. But the Ravens will prove what they’re really made of with matchups against the Seahawks, Patriots, Texans, Rams and Bills all on tap.

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Jackson has come back down to earth after two sizzling starts. But the Ravens QB still ranks 14th overall in passing yards (1,271) this season. Jackson’s 11 TD passes is also tied for second overall with several other quarterbacks, including Matt Ryan, Dak Prescott, Jameis Winston, Deshaun Watson and Patrick Mahomes.

Are the Browns Still Considered Contenders?

You can’t base a team’s success on one loss, but the Browns have not been consistent this season. In fact, Cleveland has failed to put together back-to-back wins through five games.

On September 10, the Browns were listed at +200 and those odds shortened to +130 going into their Week 5 game against the 49ers. When the AFC North odds initially opened in the spring, Cleveland was also at +130 and the shortest their odds went were +120.

Cleveland’s biggest problems have come on offense, with the team generating a total of 92 points through five games. That ranks as the eighth fewest in the NFL, with only the Dolphins, Jets, Redskins, Bengals, Broncos, Bills and Bears scoring fewer points heading into Week 6.

Don’t Count on the Steelers

The minute Ben Roethlisberger went down with a season-ending injury, any hope of Pittsburgh winning the AFC North went down with the future Hall of Fame QB.

The Steelers should still be considered longshots at +1200, especially after posting a 1-4 record to this point. Despite improving at both sides of the football, the Steelers are faced with a schedule that includes upcoming games against the Chargers, Colts and Rams.

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Even if the Steelers go on a run against lower-seeded teams like the Bengals, Cardinals and Jets, the real damage has been done and making up the ground of starting with one win in five weeks is just insurmountable.

This will be Baltimore’s division to lose. At 3-2, they’re far from running away with the AFC North, but the Browns’ inconsistency will only help Baltimore’s overall odds down the stretch.

Pick: Baltimore Ravens (-150)

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