Odds to win 2011 Super Bowl: AFC North Super Bowl XLV Odds

Here are some of my thoughts on the new “Odds to Win Super Bowl XLV”. I’m breaking it down by division and naturally have thoughts on every team’s chances.  Over the next couple weeks I’ll be dropping articles. I hope you enjoy and get down with the breakdown.

AFC North
Baltimore Ravens (20-1)
Cincinnati Bengals (30-1)
Cleveland Browns (100-1)
Pittsburgh Steelers (11-1)

For the payout, their chances to win, and all things included – I think the Ravens are the best value in the AFC North.

Baltimore Ravens (20-1): The Ravens have one heck of a running game, a quarterback that gets better and better, a defense that might need an infusion of youth, but remains one of the hardest hitting and more precise defenses in the league. This team brings it. They have a good and young offensive line, and with some key draft pieces and maybe a play-making wideout, this team could easily be playing for the ring next February. Of the AFC North teams, they are my favorite.

Cincinnati Bengals (30-1): It’s hard to judge the Bengals. Here they are with Carson Palmer, a guy that used to be one of the best quarterbacks in the league, but the guy did’t impress me aside from a couple drives and one big game last season. He was very inaccurate down the stretch, and I’m not sure if that offensive line will hold up. They have a solid run game, and are above average everywhere defensively – but are they good enough to be a Super Bowl team? It’s tough to say for sure, but I would think not. At 30=1 the money is good, but not good enough. I like a couple teams with better or equal payouts a little more than I like the Bengals. Falcons, Texans.

Cleveland Browns (100-1): 100-1, I don’t know, seems like a lot. But I don’t know how much of a Holmren believer I am, and this team is far away from being a top tier team. They would have to do a load of work in the off-season to get near that top tier . They don’t have real threats at receiver, unless one of their rookies really grows in his second year. They don’t have a quarterback that is consistent enough to win. Their defense gives up heaps of rushing yards and gets beat deep often. Sounds like holes. They do have a very solid offensive line, something in common with most Super Bowl teams. But it still seems like too big of a stretch.

Pittsburgh Steelers (11-1): I know the Pittsburgh Steelers are legit, one of the better coached and more talented teams in the NFL, and they certainly bring it on both sides of the ball while having that confidence/cockiness that is almost a must in big game situations – but this team still doesn’t have a strong offensive line, still struggles with staying healthy defensively, especially their hardest hitting and best player Troy Polamalu. They have a pretty good quarterback, but he gets hit too much, and for a small 11-1 payout I’m not sure all that risk is worth it. There it is, go somewhere else with your money.