AFC North: Week 12 Preview
Ben Roethlisberger has owned Cleveland during his career. Can the Browns fight back?
It might not be the headline-making, dominant division it has been so often in the past, but the AFC North remains a competitive division, something that is illustrated by the fact that three teams sit on the cusp of the playoff race at 4-6.
The division-leading Cincinnati Bengals will rest up with a bye this week leaving the focus on which of the AFC North’s remaining teams can push forward and challenge for a wild card berth.
BettingSports.com previews the division’s two fixtures this week, beginning with a big divisional showdown in Ohio.
D’Qwell Jackson and the Cleveland defense would love a piece of Roethlisberger.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns
FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, OH, 1:00 p.m. ET (matchup)
After a miserable 0-4 start to the year, the Pittsburgh Steelers (4-6, 1-4 road) appear to have found some cohesive unity, as well as a little success. The Steelers’ 37-27 upset win over the Detroit Lions last week saw the side win its fourth game in six contests, a steak that sees the team join eight other AFC teams in a hunt for what looks like one wild card berth.
Another of the teams sitting firmly in the pack of postseason chasers is the Cleveland Browns (4-6, 3-2 home). Despite being written off before the season and again after trading No. 1 pick Trent Richardson away, the Browns are proving to be a tough out this season. Just ask division rivals Baltimore and Cincinnati, who have both ended up on the wrong end of the scoreboard.
Sunday’s game will be an important clash for both sides. While a win will not eliminate either side from a tight playoff race, it will make playing into January a tough prospect. What’s more, divisional records could prove huge in the AFC North going forward, and Pittsburgh knows it has a huge advantage there.
The Steelers are 1-1 within the AFC North. The remainder of the division is 2-2. With four games left against division opponents, the Steelers have an advantage; they just need to win on the field. That starts with Sunday’s clash with Cleveland.
Cleveland won’t roll over for the Steelers though. The Browns are sick of losing to the Steelers and Ben Roethlisberger, who is 15-1 all-time against Cleveland. They’d love nothing more than to ram that record back down his throat, and burst the Steelers’ hopes in the process. Expect some physical football in this one.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns odds for 11/24/2013
Cleveland (-129) opened as the favorite over Pittsburgh (+117) but as kickoff approaches, bookmakers have less faith in Rob Chudzinski’s side.
Pittsburgh has dominated the head-to-head series in recent years. The Steelers won the last meeting with the Browns (Dec. 2012) and has taken 22 of the last 25 meetings between the two sides. The Steelers are one-win from really making a push for the postseason, something bettors seem to be putting their money behind.
The spread opened at 2.5 but most sportsbooks now have it at a paltry 1. Pittsburgh (4-6-0 ATS) struggled against the spread early in the season but has cover in four of the last six games. Cleveland (5-5-0 ATS) has covered the spread in five of its last eight games. The Browns are 4-1-0 ATS in their last five against Pittsburgh in Cleveland.
The over/under opened at 41.5 and has slipped to 40. Pittsburgh (4-6-0) has favored the under this season while Cleveland (5-4-1) has favored the over. Neither of those trends is etched in stone though. In fact, the total has gone under in 12 of Cleveland’s last 16 home games.
Old comrades reunite as Rex Ryan’s Jets take on John Harbaugh’s Ravens.
New York Jets at Baltimore Ravens
M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD, 1:00 p.m. ET (matchup)
The Baltimore Ravens (4-6, 3-1 home) sit uncomfortably alongside the Browns and Steelers in the AFC standings, having suffered defeats at the hands of both teams. There’s still time to avenge those losses and make a move towards the postseason and a successful defense of their Super Bowl crown.
On Sunday, the Ravens face a New York Jets (5-5, 1-4 road) side that would be heading to the postseason if the playoffs started today. The fact that there is six weeks of action left is bad news for the Jets and good news for the rest of the AFC.
The Ravens enter the game as losers of four of the last five, a trend that were it to continue would prove disastrous for the defending champs. The Jets meanwhile have flip-flopped wins and losses all season, recording the longest such streak in NFL history. If that trend continues in Week 12, the Jets will leave M&T Bank Stadium with a win.
The matchup, which will be fascinating on the field just because of what’s at stake, also has a few interesting asides, not least the fact that John Harbaugh was selected to coach the Ravens ahead of then-defensive coordinator Rex Ryan. That’ll be an interesting handshake you would think.
New York Jets vs. Baltimore Ravens odds for 11/24/2013
Baltimore (-198) opened as the favorite over New York (+178), something history approves of.
On November 2, 1997, the Jets defeated the Ravens 19-16 in the first ever meeting between the sides. Since then, Baltimore has won seven straight including the last meeting between the teams in October 2011. The Ravens have won those seven games on average by a touchdown, something spread bettors might want to keep in mind.
The spread opened at 3 and stretched to 4 as we approach kickoff. Baltimore (5-5-0 ATS) has had as much success covering the spread as failing to cover it, but has beat the bookies’ marker in the last two games. The Jets (6-4-0 ATS) have flip-flopped between covering and failing to cover over the last eight games. The Ravens are 7-1-0 ATS when playing the Jets, including 3-1-01 ATS when playing at M&T Bank Stadium.
The over/under opened at 41 but has slipped to 39. Baltimore (3-6-1) has favored the under while New York (7-3-0) has favored the over. Seven of the last eight Jets games have seen the total go over, but Baltimore’s last five home games have seen the total go under.
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