AFC North Updated Odds: Key Games & Playoff Implications

SportsGrid

Watch AFC North Updated Odds: Key Games & Playoff Implications - SportsGrid on Dailymotion

Transcript

00:00The AFC North, this is going to be, this isn't true what I'm about to say,

00:06but it's how I feel, is the most important division in football.

00:11Now, again, that's probably ridiculous, but here's my case.

00:17If you look right now at at least entering the season,

00:23the consensus top four quarterbacks, consensus, not my rankings,

00:28maybe not Tom's, maybe not yours, in some order, Mahomes, Allen, Lamar, and Burrow.

00:35And the odds are telling us that only one of those four will have a home playoff game.

00:44And the odds have said it's going to be Lamar.

00:49And they still say that.

00:52The odds have moved quite a bit, telling us it could be Joe Burrow.

00:56And that, to me, becomes so important and so fascinating.

01:06And yes, I bet Cincinnati is my Super Bowl pick before the season.

01:09So yes, I'm rooting it on.

01:12But Tom, you and I have done this before, various times,

01:16about big, long-shot tickets on Cincinnati, finding which ones have the most value.

01:22The reality right now is if you played any of them, they all have value

01:26because their win over Baltimore, with the Bills taking out Pittsburgh,

01:31has made the Bengals feel alive in this division,

01:36and therefore for a home playoff game for the first time since Burrow went down.

01:41And I would say when we're talking about this and when it comes to the Bengals,

01:46frankly, I think that the Ravens' remaining schedule is actually more important

01:51than the Bengals' own schedule.

01:52And I would say the Bengals are in a spot to win, potentially, against the Bills.

01:56And the Ravens' schedule, if we look at that, versus the Steelers,

02:00versus the Bengals, versus the Pats, the Packers, and the Steelers,

02:05I think it's fair to say that they'll lose one of the games versus the Steelers

02:09just because that's how that series goes.

02:11They have to win that game versus the Bengals.

02:14But, man, the Pats and Green Bay, those are not easy teams.

02:17And I know people are going to say Green Bay is a little bit up and down,

02:19whatever it might be, but that's a great defense.

02:21That is a very, very tough remaining schedule.

02:24Kev, you alluded to the Colts' remaining schedule.

02:26This remaining schedule has to be up there for just of where they sit overall in the league.

02:31So if the Bengals, if we go back to their schedule quickly,

02:34if we look at the Bengals' remaining schedule, that's a win versus the Dolphins.

02:39A win versus the Cardinals, right?

02:41That could potentially be a very easy schedule for them now that Burrow's back.

02:46Tee Higgins could be on his way back.

02:47So what we see in this division is not just, oh, if the Ravens win out,

02:51it's like they're not in a spot to win out.

02:54Not at all.

02:55I'm going to give you a take, Tom.

02:57I know the market isn't going to line up this way.

03:00So I wouldn't need to bet it now.

03:03I could bet it if it happens and the market will be, I think, off.

03:07If the Bengals beat the Bills next week, I think they should be favorites for the division.

03:15I do not think it'll move that far because they will only be sat there at five and eight.

03:20They're still going to have to run the table.

03:23I know it's easy to say, oh, this team will run the table.

03:27If Cincinnati beats Buffalo, I genuinely believe they will then proceed to run the table.

03:34I really believe that.

03:36If they beat Buffalo, that 850 number is gone.

03:40That's going to be cut in half, if not more.

03:43So, you know, we always talk about these circumstances.

03:44Let me ask you this, though, Tom.

03:46Go ahead.

03:46If they beat Buffalo, let's say the Ravens handle business against Pittsburgh.

03:51They are booked as favorites in that game.

03:53In week 15 in Cincinnati, are the Bengals favorites at home against the Ravens?

04:00I agree.

04:01One and a half points.

04:02It won't be much.

04:03It won't be over a field goal.

04:05No, but still favorites.

04:06Yes.

04:07One and a half, two, totally agree, whatever it might be.

04:10It'd be very slight.

04:11And effectively, that might be the division match or the, as we said, you know, elimination

04:15game with some of these.

04:16That might effectively be the division title game.

04:19Because if the Bengals win that game, they take care of business for the Dolphins.

04:22They take care of business for the Cards.

04:24That could lock up the division for them.

04:26And frankly, I think I'm talking myself into wanting to bet the Bengals at plus 850 right

04:29now.

Category

Transcript

Be the first to comment

Recommended