AFC Division Preview - Who will stand tall?

Joshua Reed

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Last updated: 30 Aug 2019

Joshua Reed 30 Aug 2019

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The NFL kicks off soon and our expert has gone over all of the divisions in the AFC conference.

Deshaun Watson is in for another big year in the NFL

AFC Division Preview, Predictions & Betting Tips

The NFL is on the horizon and we've split our season overview into two divisional previews.

The AFC throws up some interesting scenarios this season with the AFC North up in the air while the AFC East looks to be as cut and dry as it has ever been.

Let's take a look at each division in the AFC.

AFC North Prediction

Another division with three chances with one of them the surprise packets of 2018.

The Cleveland Browns finished 2018 with a record of seven wins, eight losses and one draw.

The addition of number one draft pick Baker Mayfield at the quarterback position has added some star power to the Browns, which also led to the team signing Odell Beckham Jr in the off-season. They enter the new season as the favourites but there's question marks over how everyone will gel.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are the unique team of the division coming off a sub-par season and missing the playoffs for the first time in five years. Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown are gone, stripping the team of their two best offensive threats.

Baltimore looks a different team to the one that competed last year signing and shaping their squad around quarterback Lamar Jackson. Adding the speedy Seth Roberts from the Raiders and drafting both Marquise Brown and Miles Boykin shows their intent heading into the start of the season. The addition of Mark Ingram makes a lot of sense with the way Lamar Jackson plays.

The Browns are the hype team of the division but the Ravens are our AFC North pick.

Best AFC North Bet: Baltimore Ravens - $3.60 at BetEasy

AFC South Prediction

Probably one of the most open divisions in the AFC where three of the four teams can make a play for supremacy.

The Indianapolis Colts were my top pick, but after Andrew Luck's retirement it is hard to pick them with any certainty.

Jacksonville could be the surprise packets of the AFC, with a defence that teams should fear. The addition of Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles and the return of star running back Leonard Fournette will deliver some much needed firepower to an offense that was one of the worst in the league last season.

The Houston Texans are the favourites for the South, but they had their own injury concerns during the preseason. Lamar Miller tore his ACL in the pre-season game against the Dallas Cowboys, leaving them a man short at the running back position.

The Texans are a powerful team on both sides of the ball and are good enough to not only cover for Miller but take out this division.

Best AFC South Bet: Houston Texans - $2.30 at BetEasy

AFC East Prediction

It looms as the Patriots division to lose once again.

Tom Brady will be 42 years of age when the season begins but TB12 continues to defy all expectations for a quarterback of his age. Gronkowski is gone but after drafting well the Pats look as strong as ever.

The odds reflect the chances of a team other than New England taking out the division - slim to none.

Best AFC East Bet: New England Patriots - $1.20 at Ladbrokes

AFC West Prediction

This looks a race in two with both the Raiders and Broncos simply not up to the standard of the other Chiefs and Chargers.

Kansas City is coming off its best season since 1993 after going all the way to the AFC Championship game on the back of a stellar season by the Patrick Mahomes.

Mahomes will come into the season as the reigning MVP and should only get better in his third year of professional football. The Chiefs are the team to beat but we're not certain it is going to be the walk in the park many are predicting.

The Los Angeles Chargers mightn't have had the greatest pre-season but that counts for nothing once the regular season rolls around.

There's plenty of negatives heading into the season, including Melvin Gordon's contract, but when you have a class act like Philip Rivers at quarterback, you’re always a chance.

The big thing going for the Chargers is their start to the season. They play the Colts, Lions, Dolphins, Broncos, and Steelers in five of their first six games, with their biggest test against the Texans at home.

This schedule gives LA a real shot of kicking the season off with a winning streak, putting them in the box seat for the division.

Best AFC West Bet: Los Angeles Chargers - $2.90 at BetEasy