The Steelers and Browns fought down to the wire for top spot in the AFC North last season, with Pittsburgh barely winning out. Will the Steelers hold on to the division again this season, or can the Browns bump them off?

Pittsburgh Steelers Odds

The Steelers returned to the top of the AFC North division last season behind another strong season from their defense and a bounce-back year from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Big Ben passed for a career-high 32 touchdowns last season and should be in line for another big year with a strong corps of receivers that includes Santonio Holmes, Hines Ward, and Heath Miller. Willie Parker is coming off a broken leg which he suffered late last season but he's expected to handle most of the rushing duties again, while rookie Rashard Mendenhall should be a more-than-adequate backup.

The Steelers' defense allowed the second-fewest points in the league last season and they were especially strong against the run. Pittsburgh's pass defense would likely show improvement if Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu could stay healthy for an entire season.

On the .com futures odds, the Steelers are a +110 favorite to win their division again, while their win total was set at 9.

Cleveland Browns Odds

The Browns surprised everyone last season by nearly winning the division and barely missing the playoffs. Cleveland finished tied with Pittsburgh at 10-6, but missed out on the postseason because the Steelers held the tie-breaker advantage.

Quarterback Derek Anderson emerged as a true No. 1 last season and despite suffering a concussion in the preseason he should be ready to go in Week 1. Anderson has a potent duo of receivers to work with in Braylon Edwards and Donte' Stallworth, and he also has one of the top tight ends in the league in Kellen Winslow.

Running back Jamal Lewis solidified the run game by rejuvenating his career with his highest rushing total since 2003 last year. On defense the Browns continue to need some work after a lackluster season. Head coach Romeo Crennel was a defensive mastermind while he was the defensive coordinator in New England, but he's still waiting for similar results in Cleveland.

The Browns appear to have made believers in the oddsmakers at , who set them at +175 in the division, and set their win total at 8.

Cincinnati Bengals Odds

Last season was a frustrating one in Cincinnati, where the Bengals stumbled to a 7-9 record. Cincinnati still boasts one of the most dangerous offenses in the league, but their defense doesn't pull its weight.

Carson Palmer passed for more than 4,000 yards last season, but he also saw his TD numbers fall and his interceptions rise. Palmer has two great targets again in Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, but Johnson remains a question mark due to a shoulder injury he sustained in the preseason and his bad attitude which is often a distraction.

Rudi Johnson is expected to regain the starting running back job, but there are also rumors swirling around that he won't even be on the team once Week 1 arrives. If Rudi Johnson is shipped out of town the running game would fall on the shoulders of either Chris Perry or Kenny Watson.

The Bengals' defense, to put it bluntly, was awful last season. Even when the offense put up big numbers the defense often blew the lead. Unless the defense can show vast improvement it could be the same story this season.

The Bengals are a +600 underdog in the division at , while their win total was set at 7.5.

Baltimore Ravens Odds

Heading into last season the Ravens were considered a threat to challenge for the division. Instead they struggled to a 5-11 record. That cost Brian Billick his job, and John Harbaugh was brought in as his replacement.

Harbaugh's first real task will be to choose a starting QB from Kyle Boller, Troy Smith, and Joe Flacco. Right now it looks like injuries may cause Harbaugh to choose Flacco, whether he wants to or not. The running game will once again be led by Willis McGahee, but if he doesn't live up to expectations Ray Rice is waiting in the wings and could steal his job.

The Ravens still lack a big threat at wide receiver while starting Mark Clayton and Derrick Mason, and tight end Todd Heap still has a load of talent but can never stay healthy.

The Ravens' defense, a staple of their old success, took a step backwards last season as injuries decimated their secondary and many of their veterans started to show their age.

They need to bounce back strong to make up for Baltimore's questionable offense. The oddsmakers don't expect much from Baltimore after setting them as a +800 underdog in the division, while their win total was set at six.