First Call: Ravens still favored in AFC North; Steelers' game in Ireland generates big money

Monday’s “First Call” features some surprising odds in the AFC North. The amount of money spent in Ireland during the Pittsburgh Steelers’ visit is through the roof. And there’s lots of college hockey news involving some Penguins prospects, Robert Morris and Penn State.

Not believing what they are seeing

Despite the struggles of the entire AFC North, the 3-1 Steelers still aren’t favored to win the division.

According to Bet Rivers, the Baltimore Ravens (1-4) still are plus-100 favorites to win the North. The Steelers are next at plus-115, followed by Cincinnati (2-3) at plus-1500 and Cleveland (1-4) at plus-2000. 

At DraftKings, it’s a little closer, but the Ravens are still favored at plus-100 and the Steelers are at plus-110.

Keep in mind, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is injured. So are teammates Kyle Hamilton, Roquan Smith, Marlon Humphrey, Nnamdi Madubuike, Patrick Ricard and Ronnie Stanley.

The Bengals are also without starting quarterback Joe Burrow, and the Browns are now starting rookie Dillon Gabriel.

All three teams lost Sunday while the Steelers had a bye weekend. Cincy and Baltimore have lost three in a row. The Steelers host Cleveland on Sunday and are in Cincinnati next Thursday.

The Steelers are 4½-point favorites over the Browns at Acrisure Stadium.

More sports

• Madden Monday: 'It's amazing how bad the (AFC) North is' — Steelers 'should go 6-0 in that division'
• League’s best YAC helps Steelers’ passing game stay afloat despite shallow throws
• Mark Madden's Hot Take: Penguins defenseman Harrison Brunicke could be victim of archaic rule

Black and gold bucks

According to RTE (Ireland’s National Public Service Media), the Steelers-Vikings game in Ireland last week was an economic boon for Dublin.

Bank of Ireland told the outlet that pubs across the city center “posted a spending hike of 57%. Spending in restaurants jumped by 20% while health and beauty spas recorded a spending surge of 72%.”

There was also a surge of 35% in sporting apparel purchases, and transport spending across the city center “rose by a whopping 256% … (and) Dublin taxi drivers took in an additional 7%.”

A Bank of Ireland spokesperson estimated 35,000 Americans went to Ireland for the game.

Making up for it

For as bummed out as the Penn State fanbase was after the Nittany Lions football team lost Saturday to UCLA, they may be able to take stock in the hockey team.

The fifth-ranked Nittany Lions got off to a great start by sweeping two games at No. 14 Arizona State by final scores of 6-3 and 4-2.

Presumptive NHL No. 1 pick Gavin McKenna scored a goal and had two assists over the weekend.

THERE IT IS ????

GAVIN MCKENNA HAS HIS FIRST COLLEGE GOAL!

????????: NHL Network
????: NHL YouTube ➡️ https://t.co/bVKUopZKup pic.twitter.com/2ycuLyOWIl

— NHL (@NHL) October 5, 2025

Also in that series, Matt DiMarsico posted a hat trick in Game 1, and Dane Dowiak scored and added an assist in Game 2. Both are Pens Elite alumni and from Wexford.

Also, Penguins prospect Cruz Lucius scored for the Sun Devils.

2 for 2

The Robert Morris Colonials swept their two exhibition games this weekend. They won their first contest 4-1 at Bowling Green on Saturday night. Four different Colonials scored, and freshman goalie Charlie Schenkel stopped 25 of 26 shots against the Falcons.

Here’s our 4 goals from tonight! Felsing, Klimpke, Reineke and Rourke ???????????????? pic.twitter.com/V74AQFRtHw

— RMU Men’s Hockey (@RMUMHockey) October 5, 2025

On Sunday, the Colonials beat the University of Waterloo (Ont.) 6-2. American International College transfer Dario Beljo scored twice.

Beljo will take advantage of that one! RMU ahead 5-2???? pic.twitter.com/Zt5PUNmLVt

— RMU Men’s Hockey (@RMUMHockey) October 5, 2025

Now the Colonials have a week off before the regular season starts. They play at No. 12 Michigan on Oct. 16 and 17. The Wolverines feature Will Horcoff, one of the Penguins’ first-round picks from this year’s draft.

He just posted a natural hat trick Friday night as part of a demolition of Mercyhurst.

Natural hatty for Horcoff pic.twitter.com/InkrYeOeBu

— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) October 4, 2025

Michigan won that game 11-1 and Saturday’s rematch 7-0. Horcoff scored twice on the power play in that game as well.

After the visit to Ann Arbor, the Colonials travel to Notre Dame the next weekend before hosting Niagara for the regular season home opener on Halloween.

As for the RMU women’s team, they dropped a pair of games to Bemidji State University, 3-0 and 4-1, after sweeping Assumption last weekend.