Who is the favorite in the AFC East? Well that’s an answer that’s been up, down, and all around so far this offseason.
The debate has been between two dogs: the Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots.
Tom Brady skipped town after the 2019 season and the scale all of a sudden started to even out between the two rivals (Sorry, not sorry, Jets and Dolphins). But at various points of the summer, things have tipped the way of the Bills like after Brady’s departure, but then they’ve also gone back toward the Pats’ direction, like when Cam Newton was signed.
But things are pointing back to the Bills now.
The most recent news between these two have been COVID-19 related. The NFL and NFLPA came to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement for 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. In that, players are given the opportunity to opt-out of playing next season. No team has been more stung by players deciding to not play than the Patriots.
The Bills have had two players do so, Star Lotulelei and EJ Gaines. The Patriots have had a total of eight, including some important starters and pieces, such as defensive back Patrick Chung, linebacker Dont’a Hightower and wide receiver Marquise Lee.
The decision to opt out is not an easy one. It’s also very understandable. But that doesn’t mean it won’t catch the eyes of the oddsmakers. Unless the Bills have multiple players opt-out ahead of Thursday’s deadline to do so, one would imagine sportsbooks would remain the same as they stand now.
And how things current look, the Bills are once again the AFC East favorite, according to BetOnline. At +100, the Bills have the best odds to take the title in 2020. It’d be the first time in 11 seasons a team other than the Patriots did so, and the first time in 1995 that Buffalo won it. Having said that, the Patriots are not a longshot by any means. At +160, the Pats have the second-best odds in the division.
But if you’re looking for that dark horse candidate, look at the Dolphins at +700. Or if you’re feeling very bold, the Jets at +900.
We want to say things will stay this way until the season opener in September, but with the way this offseason has gone, you never really know.
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