The Miami Dolphins, while on the upswing, are not a team that the betting community has viewed favorably for the 2020 season. The expectation for the AFC East was that the Patriots and Bills were best positioned to lockdown the division title in 2020 — and while that is still the case, there’s been a big shift atop the leaderboard courtesy of the Patriots landing quarterback Cam Newton earlier this week in free agency.
The most recent NFL Divisional odds now have the Patriots as comfortable favorites to repeat the division once again — as they’re transitioning from one former NFL Most Valuable Player to another at the quarterback position. The team most hurt by the news of Newton’s signing in the eyes of oddsmakers is Buffalo, who was previously the betting favorite.
New England Patriots: +105
Buffalo Bills: +160
New York Jets: +700
Miami Dolphins: +750
There is no love lost for the Miami Dolphins, however. Miami having the worst odds in the division is a bit surprising, especially considering the coaching advantage the team has over the New York Jets.
But regardless of who holds the third best odds in the AFC East, it is clear the bettors think this division is a two-horse race between the Bills and Patriots — and Newton was enough for many to swing the Patriots back atop the odds.
Provided the 2020 NFL season starts on schedule, the Dolphins will get a good gauge of how they measure up to the cream of the AFC East, as their first two contests are scheduled to play against the Patriots in New England and the Bills in Miami. If the Dolphins have success there, perhaps then the betting odds will be a little more friendly to the Dolphins?