Tag: 2020 NFL Win Predictions

How many games will the Carolina Panthers win in 2020?

Assessing the Carolina Panthers’ projected win total for the 2020 NFL season, with best bets for their Over/Under, win range and exact win total.

How many games will the Carolina Panthers win in the 2020 NFL season? We look at BetMGM‘s projected win total and the Over/Under odds, while looking back at the 2019 season and key offseason roster changes.

Carolina Panthers’ 2019 season

Carolina struggled to a 5-11 record in 2019, dealing with the absence of QB Cam Newton. They were only slightly better against the spread, finishing 6-9-1 ATS. They were 11-5 O/U.

Carolina Panthers’ 2020 offseason changes

The Panthers overhauled their coaching staff, hiring former Baylor head coach Matt Rhule from the college ranks. They got rid of both their top quarterbacks, releasing Cam Newton and trading Kyle Allen. They signed Teddy Bridgewater to be the starter and added receiver Robby Anderson. They also drafted defensive tackle Derrick Brown in the first round of the draft.

Place your legal sports wagers online at BetMGM, or play in their online casino. Bet now!

Carolina Panthers’ 2020 schedule

Week 1: vs. Las Vegas Raiders

Week 2: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week 3: at Los Angeles Chargers

Week 4: vs. Arizona Cardinals

Week 5: at Atlanta Falcons

Week 6: vs. Chicago Bears

Week 7: at New Orleans Saints

Week 8: vs. Atlanta Falcons

Week 9: at Kansas City Chiefs

Week 10: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week 11: vs. Detroit Lions

Week 12: at Minnesota Vikings

Week 13: BYE

Week 14: vs. Denver Broncos

Week 15: at Green Bay Packers

Week 16: at Washington Football Team

Week 17: vs. New Orleans Saints

Carolina Panthers’ 2020 win total: Best bet

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Odds last updated Tuesday, Aug. 4 at 8:30 a.m. ET.

Projected wins: 5.5 / OVER: -120 / UNDER: +100

Not much is expected from the Panthers this season with an overhauled roster, a head coach without NFL head coaching experience and a strange offseason with the COVID-19 pandemic. They will most certainly be the last-place team in a tough NFC South. All-world running back Christian McCaffrey could give them one game in the division. They also have winnable games against Washington, the Chicago Bears and perhaps the Detroit Lions. Their games against the Arizona Cardinals, Las Vegas Raiders and Denver Broncos are toss-ups, and the rest look unwinnable. This team will be lucky to win five games this year. Take the UNDER +100.

New to sports betting? A $10 wager on the Panthers will profit $10 if they win five games or fewer.

Exact season wins – bands

0-4 wins: +210

5-8 wins: -250

9-12 wins: +1200

13-16 wins: +8000

The favorite for the Panthers in bands of wins is 5-8, but that will pay out very little. Five seems to be their realistic ceiling. Between the value of the bet and the very likely possibility the Panthers will be bad, the BEST BET here is 0-4 WINS +210.

Exact wins: Best bet

If you are looking to bet on an exact total, five wins is the favorite at +265. Based on their schedule, your best bets are  4 WINS (+375) or 5 WINS (+265).  

Want action on NFL futures betting? Sign up and place your legal sports wagers online at BetMGM. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @senorjessroot on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook. Please gamble responsibly.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1367]

How many games will the Baltimore Ravens win in 2020?

Assessing the Baltimore Ravens’ projected win total for the 2020 NFL season, with best bets for their Over/Under, win range and exact win total.

How many games will the  Baltimore Ravens win in the 2020 NFL season? We look at BetMGM‘s projected win total and the Over/Under odds, while looking back at the 2019 season and key offseason roster changes.

Baltimore Ravens’ 2019 season

The Baltimore Ravens were arguably the best team in the NFL last season, winning 14 games and clinching the No. 1 seed in the AFC. Not only did they have the No. 3 ranked scoring defense in the league, but they finished No. 1 in scoring offense (33.2 points per game) for the first time in franchise history.

Led by MVP QB Lamar Jackson, the Ravens looked unstoppable for most of the year. But they failed to advance past the divisional round as the Tennessee Titans went into Baltimore and upset the Ravens. While the season ultimately led to a disappointing finish, it was a historic year for the franchise as they set a team record for regular-season wins (14).

Baltimore Ravens’ 2020 offseason changes

After being gashed on the ground by the Titans, the Ravens beefed up their front seven, adding All-Pro DE Calais Campbell and veteran DT Derek Wolfe. In the first round of the draft, the team added LSU star LB Patrick Queen and added Ohio State LB Malik Harrison a few rounds later.

The offensive side of the ball, the team lost All-Pro OG Marshal Yanda to retirement, but they added two young offensive linemen in the draft in LG Tyre Phillips and RG Ben Bredeson. Baltimore also added RB J.K. Dobbins in the second round and improved their wide receiver corps by selecting WR Devin Duvernay and WR James Proche late in the draft.

Place your legal sports wagers online at BetMGM, or play in their online casino. Bet now!

Baltimore Ravens’ 2020 schedule

Week 1: vs. Cleveland Browns

Week 2: at Houston Texans

Week 3: vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Week 4: at Washington Football Team

Week 5: vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Week 6: at Philadelphia Eagles

Week 7: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Week 8: BYE

Week 9: at Indianapolis Colts

Week 10: at New England Patriots

Week 11: vs. Tennessee Titans

Week 12: at Pittsburgh Steelers

Week 13: vs. Dallas Cowboys

Week 14: at Cleveland Browns

Week 15: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Week 16: vs. New York Giants

Week 17: at Cincinnati Bengals

Baltimore Ravens’ 2020 win total: Best bet

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Odds last updated Monday, Aug. 3 at 1 p.m. ET.

Projected wins: 11.5 / OVER: -105 / UNDER: -115

The Ravens have a tough schedule to start the season, including a Week 2 at Houston, followed by a Week 3 game against Kansas City. However, their schedule is very soft at the end of the year as they will finish the season against six-straight non-playoff teams from a year ago.

If they manage to split those games early in the year, they should have no problem surpassing 11.5 wins, even if the rest of the AFC North improves. Take the Ravens over 11.5 wins with confidence as Baltimore has the coaching staff, quarterback play and defense needed to make a Super Bowl run in the 2020 season.

Exact season wins – bands

0-4 wins: +4000

5-8 wins: +1200

9-12 wins: -250

13-16 wins: +220

Another way to bet on the Ravens’ win total is to bet on “exact win bands.” If you believe 11 or 12 wins are the most likely outcome for the Ravens this season, you can bet on them to win between  nine and 12 games at a payout of -250.

While this doesn’t present a ton of value, it is a pretty safe bet as the team has won at least nine games in three-straight seasons. In fact, under head coach John Harbaugh, the team has won at least nine games in nine of his 12 years as the Ravens coach. Don’t be afraid to take the 9-12 wins band for the Ravens this season despite the low odds.

Exact wins: Best bet

After winning 14 games during the 2019 season, it seems somewhat unrealistic that they will be able to do that again. However, this is still one of the best teams in the NFL with arguably the deepest roster in the league. Still, the Ravens should easily hit double-digit wins this season and exactly 12 wins has a payout of +250.

Want action on NFL futures betting? Sign up and place your legal sports wagers online at BetMGM. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=3472]

NFL win totals: How many games will the Arizona Cardinals win in 2020?

Assessing the Arizona Cardinals’ projected win total for the 2020 NFL season, with best bets for their Over/Under, win range and exact win total.

How many games will the Arizona Cardinals win in the 2020 NFL season? We look at BetMGM‘s projected win total and the Over/Under odds, while looking back at the 2019 season and key offseason roster changes.

Arizona Cardinals’ 2019 season

The Cardinals finished last season 5-10-1. They were much better against the spread, going 9-5-2. Their Over/Under (O/U) record was 9-7.

Arizona Cardinals’ 2020 offseason changes

The Cardinals made a lot of changes in the offseason at positions of need. They acquired WR DeAndre Hopkins in a trade that sent RB David Johnson to the Houston Texans. They re-signed RB Kenyan Drake and LT D.J. Humphries. They added DL Jordan Phillips and LBs Devon Kennard and De’Vondre Campbell in free agency. They selected LB Isaiah Simmons (Clemson) in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft and added OL Josh Jones (Houston), DL Leki Fotu (Utah) and DL Rashard Lawrence (LSU) with their next three picks.

Place your legal sports wagers online at BetMGM, or play in their online casino. Bet now!

Arizona Cardinals’ 2020 schedule

Week 1: at San Francisco 49ers

Week 2: vs. Washington Football Team

Week 3: vs. Detroit Lions

Week 4: at Carolina Panthers

Week 5: at New York Jets

Week 6: at Dallas Cowboys (Monday night)

Week 7: vs. Seattle Seahawks

Week 8: BYE

Week 9: vs. Miami Dolphins

Week 10: vs. Buffalo Bills

Week 11: at Seattle Seahawks

Week 12: at New England Patriots

Week 13: vs. Los Angeles Rams

Week 14: at New York Giants

Week 15: vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Week 16: vs. San Francisco 49ers

Week 17: at Los Angeles Rams

Arizona Cardinals’ 2020 win total: Best bet

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Odds last updated Monday, Aug. 2 at 8:00 a.m. ET.

Projected wins: 6.5 / OVER: -164 / UNDER: +135

The Cardinals hit their stride offensively in 2019 down the stretch. They retained almost everyone from last season and added Hopkins, arguably the best receiver in the league. Between the continuity in personnel and coaching, the development of quarterback Kyler Murray and the addition of a big-time wideout, they are poised to have one of the most exciting offenses in the league.

After being arguably the worst defense in the league in 2019, they added three defensive starters. They will have their two starting cornerbacks to start the year, unlike 2019, and drafted a dynamic playmaker in linebacker Isaiah Simmons and depth on the defensive line. Looking back to 2019, when they won five games, the defense was given a lead in the final minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime three times and gave up the lead. One stop in each game would have led to having eight wins.

The offense will be better. The defense should be at least average. Their continuity in personnel and coaching will be valuable in the shortened offseason during the pandemic. They should be a lock to win at least seven games and will be in the mix for the postseason. Take the OVER 6.5 WINS (-164) confidently, although it will not be a big payout.

New to sports betting? A $10 wager on the Cardinals will win $6.10 if they win seven games or more.

Exact season wins – bands

0-4 wins: +700

5-8 wins: -286

9-12 wins: +310

13-16 wins: +6500

The favorite for the Cardinals in bands of wins is 5-8, but that will pay out very little. Most feel pretty confident the Cardinals can win seven or eight games.

That isn’t the best bet to make. With the history over the last several seasons of second-year quarterbacks making huge jumps in production, expect the Cardinals to be in the mix for at least a wild-card berth in the postseason. If you are looking for a home run bet, take 9-12 WINS (+310). 

Exact wins: best bet

If you are looking to bet on an exact total, seven wins is the favorite at +270. Your two best bets are slightly higher than that. Take 8 WINS (+325) or 9 WINS (+500).  

Want action on NFL futures betting? Sign up and place your legal sports wagers online at BetMGM. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @senorjessroot on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook. Please gamble responsibly.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1367]

Miami Dolphins playoff odds and predicted total wins: NFL futures picks and best bets

Assessing the betting odds of the Miami Dolphins making the 2020 NFL playoffs and predicting their exact win total.

Will the Miami Dolphins make the 2020 NFL playoffs? Below, we look at the BetMGM betting odds and make our pick. We also predict their exact win total for the upcoming season.

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Odds last updated Wednesday, June 3 at 7 p.m. ET.

Will the Miami Dolphins make the 2020 NFL playoffs?

Yes: +500 | No: -715

The Dolphins were the laughingstock of the NFL in the first few weeks of the 2019 season, not only losing, but getting blown out by giant margins. It prompted the books to set huge, double-digit lines, including one which saw Miami as an underdog as high as 22 points. Some books even offered a prop of “Will the Dolphins finish 0-16?”

However, as the season went along, the Dolphins started to pull themselves together a bit. They become more competitive, and eventually were able to tick off a few wins. They appeared to be headed for a winless season after an 0-7 start, but in the final nine games they actually had a winning record at 5-4, including one loss by just one point. That finish, along with a bevy of free agents and draft selections has the Miami fanbase thinking big heading into 2020. While the division rival New England Patriots are expected to be much weaker, the Buffalo Bills are the favorites in the AFC East. Miami still has a ways to go before taking that next step to the postseason, but it’s not as far as some think.

The pick here, however, is NO (-715), but there is no way to justify eating that kind of chalk. A $10 winning bet only returns a profit of $1.40.

Place your legal NFL bets in CO, IN, NJ, and WV at BetMGM. Bet now!

How many games will the Miami Dolphins win in 2020? Bands

BAND ODDS
0-4 Wins +300
5-8 Wins -304
9-12 Wins +800
13-16 Wins +50000

The BetMGM book has the sweet spot for the Dolphins in the 5-8 WINS (-304), and rightly so. First off, that’s where they landed last season after their slow start. A jump into the 9-12 (+800) wins area seems unlikely given their schedule.

While the Patriots are expected to be a little worse during the post-Tom Brady era, a Week 1 road assignment in New England is a tough road to hoe for the Fins. A visit from the division favorite Bills will be a tall order for the home opener in Week 2, also. While a trip to Jacksonville to face the Jaguars in Week 3 looks like Miami’s best bet for a first win, it’s a quick turnaround with it being Thursday night, and that could be an unexpected challenge, albeit a short hop from Miami via the air. After that, it’s a pair of NFC West foes with the Seattle Seahawks visiting, and a trip to meet the NFC champion San Francisco 49ers. As you can see, the early schedule is daunting, and a bet of YES (+500): TEAM TO START 0-4 might be worth a small-unit wager.

There are some midseason opportunities for wins, but late-season home games vs. the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs and Patriots, as well as a total of four road games to either the Mountain or Pacific Time Zones will be rough. A January game in Buffalo looks unwinnable, too.

A $10 bet on 5-8 WINS (-304) fetches a profit of only $3.29.

How many games will the Miami Dolphins win in 2020? Exact number

The Dolphins have improved their overall personnel. They drafted the quarterback of the future in QB Tua Tagovailoa, and they have a capable veteran in QB Ryan Fitzpatrick to show him the ropes until he is ready. Miami also has plenty of skill position depth and some decent defensive pieces. However, it wouldn’t be shocking to see the Dolphins win the same amount of games as they did in 2019, only because the schedule is so tough from top to bottom.

Target 5 WINS (+300) as the play on exact victories, as you can triple up on your initial investment, and maybe hedge with exactly 6 WINS (+265) in case they overachieve a little. Still, they won’t win many more than that.

Want action on NFL futures betting lines? Sign up and place your legal sports wagers online at BetMGM. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook. Please gamble responsibly.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1367]

Los Angeles Rams playoff odds and predicted total wins: NFL futures picks and best bets

Assessing the betting odds of the Los Angeles Rams making the 2020 NFL playoffs and predicting their exact win total.

Will the Los Angeles Rams make the 2020 NFL playoffs? Below, we look at the BetMGM betting odds and make our pick. We also predict their exact win total for the upcoming season.

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Odds last updated Thursday, June 4 at 2 p.m. ET.

Will the Los Angeles Rams make the 2020 NFL playoffs?

Yes: +165 | No: -200

Let’s rip expectations and emotions out of projecting the 2020 Los Angeles Rams. They fell well short of their preseason hype in 2019, but they weren’t that bad. A 9-7 record, but in an insanely difficult NFC West. They went 10-5-1 against the spread (meaning they surpassed bookmakers’ expectations on a weekly basis given the situation), had a plus-0.6 yards per play differential and could’ve snuck into the playoffs had they not gone 1-2 in the final three weeks. So one could argue Yes (+165) for the Rams making the postseason being great value.

The biggest question for this Rams team is how can they regain offensive dominance while parting ways with RB Todd Gurley III? Gurley’s disappointing 2019 campaign, where he went from MVP-caliber production to a mediocre 857 rushing yard and 3.8 yards per carry, directly relates to the Rams missing the playoffs for the first time in head coach Sean McVay’s three-year tenure. McVay’s coaching results thus far are impressive but the reason why I’m staying away from this action is based on my take of QB Jared Goff.

In 2019, Goff was Pro Football Focus’ 20th-graded quarterback. He ranked 22nd in QB Rating and 28th in touchdown percentage. Outside of a couple of draft picks, the Rams didn’t go out of their way to get him much help and the Rams have the 28th toughest schedule in the NFL this season (according to SharpFootballAnalysis.com).

I think the jury is still out on Goff but because I believe in McVay’s abilities. The value on No (-200) is terrible given the Rams head coach. I’ll PASS on betting if the Rams make the playoffs in 2020.

Place your legal NFL bets in CO, IN, NJ and WV at BetMGM. Bet now!

How many games will the Los Angeles Rams win in 2020? Bands

BAND ODDS
0-4 Wins +3000
5-8 Wins -120
9-12 Wins -105
13-16 Wins +4000

Successful gamblers don’t like this angle very often but let’s side with the market and bet the 5-8 Wins Band (-120). The Rams aren’t chumps but their first three games of the season are among the league’s toughest and their division is the best in the NFL. Los Angeles will win games, just not that many.

For the 0-4 Wins Band ticket to cash, a combination of bad breaks and a cluster of injuries would have to befall the Rams. The 9-12 Wins band (-105) is pretty good value but Yes (+165) to make the playoffs is better and if we thought they’d win that much we’d take the bet in the section above. A 13-plus win season is the biggest long shot for a reason: It ain’t happening.

How many games will the Los Angeles Rams win in 2020? Exact number

It’s too hard to stick the landing on this wager so I’ll PASS ON EXACT NUMBER OF WINS. Some strategy that may be profitable would be betting money on exactly 5 wins (+1400), exactly 6 wins (+650) and exactly 7 wins (+375). If any of those tickets cash you’ve profited on the Exact Wins action.

Want action on NFL futures betting lines? Sign up and place your legal sports wagers online at BetMGM. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @Geoffery_Clark on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook. Please gamble responsibly.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1367]

Los Angeles Chargers playoff odds and predicted total wins: NFL futures picks and best bets

Assessing the betting odds of the Los Angeles Chargers making the 2020 NFL playoffs and predicting their exact win total.

Will the Los Angeles Chargers make the 2020 NFL playoffs? Below, we look at the BetMGM betting odds and make our pick. We also predict their exact win total for the upcoming season.

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Odds last updated Wednesday, June 3 at 8:30 a.m. ET.

Will the Los Angeles Chargers make the 2020 NFL playoffs?

Yes: +180 | No: -223

The Chargers officially cut ties with longtime QB Philip Rivers this offseason, as he left via free agency to join the Indianapolis Colts. QB Tyrod Taylor will serve as the ‘bridge’ quarterback, holding down the fort until 2020 first-round draft pick QB Justin Herbert is ready to be trusted with the keys to the car in either 2020 or 2021. Taylor has been in this spot before.

The Chargers also bid farewell to RB Melvin Gordon, who signed a two-year deal in free agency with the division-rival Denver Broncos. So it’s a bit of a transition season for the Bolts, who will move into their new shared home with the Los Angeles Rams, SoFi Stadium.

The best bet here is NO (-223) where a $10 winning bet returns a profit of just $4.50.

Place your legal NFL bets in CO, IN, NJ, and WV at BetMGM. Bet now!

How many games will the Los Angeles Chargers win in 2020? Bands

BAND ODDS
0-4 Wins +1400
5-8 Wins -209
9-12 Wins +185
13-16 Wins +10000

The BetMGM bookmakers expect this to be a losing season for the Chargers, as do most talking heads. There isn’t a lot of faith in Taylor turning this club into a winning team, and the schedule doesn’t set up very well for them, either.

We’ll learn a lot about the Chargers in Week 1 when they travel to meet the Cincinnati Bengals. It might be their most winnable road game on the entire schedule. A loss there would get them off on the wrong foot. They travel to the Eastern Time Zone for four of their eight road games this season, and of course, they will have to face the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs twice.

The Bolts will welcome the new-look New England Patriots to town, as well as traveling to battle the New Orleans Saints on Oct. 12 in their only scheduled Monday Night Football appearance. It’s an ugly schedule for a Chargers team likely to endure a second straight losing season.

The Chargers are worth a small-unit bet at 5-8 WINS (-209), although it will cost you. They’re not going to be a winning team, but it wouldn’t be shocking to see even fewer than five wins with this mishmash roster.

A $10 bet on 5-8 WINS fetches a profit of only $4.80.

How many games will the Los Angeles Chargers win in 2020? Exact number

It’s expected the Bolts will be swept by the Chiefs, while perhaps splitting with both the rival Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders. Road trips to Cincinnati and Miami are very winnable, but outside of those games it’s unlikely the Chargers will return home with many road victories.

Looking at the home slate, a win over the Carolina Panthers in Week 3 is certainly very possible, and it might be their first in their new digs. Games at home against the New York Jets and Jacksonville Jaguars shouldn’t be terribly daunting, either.

Target 6 WINS (+400) as the play on exact victories, and you can quadruple your investment if they’re to suffer double-digit losses yet again in 2020. UNDER 7.5 WINS (-115) is a very good bet, too.

Want action on NFL futures betting lines? Sign up and place your legal sports wagers online at BetMGM. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook. Please gamble responsibly.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1367]

Pittsburgh Steelers playoff odds and predicted total wins: NFL futures picks and best bets

Assessing the betting odds of the Pittsburgh Steelers making the 2020 NFL playoffs and predicting their exact win total.

Will the Pittsburgh Steelers make the 2020 NFL playoffs? Below, we look at the BetMGM betting odds and make our pick. We also predict their exact win total for the upcoming season.

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Odds last updated Friday, May 29 at 6;20 a.m. ET.

Will the Pittsburgh Steelers make the 2020 NFL playoffs?

Yes: -115 | No: -105

The Steelers lost QB Ben Roethlisberger to a season-ending elbow injury in Week 2, and they just weren’t the same team. Coach Mike Tomlin got the most out of his replacements, challenging for a playoff spot late into the season, but the combination of QBs Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges just couldn’t get Pittsburgh quite over the hump. Heading into 2020, Big Ben is back, so will the Steelers be back in the postseason, too?

Tomlin always seems to get the most out of his teams, and tossing a future Hall of Fame signal caller back into the mix should help immensely. While it’s unlikely they have enough heat to overtake the rival Baltimore Ravens and MVP QB Lamar Jackson, the Steelers should be right there challenging for the division and a playoff spot.

The best bet is YES (-115), although a $10 winning bet returns a profit of $8.70.

Place your legal NFL bets in CO, IN, NJ, and WV at BetMGM. Bet now!

How many games will the Pittsburgh Steelers win in 2020? Bands

BAND ODDS
0-4 Wins +5000
5-8 Wins +135
9-12 Wins -167
13-16 Wins +2000

The schedule is a little on the soft side, as they face just five playoff teams for a total of six games – they play the Ravens twice. That means 10 of their games are against teams that watched the playoffs on television last year. That’s what the Steelers were doing, too, but they’ll be much improved and should reach double-digit wins as long as Big Ben doesn’t have a recurrence of the elbow issue that forced him to the sidelines.

The Steelers are a good bet at 9-12 WINS (-167), as they’re expected to be a contender again after a lost 2019 season.

A $10 bet on 9-12 WINS returns a very nice profit of $5.99.

How many games will the Pittsburgh Steelers win in 2020? Exact number

As mentioned, the Steelers have 10 games against non-playoff teams from 2019. That will help them take a big leap in the standings, from outside the playoffs to a contender. They should get off to a quick start, as they face rather soft competition early on, and their toughest games in the first six weeks will happen at home on Heinz Field turf. They usually battle the Ravens tough, and could split with them, and they’re likely to be favored in both games against the Cincinnati Bengals, and perhaps both meetings with the Cleveland Browns. Four wins inside the division is a fair prediction.

Looking at the non-division schedule, they should be able to rack up wins at home against the Denver Broncos and Washington Redskins, and on the road at the Jacksonville Jaguars and the New York Giants. A win over the Indianapolis Colts late in the season is also a good bet, especially if fans are back in the stands, making it a true home-field advantage.

Target 10 WINS (+300), as you can triple up if they simply gain two wins in the standings from a year ago. With Big Ben back under center, that should be easily attainable. OVER 9 WINS (-115) is also worth a small-unit play.

Want action on NFL futures betting lines? Sign up and place your legal sports wagers online at BetMGM. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook. Please gamble responsibly.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1367]

Jacksonville Jaguars playoff odds and predicted total wins: NFL futures picks and best bets

Assessing the betting odds of the Jacksonville Jaguars making the 2020 NFL playoffs and predicting their exact win total.

Will the Jacksonville Jaguars make the 2020 NFL playoffs? Below, we look at the BetMGM betting odds and make our pick. We also predict their exact win total for the upcoming season.

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Odds last updated Friday, May 29 at 9 a.m. ET.

Will the Jacksonville Jaguars make the 2020 NFL playoffs?

Yes: +800 | No: -1429

On paper, the Jaguars look like one of the worst teams in the NFL. They’ve made moves this offseason that suggest they don’t plan to compete much in 2020, trading CB A.J. Bouye and DE Calais Campbell, while also shopping RB Leonard Fournette at one point.

The AFC South may not be strong, but the conference as a whole will keep Jacksonville out of the playoffs – even with an additional postseason berth available in 2020.

The Jaguars are not going to make the postseason unless QB Gardner Minshew or Fournette has an MVP-type season, which is highly unlikely. Bet NO (-1429) on them making the playoffs, but a $10 bet will return a profit of just $0.70. There is much better value with our suggested bets mentioned below.

Place your legal NFL bets in CO, IN, NJ and WV at BetMGM. Bet now!

How many games will the Jacksonville Jaguars win in 2020? Bands

BAND ODDS
0-4 Wins +100
5-8 Wins -125
9-12 Wins +2200
13-16 Wins +100000

The Jaguars are fortunate to have the Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins on their 2020 schedule, but all of those teams should be much-improved since last season. None of them are surefire wins for Jacksonville, nor is any other game on the schedule.

The Jags won five and six games in the last two seasons, which seems to be a reasonable prediction for the upcoming campaign. I’m torn between 0-4 wins (+100) and 5-8 wins (-125) because their most likely range is 4-5 wins, making this a tough bet.

I’ll put some faith in Minshew and suggest 5-8 WINS, hoping Jacksonville can take care of the easier portion of its schedule. The same $10 bet on this win band will fetch a profit of $8.

How many games will the Jacksonville Jaguars win in 2020? Exact number

Unsurprisingly, four and five wins have the same odds at +255, the favorites of any exact win total. It’s hard to decide between the two but since we went with the 5-8 win band, we’ll take 5 WINS (+255) here for a profit of $25.50 on a $10 bet.

The Jaguars can find wins on their schedule, but it’s going to be a matter of stealing a win or two in the division, and beating the bad teams they’re set to face in 2020.

Want action on NFL futures betting lines? Sign up and place your legal sports wagers online at BetMGM. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @camdasilva on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook. Please gamble responsibly.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1367]

Philadelphia Eagles playoff odds and predicted total wins: NFL futures picks and best bets

Assessing the betting odds of the Philadelphia Eagles making the 2020 NFL playoffs and predicting their exact win total.

Will the Philadelphia Eagles make the 2020 NFL playoffs? Below, we look at the BetMGM betting odds and make our pick. We also predict their exact win total for the upcoming season.

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Odds last updated Friday, May 29 at 5:25 a.m. ET.

Will the Philadelphia Eagles make the 2020 NFL playoffs?

Yes: -200 | No: +165

The Eagles outlasted the Dallas Cowboys in 2019, winning the NFC East with a 9-7 mark and securing the No. 4 seed in the playoffs. They were quickly dispatched by the Seattle Seahawks by a 17-9 score at Lincoln Financial Field. Now, the Eagles have to play a first-place schedule for the 2020 regular season.

The Cowboys should be able to leapfrog the Eagles for the divisional crown in 2020. While the New York Giants and Washington Redskins aren’t expected to be much better this season, this will still be a competitive division with tough games seemingly coming each week for Philly. The Eagles were the only NFC East team to make the playoffs last year. Expect the same in 2020 with the division getting just one team into the postseason, however, that representative won’t be from Philadelphia.

The best value bet is NO (+165) where a $10 winning bet returns a profit of $16.50.

Place your legal NFL bets in CO, IN, NJ, and WV at BetMGM. Bet now!

How many games will the Philadelphia Eagles win in 2020? Bands

BAND ODDS
0-4 Wins +8000
5-8 Wins +195
9-12 Wins -223
13-16 Wins +1200

The BetMGM book envisions the sweet spot for the Eagles in the 9-12 wins (-223) band, but that’s not going to be the case. The second-place team in the NFC East last season, the Cowboys, finished 8-8. You can expect more of the same in 2020, and that second-place team will be the Eagles. Their schedule isn’t terribly daunting early on, but back-to-back road games at the San Francisco 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers to kick off October, followed by a home game with the Baltimore Ravens will kick off their slide. They also have three road games in four December outings against playoff-hopeful teams in the Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers, as well as against the rival Cowboys. Not good.

The Eagles are a strong value at 5-8 WINS (+195), as you can nearly double up if they’re a .500 club or slightly worse.

A $10 bet on 5-8 WINS returns a very nice profit of $19.50.

How many games will the Philadelphia Eagles win in 2020? Exact number

It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Eagles rattle off at least three victories inside the division. A split with the Giants is likely, and a sweep of the Redskins is very possible. On paper, the Cowboys are much more talented, and the Eagles might take a goose egg against them, which would be the difference for first place in the competitive NFC East.

The Eagles have a winnable home game against the Cincinnati Bengals in late September, and a road trip vs. the Cleveland Browns in late November could be another victory. Other than that, there aren’t many games you can look to on Philly’s schedule and say it’s an automatic “W.” It’s going to be nip and tuck all season.

Target 8 WINS (+375) as the play on exact victories as you can nearly quadruple your bank roll if the Eagles are mediocre again, and just one game worse than 2019. UNDER 9.5 WINS (-110) should be a slam-dunk play, too.

Want action on NFL futures betting lines? Sign up and place your legal sports wagers online at BetMGM. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook. Please gamble responsibly.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1367]

Indianapolis Colts playoff odds and predicted total wins: NFL futures picks and best bets

Assessing the betting odds of the Indianapolis Colts making the 2020 NFL playoffs and predicting their exact win total.

Will the Indianapolis Colts make the 2020 NFL playoffs? Below, we look at the BetMGM betting odds and make our pick. We also predict their exact win total for the upcoming season.

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Odds last updated Saturday, May 30 at 2:15 a.m. ET.

Will the Indianapolis Colts make the 2020 NFL playoffs?

Yes: -150 | No: +125 

There is a lot to be excited about in regards to the Colts this season. The team added Pro Bowl DT DeForest Buckner, who recorded 19.5 sacks over the last two seasons. They also added veteran CB Xavier Rhodes to help boost the secondary. But the biggest reason to be optimistic about the Colts is because of all the improvements done on the offensive side of the ball.

The biggest move was signing veteran QB Philip Rivers, who left the Los Angeles Chargers after starting every game (224) since 2006. While the 38-year-old Rivers is clearly in the twilight of his career, the hope is that he can extend his career by playing indoors behind one of the league’s best offensive lines.

The Colts also added some big-time weapons in the draft, securing RB Jonathan Taylor (Wisconsin) and WR Michael Pittman Jr. (USC) in the second round. But is it enough to make the playoffs?

According to BetMGM, the Colts are -150 favorites to make the playoffs. However, it’s fair to think they are still only the third-best team in the AFC South behind the Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans. It seems likely that Indy will be competing for a Wild Card spot in 2020, but its playoff chances ride on the success of Rivers.

Given the odds, it’s probably a smart bet to assume they will miss the playoffs (+150) this season. However, if Rivers can turn back the clock and play like he did in 2017 and 2018, the Colts would be one of the surprise teams in the AFC.

Place your legal NFL bets in CO, IN, NJ and WV at BetMGM. Bet now!

How many games will the Indianapolis Colts win in 2020? Bands

BAND ODDS
0-4 Wins +4000
5-8 Wins +115
9-12 Wins -139
13-16 Wins +2500

It’s clear that oddsmakers are expecting the Colts – 7-9 a year ago – to make a leap in 2020 as the band of 9-12 wins sits at -139. But it’s far more likely that this team ends up with seven or eight wins unless Rivers can become an elite quarterback. Considering the odds, take the Colts to finish with 5-8 WINS (+115) this season.

How many games will the Indianapolis Colts win in 2020? Exact number

If you believe the Colts will be better than their 2019 seven-win season, the smart bet is to take Indianapolis to win 8 GAMES (+300). They’ve improved on both sides of the ball, but have they done quite enough to pass the Texans and the Titans in the division? Probably not.

If you are less than convinced that Rivers is an upgrade over QB Jacoby Brissett, last year’s starter, you can take them to win 7 GAMES (+450) again this season at pretty decent odds. It’s worth noting that the highest-odd win total for the Colts this season is 9 wins (+275), but there isn’t enough value there to bet on this team having a winning season in 2020.

Want action on NFL futures betting lines? Sign up and place your legal sports wagers online at BetMGM. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @Marcus_Mosher on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook. Please gamble responsibly.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1367]