Tag: Betting NFL Wins

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.

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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.

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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2020 NFL Futures Betting: NFC East Division Winner

Analyzing the 2020 NFL futures odds for which team will win the NFC East Division, with sports betting picks, tips and best bets.

The NFL offseason is still very young. The draft is still a month away, and free agency is still a couple of weeks away, but it isn’t too early to start looking at NFL Futures betting. Looking at the NFC East, where it appears to be a two-team division with two rebuilding teams.

Despite being early, we look at the futures odds to win the AFC North.

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday, March 6 at 1:15 p.m. ET.

2020 NFC East odds: Dallas Cowboys (+110)

The Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles are the favorites to win the division and are almost even money. Dallas was viewed as the more talented team in 2019 that simply under-performed, leading to the Eagles’ division win. They are one of three teams in the division with a new coach, as Mike McCarthy replaces Jason Garrett. Dallas’ offseason is focused on a pair of players — QB Dak Prescott and WR Amari Cooper. Both will be free agents. They still have a talented offensive line and arguably the best running back in the NFL in RB Ezekiel Elliott. They could lose CB Byron Jones in free agency and will likely have to address the tight end position. Offense wasn’t the problem, as they were tops in the league in yards gained and in the top five in scoring. No matter what happens in the offseason, Dallas should be in the mix to win the division. However, despite McCarthy’s track record in the league and having the same odds as the Eagles, it does take time to adjust to a new offensive and defensive system. They are a good bet but not a slam dunk by any means.

Get some action on 2020 NFL division winners by betting at BetMGM. New customer offer: RISK-FREE First Bet (up to $500!) paid in free bets.

2020 NFC East odds: Philadelphia Eagles (+110)

The Eagles have the most stability in the division. They are the only team in the East to have their head coach return, and QB Carson Wentz returns as the starter. Questions remain about whether he is the long-term answer at the position after injuries derailed a promising trajectory. They were ravaged by injuries in 2019, especially at receiver and were middle-of-the-pack both offensively and defensively. They are expected to bolster the offense at receiver to give Wentz more than just a tight end and running backs to throw the ball to. They struggled in the defensive secondary. That will be an area of focus.

However, Doug Pederson is the one coach who remains in the division from 2019, and he has taken the Eagles to the playoffs each of the last three seasons with a Super Bowl title. As such, they make the smart play to win the division.

2020 NFC East odds: New York Giants (+900)

The Giants have a new head coach in Joe Judge and rebuild with young talents on offense, led by QB Daniel Jones, RB Saquon Barkley and WR Sterling Shepard. With the fourth pick in the draft, they can give Jones more protection or add a defensive playmaker. After all, it was the defense that was the problem all season.

The Giants’ long odds are reflective of what it would take for the Giants to take a big leap from being a four-win team to a division winner. With better protection, Jones and Barkley can lead an offensive improvement and, with the right defenders being added, they make for an unlikely division winner, especially with a rookie head coach.

They are not a good bet.

2020 NFC East odds: Washington Redskins (+1200)

Washington cleaned out the front office and fired Jay Gruden. They replaced him with Ron Rivera as head coach, but they are truly rebuilding. They find themselves in a similar situation as the Arizona Cardinals in 2019. They have a second-year quarterback whose rookie season was far from impressive. They have a high draft pick and new coach. The Cardinals made strides with rookie QB Kyler Murray but still only won five games.

QB Dwayne Haskins should not be expected to improve the way Lamar Jackson or Patrick Mahomes did between their first and second years, and if the Redskins move on from him and draft a quarterback like Tua Tagovailoa or Justin Herbert, he won’t likely play at the level that Murray did as a rookie.

Essentially, while 12:1 odds does offer an intriguing payout, it would basically be throwing money away.

Want action on the NFC East Division winner? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @senorjessroot and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

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

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2020 NFL Futures Betting: AFC North Division Winner

Analyzing the 2020 NFL futures odds for which team will win the AFC North Division, with sports betting picks, tips and best bets.

It’s never too early to get into NFL Futures betting, even if we are just completing the scouting combine in Indianapolis and the draft and free agency hasn’t yet occurred. In fact, sometimes you can get a good price on a team before all hell breaks loose.

Case in point – the 2019 Cleveland Browns. They were near the bottom of the pack last spring before landing WR Odell Beckham Jr. from the New York Giants. After several other moves, which appeared to be shrewd, they went from long shots to one of the favorites two win the Super Bowl, seeing their number shrink exponentially. We see now that it was foolish to take them early or late, as they wet the bed and didn’t even come close to making the postseason.

Below, we look at the futures odds to win the AFC North.

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday, March 3 at 10:25 p.m. ET.

2020 AFC North odds: Baltimore Ravens (-250)

The Ravens are one of just four division favorites with minus-odds, meaning you need to lay more than your potential return. That’s how heavily favored they are. In fact, they’re tied with the New Orleans Saints (NFC South) with the third-best chance of winning their respective division based on the odds – behind only the New England Patriots (AFC East) and defending champ Kansas City Chiefs (AFC West).

Get some action on 2020 NFL division winners by betting at BetMGM. New customer offer: RISK-FREE First Bet (up to $500!) paid in free bets.

QB Lamar Jackson took the NFL by storm last season, and there is no reason to believe he will be slowing down anytime soon. Plus, the Ravens defense is nasty. Couple that with the fact the Pittsburgh Steelers are still not hitting on all cylinders, the Browns are still the Browns, and the Cincinnati Bengals are picking No. 1 overall in the draft, and this should be a slam-dunk play.

2020 AFC North odds: Pittsburgh Steelers (+340)

The Steelers are expected to have QB Ben Roethlisberger back under center after losing him to a season-ending elbow injury in Week 1 last season. While he is getting a bit long in the tooth, he is much better for the team’s outlook than if Mason Rudolph or Devlin Hodges were taking snaps. They just missed out on a playoff spot with that duo at the helm. If the Steelers can grab a wideout playmaker in free agency or the draft, and plug a few holes, they could easily challenge the Ravens for the top spot. Coach Mike Tomlin seems to always have his team right there challenging in the end.

2020 AFC North odds: Cleveland Browns (+650)

The Browns still have an impressive offensive core with QB Baker Mayfield, RBs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, Beckham and WR Jarvis Landry, etc. Plus, their defense is sick, too, returning DE Myles Garrett from his helmet-swinging suspension. They’re worth a small-unit wager, especially if they can add some beef to the O-line so Mayfield isn’t running for his life every down. The Browns will face a semi-favorable schedule due to their tumble down the standings to third place in 2019. Will they win the division? Probably not. But stranger things have happened, and their skill position players rival anyone in the NFL.

2020 AFC North odds: Cincinnati Bengals (+2000)

The Bengals are going to improve their personnel with the No. 1 overall pick, but they’re still much further away from the competition even with possibly adding a Heisman Trophy winning quarterback. In fact, QB isn’t really their biggest issue, as Andy Dalton was more than serviceable for many years. He is expected to be dealt, perhaps to the Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts or New England Patriots. They might get more draft picks in return from someone, helping them improve even quicker. However, they have so many holes to fill that it’s not worth taking a flier on them, even at this rate, which is sure to decrease slightly after some additions.

Want action on the AFC North Division winner? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

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

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2020 NFL Futures Betting: AFC South Division Winner

Analyzing the 2020 NFL futures odds for which team will win the AFC South Division, with sports betting picks, tips and best bets.

Only dweebs insist “it’s too early to bet on the NFL.” If that were true, BetMGM wouldn’t have done us a solid and listed NFL division futures. The division we are tackling today is the AFC South, which has been dominated in recent years by the Houston Texans — to the tune of four division crowns in the last five seasons.

Below, we look at the futures odds to win the AFC South.

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. ET.

2020 AFC South odds: Houston Texans (+170)

Is Bill O’Brien underrated? The Houston Texans are back-to-back reigning AFC South champions and have won the division four out of the six seasons he’s been the head coach. Even when O’Brien’s teams underperform they still find ways to win; the Texans finished last season with a 10-6 record but a minus-7 point differential. The offensive line, linebackers and the secondary are the most obvious areas of need for the Texans. Regardless of whether they adequately address these needs, we should expect O’Brien’s Texans to contend for the playoffs. 

2020 AFC South odds: Indianapolis Colts (+200)

The good news about this offseason is that it cannot go worse than the last offseason when now-former quarterback Andrew Luck abruptly retired two weeks before the start of the regular season. Backup QB Jacoby Brissett was promoted to the first string and the Colts crested at 5-2 before losing seven of their final nine games to go Under their 7.5 regular-season O/U win total with a 7-9 record.

Get some action on 2020 NFL division winners by betting at BetMGM. New customer offer: RISK-FREE First Bet (up to $500!) paid in free bets.

Brissett’s future is in question and there’s a growing belief that the Colts will use free agency or the draft to upgrade at quarterback. They’ve been linked to Tom Brady, Philip Rivers and Teddy Bridgewater, but have also been projected to draft Jordan Love, Justin Herbert or even Tua Tagovailoa. But at this moment Brissett is at the helm and a limited supporting cast featuring Pro Bowl offensive guard Quenton Nelson, a depreciating WR T.Y. Hilton, and mediocre (yet somehow Pro Bowl) TE Jack Doyle. If the roster doesn’t dramatically improve this offseason, it could be another long, playoff-less season for the Colts.

2020 AFC South odds: Tennessee Titans (+200)

The Tennessee Titans (9-7) were the last remaining AFC South team in 2019, making it all the way to the AFC title game where they lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs 35-24. Tennessee surged to a playoff appearance when QB Ryan Tannehill took over the starting job. Tannehill had a 7-3 record as a starter and was ranked first in yards per attempt and quarterback rating, and third in completion percentage. Still, the Titans are headed into the 2020 offseason facing questions because Tannehill and fellow Pro Bowl RB Derrick Henry are free agents. Henry was the straw that stirred the Titans drink and his dominance was the key to the Titans’ stunning playoff upsets of the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens. It’s assumed the Titans will re-sign both Tannehill and Henry, but certainly not guaranteed. There’s even talk that head coach Mike Vrabel could lure free-agent QB Tom Brady down to Tennessee.

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2020 AFC South odds: Jacksonville Jaguars (+1000) 

The third full season of the Doug Marrone tenure in Jacksonville was an unmitigated disaster. Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey became disgruntled and was traded to the Los Angeles Rams, V.P. of Football Operations Tom Coughlin was fired, and the Jaguars missed the playoffs for the second straight season—finishing with a 6-10 record—after winning the AFC South in 2017. Nick Foles signed a four-year, $88 million contract in the 2019 offseason, got injured in Week 1 against the Kansas City Chiefs, and saw the Jaguars turn to rookie QB Gardner Minshew — who finished the season as the starter even as Foles came back for limited duty. All signs point to Minshew being the starter next season but, the defense that was elite the previous two seasons finished 24th in the NFL last year and could be the focus of the front office this offseason. The fall-off in defensive sturdiness and a typically unimpressive offense make it clear that the Jaguars are the AFC South team with the most work to do this offseason.

2020 AFC South odds: the pick

It’s surprising how good of a price the Houston Texans (+170) are getting. Houston is the only AFC South team that has its franchise quarterback—Deshaun Watson—locked up heading into free agency and the draft. When healthy, Watson is throwing to one of the best receiving corps in the NFL with DeAndre Hopkins, Kenny Stills and Will Fuller. Just like every team, the Houston Texans need to make roster improvements, but as of now, they are for sure the best bet to win the 2020 AFC South title.

Want action on the NFC South Division winner? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @Geoffery_Clark and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

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

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2020 NFL Futures Betting: NFC West Division Winner

Analyzing the 2020 NFL futures odds for which team will win the NFC West Division, with sports betting picks, tips and best bets.

The NFC West has become arguably the best division in football thanks to the recent resurgence of the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers. Each represented the NFC in the last two Super Bowls, while the Seattle Seahawks have finished above .500 every year since 2012.

Early odds on which team will win the division are out, allowing anxious bettors to wager on the NFC West champion far in advance of the 2020 season. So, let’s dig into the odds.

2020 NFC West odds: San Francisco 49ers (+115)

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Monday, March 2 at 5:20 p.m. ET.

It’s no surprise that the defending champions and Super Bowl representatives are the favorites to win the NFC West again. Coach Kyle Shanahan is the cog that makes this engine go on offense, while the defense is littered with stars up front and at linebacker, namely with DE Nick Bosa and LB Kwon Alexander.

The 49ers aren’t overwhelming favorites to win back-to-back division titles, though, which shows just how strong the NFC West is from top to bottom. On paper, they do look like the best team with many of their top players returning.

A $10 wager on the 49ers to win the NFC West returns a profit of $11.50.

2020 NFC West odds: Seattle Seahawks (+200)

As long as QB Russell Wilson is in Seattle, the Seahawks will be in contention to win the division. They’ve never finished worse than second in the NFC West with Wilson at the helm, which shows how consistent they’ve been as of late. There’s little reason to believe they won’t once again be in the mix for a division crown, even if DE Jadeveon Clowney, DE Ezekiel Ansah and LB Mychal Kendricks leave in free agency.

Get some action on 2020 NFL division winners by betting at BetMGM. New customer offer: RISK-FREE First Bet (up to $500!) paid in free bets.

The combination of Wilson, a consistent running game and improved offensive line play make the Seahawks a legitimate Super Bowl contender next season – if they can get out of the NFC West.

2020 NFC West odds: Los Angeles Rams (+260)

The Rams are expected to undergo major changes this offseason, starting with the hiring of three new coordinators. They could lose three defensive starters in free agency and need a lot of help on the offensive line. Not to mention, RB Todd Gurley isn’t guaranteed to be on the roster in Week 1 and QB Jared Goff struggled mightily last season.

There’s a decent chance the Rams will remain a 9-7 team in 2020 behind shaky offensive line play and a defense that lacks talent around DT Aaron Donald on the front seven. CB Jalen Ramsey’s presence certainly helps, as does Donald on the interior, but there isn’t a lot of top end talent beyond those two guys and S John Johnson.

2020 NFC West odds: Arizona Cardinals (+2000)

The Cardinals had one of the worst defenses in the NFL last season and lack playmakers around QB Kyler Murray, making this an important offseason in Arizona. They could add a top receiver in the draft at No. 8 overall, but RB David Johnson is a shell of his former self and RB Kenyan Drake could leave in free agency.

They’re getting close to contending in the NFC West, but they’re probably another year away. With the upside of them being +2000, though, and how often teams go from worst to first, they’re worth a small wager to win the division in the event that they have a strong offseason.

Want action on the NFC West Division winner? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

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

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2020 NFL Futures Betting: AFC East Division Winner

Analyzing the 2020 NFL futures odds for which team will win the AFC East Division, with sports betting picks, tips and best bets.

For the last two decades, the AFC East has belonged to the New England Patriots. Since the 2003 season, the Patriots have won the division every year, except for the 2008 season when Tom Brady tore his ACL. The Patriots still went on to win 11 games that season, but it was the Miami Dolphins who wore the AFC East Crown.

Will things change in 2020 in the AFC East as Brady could be on the move? Could another team sneak up and pass the Patriots inside the division? Here are the betting odds for each team to win the AFC East in 2020.

2020 AFC East odds: New England Patriots (-304)

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Monday, March 2 at 5 p.m. ET.

As expected, the Patriots are currently big favorites to win the AFC East for the 12th straight season. However, these odds are lower than usual as the Brady situation hangs over the fate of the entire franchise.

Even if the Patriots were to lose Brady, their defense, along with coach Bill Belichick makes this team tough to bet against. In all likelihood, Brady should return, and the Patriots will once again be one of the favorites to reach the Super Bowl. At their current odds, the Patriots are still a good bet to win the division. In fact, consider them a value play right now as Brady’s future is still in question.

2020 AFC East odds: Buffalo Bills (+325)

If you want to fade the Patriots, betting on the Bills at more than 3-1 to win the division isn’t a bad way to go. Under coach Sean McDermott, the Bills have gone 25-23 over the last three seasons. Their best year came in 2019 when they went 10-6 and made the playoffs.

Get some action on 2020 NFL division winners by betting at BetMGM. New customer offer: RISK-FREE First Bet (up to $500!) paid in free bets.

The Bills have an incredibly talented roster on both sides of the ball, but they need QB Josh Allen to continue to take steps forward as a passer. With their elite defense and top-tier run game, it’s reasonable to think Buffalo could reach double-digit wins in 2020. Don’t be afraid of betting on this hard-nosed Bills team next season.

2020 AFC East odds: New York Jets (+1000)

After the Patriots and the Bills, there is a big gap between the next tier of teams in the division. The Jets come in at 10-1 underdogs after finishing the season 7-9 last year. There is some optimism surrounding this team as it won six of the final eight games to finish the season. While the Jets defense played near an average level last season, it was their 31st-ranked scoring offense that held them back.

If the Jets can find some offensive line help to protect QB Sam Darnold, it wouldn’t be a shock to see this team sneak into the playoffs next season. However, the Jets are still a long way from topping the Patriots and the Bills and should be avoided at their current odds.

2020 AFC East odds: Miami Dolphins (+2000)

The Dolphins are 20-1 underdogs to win the East. While they are clearly still rebuilding the roster, it wouldn’t be a surprise if this team turned things around quicker than most expect. First-year coach Brian Flores was awfully impressive in the second half of the season as the Dolphins earned impressive wins against the Indianapolis Colts, Philadelphia Eagles and Patriots.

If the Dolphins can find their franchise quarterback this offseason and rebuild their roster with the plethora of picks at their disposal, don’t be surprised if this team makes a big leap in 2020. However, it does appear Miami is still one or two years away from challenging New England or Buffalo atop of the division.

Want action on the AFC East Division winner? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

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

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2020 NFL Futures Betting: NFC North Division Winner

Analyzing the 2020 NFL futures odds for which team will win the NFC North Division, with sports betting picks, tips and best bets.

For the better part of the last decade, when trying to determine who would win the NFC North, the choice has come down to two teams – the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings. The Packers have been the dominant team, but Minnesota has been the most dynamic and the 2020 odds from BetMGM.com bears that out.

However, this season is going to be a year of change in the NFC North and nine wins might win the division. Below, we look at the futures odds to win the NFC North.

2020 NFC North odds: Green Bay Packers (+135)

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Monday, March 2 at 3:10 p.m. ET.

Green Bay is the slight favorite (+135) over Minnesota. The Packers showed defensive improvement last year, but they aren’t in the position to be viewed as an elite defense. They have depth issues at all three levels. Offensively, Green Bay still has the best QB in the division (and have for the last 25 years), but aside from WR Davante Adams, the Pack don’t have a legitimate No. 2 receiving threat and their offensive line is injury prone. They’re coming off a 13-win season, but many analysts thought they were a fraudulent 13-3 – and may have been right.

Get some action on 2020 NFL division winners by betting at BetMGM. New customer offer: RISK-FREE First Bet (up to $500!) paid in free bets.

2020 NFC North odds: Minnesota Vikings (+140)

Minnesota is at a crossroads. The Vikings have the best top-to-bottom roster, but their commitment to keeping their own players has led to a huge disparity in player contracts and has pressed Minnesota tight against the salary cap. Throw in that three of their top five defensive backs are set to hit free agency and one of the other two (cornerback Xavier Rhodes) could be asked to take a pay cut or get released because his play dropped significantly.

2020 NFC North odds: Chicago Bears (+400)

Chicago, 8-8 last season, took a huge step back after running away with the NFC North title in 2018. One of the reasons (aside from injuries) was that the offense didn’t have the security blanket of the power run game that  RB Jordan Howard provided to close out games they were leading. Much more onus was laid at the feet of QB Mitch Trubisky and he struggled. Without defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, the defense also took a step back, despite having arguably the best linebacker corps in the league.

2020 NFC North odds: Detroit Lions (+1100)

Detroit hasn’t won the division since 1993, when it was the NFC Central and had five teams. Pedigreed coaches have come and gone without any success and, in his first two seasons, former Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia has a record of 9-22-1. The Lions need to build through the draft and have many more hits than misses to compete.

2020 NFC North odds: The Pick

When it comes to wagering on who will win the NFC North, most money will be bet the way of the Packers and the Vikings. But in a division where no team may end up winning more than 10 games, our money is going with the BEARS (+400). They appear to be the only team in the division that is on an upward trajectory and can get better by continuing to add young talent and a couple of key free agent signings.

Want action on the NFC North Division winner? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

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

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2020 NFL Futures Betting: AFC West Division Winner

Analyzing the 2020 NFL futures odds for which team will win the AFC West Division, with sports betting picks, tips and best bets.

It’s always tough to bet against a defending Super Bowl champion, much less betting against them to win their respective division the following season. As it pertains to the AFC West, there is no more dominating betting odds than what the Kansas City Chiefs are proposed to do in 2020.

Kansas City has been the dominant team in the AFC West for years. The Chiefs have won the West each of the last four seasons, posting regular-season win totals of 12, 12, 10 and 12. Their dominance has been unquestioned and their success speaks to the ability of the team to maintain a high level of play and display the kind of regular-season consistency typically reserved for franchises like the New England Patriots.

2020 AFC West odds: Kansas City Chiefs (-500)

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Monday, March 2 at 1:20 p.m. ET.

The Chiefs are the runaway favorite at -500. While teams can have up-and-down levels of success from one year to the next, most consistent successful franchises have a star quarterback who develops an entire offense. Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes has done that in his two full seasons as a starter. The same can’t be said for the rest of the division.

2020 AFC West odds: Los Angeles Chargers (+700)

The Chargers have moved on from veteran QB Philip Rivers. While they will likely end up bringing in another high profile veteran to keep the team afloat, they have a ton of free agents they have to deal with and the team could look a lot different in 2020. Regardless, it will take time to develop a rapport offensively.

Get some action on 2020 NFL division winners by betting at BetMGM. New customer offer: RISK-FREE First Bet (up to $500!) paid in free bets.

2020 AFC West odds: Las Vegas Raiders (+1000)

In Las Vegas, the relocated Raiders are at a crossroads with QB Derek Carr, who has shown flashes, but has been inconsistent –  the Raiders have a record of 17-31 over the last three seasons. Coach Jon Gruden and GM Mike Mayock are making improvements, but haven’t reached the point of legitimate contention.

2020 AFC West odds: Denver Broncos (+1200)

In the four seasons since Peyton Manning retired, the Broncos have had seven different starting quarterbacks and a different primary starter each of the last three seasons with no success. 2020 looks to be the fourth straight year with a new starting QB who will be the anointed starter moving forward.

Many bettors have a hard time laying the kind of odds you need to bet on Kansas City, but the odds are steep for a reason. Even if the Chiefs suffer some key injuries, the Chiefs are going to win the division. Take KANSAS CITY (-500) and cash in a small return.

Want action on the AFC West Division winner? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

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

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