Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Here’s your NFL futures betting primer for all of the smartest wagers to make before Week 1.
Every year the NFL honors the elite players of the league with its annual awards. Thanks to the level of speculation as to who will win the major accolades, you can make futures bets on most of them.
Below we take a look at who we think will win the awards this season as well as a long-shot candidate who could bring you a lot of money if he has the kind of season in which he is capable.
Note: All betting odds come from BetMGM Sportsbook.
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Who are the experts taking in the Week 1 battle between the Chargers and Washington?
The Washington Football Team hosts the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of NFL action on Sunday in what is expected to be one of the more competitive games of the week.
Washington opened as a half-point favorite early in the week, and on Thursday, the spread was moved 1.5 points in favor of the Football Team, per Tipico Sportsbook.
So, who are experts taking in the Week 1 showdown between Washington and the Chargers?
According to NFL Pick Watch, 55% of the experts have the Football Team coming out on top. Mike Jones of USA TODAY Sports is one of the experts who went with the Los Angeles Chargers.
The lines for this game indicate this will be a close one. There is a lot of unknowns regarding the Chargers’ defense and Washington’s offense. This is the first year for head coach Brandon Staley who helped lead the Rams to a ranking of No. 1 in total defense in 2020.
For Washington, this is all about quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. If he’s hot, Washington should come away with the win. If he’s not, well, it could be a long day for the Football Team defending Los Angeles quarterback Justin Herbert.
The Chargers are expected to have starting running back Austin Ekeler for the game.
After signing Cam Netwon to a one-year deal, the Patriots now have the best odds to win the AFC East in 2020.
The Buffalo Bills were betting odds favorites to win the AFC East entering this summer, especially after Tom Brady bolted for Tampa Bay.
That changed on Sunday when the Patriots added Cam Netwon to their quarterback room. New England is now favored at +105 to win the division, according to SportsBettingDime. The Bills were previously favored at +126 as far back as late May. Now the odds are not in Buffalo’s favor, as it is now +160 to win a division that was once thought to be up for grabs.
With Newton signing a one-year deal, the Patriots could once again have a former MVP under center. Newton missed 14 games last season due to a Lisfranc injury. He’s also dealt with an ailing shoulder for the past couple of seasons. Newton’s injuries are a product of his playstyle, but if anybody will be able to resurge his career, it’s certainly Bill Belichick.
Unsurprisingly, the AFC East is looked at as a two-team race between Buffalo and New England. The Jets are at +700 odds to win the division, while the Dolphins are at +750. While New York made several adjustments to its offensive line and added reinforcements in the draft and free agency, the oddsmakers don’t believe the Jets are ready to be in the same conversation with the Bills and Patriots.
Heading into the season, it looked as if the AFC East would be a wide-open race, with the Bills having just a slight edge. Newton’s arrival in the division won’t be filled with pleasantries from Miami or NewYork, especially because he holds a 7-1 record against the AFC East and is one of the best players at his position when healthy.
The addition of Newton to a quarterback room that includes an unknown in Jarrett Stidham and a well-traveled veteran in Brian Hoyer gives the Patriots a leg up as they attempt to win their 12th straight division title.
Where will Andy Dalton be playing for Week 1 of the 2020 NFL season? We look at the NFL betting odds and make our best bets.
The Cincinnati Bengals are expected to use the first overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft to select LSU QB Joe Burrow. Then they are expected to trade QB Andy Dalton. Here we will go over the odds and best bets for where Dalton will be playing in Week 1 when the 2020 NFL season begins.
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday, April 11 at 1 p.m. ET.
Looking to place a bet on Andy Dalton‘s next team? Place your legal sports wagers online at BetMGM. Bet now!
Thus far, the trade market has been quiet and the Bengals are even considering keeping Dalton as a veteran backup and mentor for their quarterback selection, which is expected to be Burrow.
It would be similar to when they selected Carson Palmer first overall in 2003 and had Jon Kitna as a mentor. The difference would be Burrow would play as a rookie while Palmer did not.
Recent reports suggest teams don’t want to trade for Dalton in the final year of his contract and pay him $17 million in 2020.
The Jaguars seem content with Gardner Minshew and just unloaded a less reliable starter in Nick Foles in a trade with the Chicago Bears. They already carry more than $18 million in dead money for Foles.
The Patriots make a ton of sense because they have Brian Hoyer and Jarrett Stidham at quarterback after losing Tom Brady to free agency. They could draft one but if they don’t, Dalton would be the perfect fit. He is reliable and takes care of the ball. He could keep the Patriots competitive in a wide open AFC East division.
The Chargers already have a veteran in Tyrod Taylor, and are expected to select a quarterback in the draft to develop, so acquiring Dalton doesn’t make much sense.
If there are two best bets, it would be that either he stays in Cincinnati (+250) or lands with the Patriots after the draft (+750).
Want action on Andy Dalton’s next team? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.
Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook.
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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Who will sign free-agent QB Jameis Winston? Assessing the betting odds, with picks and best bets for his Week 1 team.
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Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston remains a free agent as the NFL offseason inches toward the 2020 NFL Draft. With the few remaining QB-needy teams likely to address those roster holes Thursday, April 23, Winston’s potential landing spots seem to be quickly drying up. Below, we’ll look at the NFL betting odds for Winston’s next team and where he’ll be suiting up for Week 1 of the 2020 NFL season.
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday, April 10 at 11:20 a.m. ET.
| TEAM | ODDS |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | +200 |
| Los Angeles Chargers | +400 |
| Denver Broncos | +500 |
| Miami Dolphins | +600 |
There is little value at the top of the odds board, especially looking at how these four teams are planning to address the QB position in 2020.
The Jaguars are poised to enter the year with sophomore QB Gardner Minshew under center after trading Nick Foles. Should they look to bring in someone with more experience, former MVP Cam Newton would seem to be the more attractive option for a team in dire need of drawing some positive attention.
The Broncos received an impressive five-game sample from 2019 rookie Drew Lock in which he went 4-1 after taking over for Joe Flacco. He’ll be given every chance to become the team’s first legitimate replacement to Peyton Manning.
The Dolphins and Chargers are equipped with the No. 5 and 6 picks in the draft, respectively, and likely have their eyes on Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert.
| TEAM | ODDS |
| New England Patriots | +1000 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | +1000 |
| Washington Redskins | +1500 |
| New Orleans Saints | +1500 |
| Las Vegas Raiders | +2500 |
| Atlanta Falcons | +2500 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | +3000 |
| Indianapolis Colts | +5000 |
| Chicago Bears | +5000 |
| Detroit Lions | +5000 |
| New York Giants | +8000 |
| New York Jets | +8000 |
Looking to place a bet on Jameis Winston‘s next team? Place your legal sports wagers online at BetMGM. Bet now!
Cap space is the biggest issue for the Steelers, as they have just under $5.8 million in breathing room with 72 players under contract for 2020. If they can navigate the financial constraints, they have a clear need.
Thirty-eight-year-old QB Ben Roethlisberger has been hinting at an upcoming retirement for several years, and was limited to just two games by injury last season. Neither Mason Rudolph nor Devlin Hodges looked the part of a viable replacement.
Winston could regroup under Roethlisberger for a season or two before helping the Steelers make a smooth transition into a new era.
The Bucs moved on from their former No. 1 overall pick by signing Tom Brady early in the NFL’s free agency period. While Brady, who turns 43 in August, hasn’t missed a game since 2016, his current backup is scheduled to be Blaine Gabbert.
As Winston goes further and further into the offseason unsigned, his asking price is likely to continue dropping. A reunion at the right cost would make sense, as Winston is still highly regarded by Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht.
The Jets share the highest odds on the board with the Giants. Sam Darnold, the third overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft, has played just 13 games in each of his first two seasons, going 11-15. David Fales and Mike White are his current backups under center.
The Jets have more than $17 million in cap space with 76 players under contract. Adding Winston would create some competition for Darnold and could help keep the team competitive as a potential injury replacement.
Want action on Jameis Winston’s next team? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.
Follow @EstenMcLaren on Twitter, and follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook.
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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Looking at the teams most likely to trade for Carolina Panthers QB Cam Newton, with betting odds, picks and best bets for his next team.
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The Carolina Panthers announced QB Cam Newton had been granted permission to seek a trade Tuesday, shortly before they went out and agreed to terms on a new deal with New Orleans Saints impending free-agent QB Teddy Bridgewater. Below, we take a look at the BetMGM odds and make our picks and best bets for Newton’s next team.
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday, March 18 at 10:30 a.m. ET.
| TEAM | ODDS |
| Chicago Bears | +140 |
| Los Angeles Chargers | +165 |
| Washington Redskins | +340 |
| New England Patriots | +450 |
| Miami Dolphins | +900 |
| Oakland Raiders | +2000 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | +2000 |
| Denver Broncos | +3300 |
| Dallas Cowboys | +5000 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | +5000 |
| Detroit Lions | +5000 |
| Cleveland Browns | +5000 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | +5000 |
Looking to place a bet on Cam Newton‘s next team? Place your legal sports wagers online at BetMGM. Bet now!
The Bears have been very public about their interests in acquiring a veteran free agent to challenge incumbent starter Mitchell Trubisky in 2020. They had been loosely tied to Bridgewater, but now seem focused on either Cincinnati Bengals QB Andy Dalton or Jacksonville Jaguars QB Nick Foles.
Newton is a significant upgrade over both of those veterans, and in all likelihood over Trubisky, as well. Signed for just the 2020 season, he could allow the Bears to give Trubisky a much need refresh on the bench, before trying again with the former second overall pick in 2021.
The Chargers allowed Philip Rivers to walk away in free agency and are now one of three teams picking at the top of the 2020 NFL Draft with a clear need at quarterback. With Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa likely to go to the Cincinnati Bengals and Miami Dolphins, respectively, they may be fine settling for Jordan Love or Justin Herbert, or may choose to address another position of need.
Acquiring Newton allows the Chargers to address one of those other positions, while potentially targeting a rookie in the second or third round. If Newton flames out or proves to be not fully healthy, they could find themselves picking at the top of the 2021 draft in what’s expected to be a strong QB class, led by Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence.
The Patriots are the fourth team without a clear starting option for the 2020 season already on the roster. They’re unlikely to turn from Brady to 2019 backup Jarrett Stidham.
Fitting Newton into head coach Bill Belichick’s ball-control system seems the biggest challenge, but the Pats are quickly running out of viable options.
Already looking to unload Foles after just one year and left largely unimpressed with Gardner Minshew following his rookie season, the Jaguars could use a positive splash to help change the franchise trajectory. Newton immediately injects some star power into the roster and finally inspires some confidence at the most important position.
Want action on Cam Newton’s next team? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.
Follow @EstenMcLaren on Twitter, and follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook.
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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Should you make a moneyline bet on the San Francisco 49ers or Kansas City Chiefs to hold a lead after the first quarter of Super Bowl LIV?
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Two of the NFL’s best offenses will square off Sunday in Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. The San Francisco 49ers ranked second in points scored this season, while the Kansas City Chiefs were fifth. Below, we’ll look at which team can get off to the better start in Super Bowl LIV with our best bet for the first-quarter moneyline.
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET.
We all know how good these offenses are, but which team will come out of the gates hotter? According to BetMGM, the first quarter moneyline is -110 for both teams. In other words, the oddsmakers don’t favor either the Chiefs or 49ers to hold the lead after the first 15 minutes.
If you’re going to bet on the first quarter moneyline, though, which team should you take?
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The Chiefs enter Super Bowl LIV as 1.5-point favorites against the spread, but as we saw in their first two playoff games, they’ve had to come from behind to earn their victories. Against the Houston Texans, they were down 24-0 early in the second quarter before mounting a huge comeback to win 51-31. The Tennessee Titans held a 10-point lead the following week, but Kansas City erased that deficit, too.
The 49ers, on the other hand, haven’t trailed once in these playoffs and were only tied once (after the opening score). They were tied 7-7 after one quarter against the Minnesota Vikings in the Divisional Round, and they led 7-0 after 15 minutes against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship.
So, based on recent history, the 49ers would look like the wiser bet for the first quarter moneyline. They’ve been more in control than the Chiefs this postseason and there were only four games this season in which they trailed after the first quarter. The Chiefs trailed after the first quarter seven times.
Only three teams were better than the 49ers in the first quarter this season. Their scoring margin in the first 15 minutes was plus-40, scoring 106 points to their opponents’ 66. The Baltimore Ravens, New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers were the only teams better in that department.
The Chiefs, on the other hand, were 12th in first-quarter scoring margin (plus-10). They scored 90 first-quarter points but allowed 80 to their opponents, which was 11th-worst in the NFL.
So if you’re going to wager on the first quarter money line, the 49ers look like a solid bet. They may not put up a ton of points with their ground-and-pound attack, but it’ll take the Chiefs some time to get in a rhythm offensively.
Also see:
Want action on this game or prop bets? 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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Looking at the multitude of ways to bet Super Bowl LIV, and how to get NFL action on the San Francisco 49ers vs. Kansas City Chiefs matchup.
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Legal sportsbooks across the USA have rolled out the red carpet this week for those looking to get their NFL betting action on the Super Bowl LIV matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs. Our friends at BetMGM have a wide array of sports betting options for the big game, ranging from the outright winner to the result of the opening coin toss and everything in between and beyond.
Viewers and bettors don’t even need to be fans of either of this year’s participants to get a piece of the pie. Whether you’re looking to dip your toes in the water or dive headfirst into the sports betting pool, we at SportsbookWire have you covered. Here’s everything you need to know about betting Super Bowl LIV:
As with any other game, the three main bet types are the Moneyline, Against the spread and the Over/Under. Here, we’re looking for the game winner, the winner against the points handicap and the total points scored in the game. The same betting logic applies as to any standard game, and you should be sticking by the same research methods which got you here.
Don’t get bogged down in the added volume of analysis and predictions around the Super Bowl. Everyone has a prediction. Look for values and if the line seems too close to call, step away and simply avoid the bet.
Be sure to investigate alternate lines, as well. The Super Bowl, like most games, brings with it a broad array of secondary options, such as lines for each half or quarter. Like the underdog to win the game outright? Bet them on more profitable lines to win by 1-6 points or exactly 3 points. These secondary lines can often be overlooked by the sportsbooks and are great sources of value as the betting public generally looks only at the principle lines and odds.
Bet $1, WIN $200 (in free bets) if either team scores a touchdown during the big game February 2, 2020. Regardless of the outcome, you win with a touchdown! Bet now.
New customer offer; visit BetMGM for terms and conditions.
There’s no better way to stay involved in every single play of the Super Bowl than with player props. Options exist for the first touchdown of the game, last touchdown, total touchdowns and yardage totals for most offensive players involved. Defensive players aren’t left out, either. Get action on the number of sacks recorded by key defenders, or “will they or won’t they” record an interception.
As usual, quarterbacks are the stars of the show. Patrick Mahomes and Jimmy Garoppolo will be front and center in head-to-head competitions for statistical production, or on individual props estimating their yardage, touchdown and interception totals.
The main attraction, of course, is for Super Bowl MVP. Most players involved in the game are listed with corresponding odds from Mahomes’ +110 as the odds-on favorite to longshot Chiefs P Dustin Colquitt at +50000. Be sure to research the trends and play the odds. A QB has been named the MVP of 29 of the 53 Super Bowls to date.
Also see:
If you don’t like the risk of the player props, despite more profitable odds, team props can be the better route to take. These look at the precise winning margin, which team will score first, last or most often, as well as total touchdowns or field goals for either side.
Bets can be broken down by team or combine the two sides. Look at the season-long trends for both teams to get an idea of how many times they run, pass or punt per game. How many sacks did they record and how many points did they give up on average?
Keep in mind, the Super Bowl features the best teams from the AFC and NFC. Make sure to discount outlier stats racked up against an inferior, bottom-feeding opponent early in the season.
Game props
Here, bettors can get action right from the get-go by betting on the result of the coin toss. From there, bet between the first play of the game being a run or pass, the first scoring play being a field goal, touchdown or safety.
Game props can also look at total penalties in the game or which penalty will be called first, or most often. Keep checking BetMGM throughout the week, as more and more betting options are being posted as we near Sunday’s 6:30 p.m. ET kickoff at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
With all these bets, it’s important to remember the odds at the sportsbook are reflective of which side is getting the most betting action. The Super Bowl typically draws in bets in hopes of high-scoring exciting games. Always be on the lookout for the best values. The most likely result isn’t always the most exciting. Know when to be contrarian and bet against the public.
Despite all the build-up and hype around the event, it’s important to remember for betting purposes the Super Bowl is just another game. Sure, it marks the end of the NFL season, but sports bettors still have plenty of options throughout the year and the MLB season is just around the corner.
While there are more betting options available than any other game thus far this season, the size of your wagers shouldn’t be any different than they’ve been up to this point. Whatever your standard betting unit may be (i.e. $1, $5, $10 or $100) you should still be sticking to the same number of units for any wager as you did in Weeks 1 through 17.
Also, know your budget going into this. Carefully peruse the available betting options, take notes of bets which may be of interest, and whittle down your final choices rather than placing bets on the fly. It can be easy to get sidetracked while “window shopping.” Look for the best values and be selective.
Want action on the big game? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.
Follow @EstenMcLaren 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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