Tag: nfl futures bets

Houston Texans playoff odds and predicted total wins: NFL futures picks and best bets

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

Will the Houston Texans 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 12:30 p.m. ET.

Will the Houston Texans make the 2020 NFL playoffs?

Yes: +150 | No: -182

How can you not BET YES for the Texans to make the playoffs at plus-money (+150)? Head coach Bill O’Brien should go full Rodney Dangerfield but O’Brien the general manager probably deserves a good roasting. O’Brien has led the Texans to four AFC South titles and four playoff berths in his seven seasons as head coach.

WR DeAndre Hopkins was traded to the Arizona Cardinals in a move for which O’Brien received plenty of criticism, but the Texans acquired WR Brandin Cooks, RB David Johnson, and invested heavily in the offensive line, including making LT Laremy Tunsil the highest-paid left tackle in the NFL. Like all truly elite quarterbacks, Deshaun Watson should be able to make up for a lot of roster blemishes.

What’s most concerning if you’re betting the Texans to make the playoffs is their strength of schedule and question marks on defense. According to SharpFootballAnalysis.com, the Texans have the 21st easiest schedule and their first four games are insanely tough. If they can pick up a win or two in those games they’ll be in good shape to at least rundown a seven seed in the AFC. There were no major upgrades made to a defense which ranked 26th in defensive DVOA in 2019, according to Football Outsiders.

Watson is the best quarterback in the AFC South and O’Brien is the division’s most accomplished head coach, and that’s enough for me to take them to return to the playoffs at plus-money.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Texans to make the playoffs returns a profit of $15.

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

How many games will the Houston Texans win in 2020? Bands

BAND ODDS
0-4 Wins +1600
5-8 Wins -182
9-12 Wins +155
13-16 Wins +6000

I could copy and paste the handicap above for my rational behind taking the Texans to win 9-12 games (+155). If they are going to make the playoffs, it would be highly unlikely they get in with fewer than nine wins.

Even if you don’t like them to make the playoffs and are projecting a down year, the value of the 5-8 Wins Band (-182) is terrible. If you are nervous about them losing a playoff tiebreaker with nine wins, then I recommend hedging your playoff wager with a bet on the 9-12 Wins Band.

How many games will the Houston Texans win in 2020? Exact number

If you have paid attention to my other NFL team playoff posts you’ll notice a common take in this section. It’s incredibly difficult to cash one of these tickets and a buckshot approach is the best strategy. I do not see value in betting a couple of these in hopes of an overall profit. PASS ON THE EXACT NUMBER OF TEXANS WINS.

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.

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Washington Redskins playoff odds and predicted total wins: NFL futures picks and best bets

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

Will the Washington Redskins 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, May 28 at 4:10 p.m. ET.

Will the Washington Redskins make the 2020 NFL playoffs?

Yes: +900 | No: -1667

The NFC East may not be the best division in football, but that’s partly because the Redskins are one of the worst teams heading into the 2020 campaign. They’re going to have a hard time even approaching .500, with the playoffs almost certainly out of sight for Washington.

That being said, neither line warrants a wager. Washington is too much of a long shot to bet YES (+900), while the line of -1667 on NO doesn’t leave enough room for reward compared to the risk.

I’ll PASS on this one.

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

How many games will the Washington Redskins win in 2020? Bands

BAND ODDS
0-4 Wins +120
5-8 Wins -159
9-12 Wins +2000
13-16 Wins +100000

Clearly, oddsmakers don’t think the Redskins will win more than eight games. The favorite is for them to finish with 5-8 wins, which is on par with their last four seasons – all of which have ended with eight wins or less.

Much of their 2020 season hinges on the play of QB Dwayne Haskins, who struggled as a rookie in 2019. But there are some winnable games on the out-of-division schedule, including games against the Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals and Detroit Lions.

Washington won’t go on to win 10 games, but with a defense that should be improved and an offense that has enough playmakers to be competitive, the Redskins should finish with 5-8 WINS, so that’s my pick here at –159.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on 5-8 WINS (-159) returns a profit of $6.29 if it hits.

How many games will the Washington Redskins win in 2020? Exact number

The Redskins only won three games last year, but they added Ohio State DE Chase Young with their first-round pick (2nd overall), signed LB Thomas Davis and drafted RB Antonio Gibson (Memphis) in the third round, bringing some more explosiveness to the offense.

WR Terry McLaurin is also a budding star and RB Derrius Guice is finally healthy again. They are two good playmakers for Haskins to work with.

That being said, I’d wager on SIX WINS (+320) for Washington in 2020, just based on the expectation that Haskins will improve and the fact that there are some easier games on the schedule. A $10 winning bet would profit $32.

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.

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New York Giants playoff odds and predicted total wins: NFL futures picks and best bets

Assessing the betting odds of the New York Giants making the 2020 NFL playoffs and predicting their exact win total.

Will the New York Giants 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, May 28 at 5:35 a.m. ET.

Will the New York Giants make the 2020 NFL playoffs?

Yes: +300 | No: -385

The Giants managed just four victories last season, going 2-6 at home and 2-6 on the road. They also ended up scratching out two victories in their six games in the NFC East, while going 3-9 against NFC teams. Even if they were somehow able to miraculously double their win total and get to .500, that still is unlikely to be enough to qualify for the postseason.

The best bet is NO (-385), although a $10 winning bet returns a profit of only $2.60.

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

How many games will the New York Giants win in 2020? Bands

BAND ODDS
0-4 Wins +380
5-8 Wins -323
9-12 Wins +600
13-16 Wins +30000

The Giants have a very, very difficult home schedule, which should keep them from making any serious improvement on last season’s record. They open with the Pittsburgh Steelers at home, visit the Chicago Bears and then they host the San Francisco 49ers in their first three games. Along with welcoming QB Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a Monday night home game Nov. 2, their other homes games are against the Arizona Cardinals, the Cleveland Browns and their three division rivals. It will be a tall order if they can go 3-5 at home. Road trips to meet the Baltimore Ravens, Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks in addition to their three divisional games will do them no favors, either.

Take 0-4 WINS (+380) band, as the G-Men aren’t likely to make much of an improvement in the standings, and their out-of-division schedule is brutal.

A $10 bet on 0-4 WINS returns a healthy profit of $38 if it hits.

How many games will the New York Giants win in 2020? Exact number

You have to figure the Giants will be able to get at least one or two divisional victories, while grabbing at least one win in their four tries against AFC North teams, perhaps two. The rest of their schedule features just too many tough tests, and they do not have enough offensive firepower to make much of an improvement on their 2019 total, if any.

The best bet is to take the Giants to win 4 GAMES (+575) for a strong return on investment. As such, betting the UNDER 6.5 WINS (-130) prop should be a slam-dunk 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.

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New Orleans Saints playoff odds and predicted total wins: NFL futures picks and best bets

Assessing the betting odds of the New Orleans Saints making the 2020 NFL playoffs and predicting their exact win total.

Will the New Orleans Saints 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, May 28 at 2:15 p.m. ET.

Will the New Orleans Saints make the 2020 NFL playoffs?

Yes: -400 | No: +310

Many respected minds of the NFL community rank the Saints at the top of the NFC heading into the season, but there is a world where the  Saints do NOT make the postseason in 2020. You know what they say about Father Time and he’s coming for 41-year-old QB Drew Brees. On the other hand, it’s not something I feel great banking on because aside from missing five games last year, Brees looked like his future-Hall of Fame self.

Another thing to factor in is the NFC South will be a tougher division. QB Tom Brady joining the talented Tampa Bay Buccaneers could instantly make them a contender (pending his own bout with Father Time). The Atlanta Falcons still have the nucleus that made it to Super Bowl LI including MVP QB Matt Ryan and future-Hall of Fame WR Julio Jones. Sure the Carolina Panthers will probably be bad but the Saints know full well that the Panthers’ new QB Teddy Bridgewater is no chump.

Other things to consider are natural regression on a 2019 record of 8-1 in one-score games and a difficult schedule, which ranks as the 23rd easiest (according to SharpFootballAnalysis.com).

At the end of the day, I’d bet New Orleans to make the playoffs on a straight-up yes or no question. Unfortunately, BetMGM isn’t giving us those odds so I recommend PASSING on a bet for the Saints to make the playoffs.

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

How many games will the New Orleans Saints win in 2020? Bands

BAND ODDS
0-4 Wins +20000
5-8 Wins +475
9-12 Wins -358
13-16 Wins +550

This won’t jive with what I wrote above but let me try to make a case for the Saints racking up 13 or more wins. First, there was very little roster turnover on a team that won 13 games in both 2019 and 2018. The Saints had the fourth-best offensive DVOA and 11th-best defensive DVOA in 2019, according to Football Outsiders. Second, the Saints host their toughest opponents such as the Green Bay Packers in Week 3, San Francisco 49ers in Week 10, Kansas City Chiefs in Week 15 and the Minnesota Vikings in Week 16.

I’m not going to go crazy but I’ll TAKE the Saints to get 13-16 wins (+550). A $20 bet will return a profit of $110.

How many games will the New Orleans Saints win in 2020? Exact number

The only angle I’d take at betting this would be grabbing exactly six wins (+4000), exactly seven wins (+1500), exactly 13 wins (+725), and exactly 14 wins (+1800) and hoping one of those cashed. My official stance is to PASS on this one because there is little value in the exact win prices and too ambitious edges of the Saints’ win range.

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.

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Tennessee Titans playoff odds and predicted total wins: NFL futures picks and best bets

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

Will the Tennessee Titans 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, May 28 at 1:20 a.m. ET.

Will the Tennessee Titans make the 2020 NFL playoffs?

Yes: -139 | No: +115

The Titans made a surprising run to the playoffs last season after benching QB Marcus Mariota for Ryan Tannehill. There will be no quarterback controversy this year, though, with Mariota gone and Tannehill signed to an extension.

That in itself will help Tennessee entering 2020, as will another year of experience for coach Mike Vrabel. The Titans play in arguably the weakest division in the NFL, too. The Jacksonville Jaguars look like the worst team in the league, the Indianapolis Colts now have QB Philip Rivers, but they’re not a team that will likely contend for a Super Bowl.

Meanwhile, the Titans should march back to the postseason in 2020 on the back of RB Derrick Henry and a defense that should be even better. YES (-139) IS THE BET HERE, especially with an additional playoff spot in each conference.

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

How many games will the Tennessee Titans win in 2020? Bands

BAND ODDS
0-4 Wins +2500
5-8 Wins -110
9-12 Wins -110
13-16 Wins +3500

Based on our thinking that the Titans will make the playoffs next season, they’ll likely have to win at least nine games. Although the 5-8 band has the same odds as 9-12 WINS, we’re going with the latter for Tennessee.

The Titans should be guaranteed two wins against the Jaguars, and at the very least should split two games apiece with the Houston Texans and Colts. That’s four wins right there, with the Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions and Denver Broncos also looking like winnable games.

It’s not exactly the easiest schedule for the Titans, but it’s one that should yield them nine-plus wins. The bet here is 9-12 WINS (-110).

How many games will the Tennessee Titans win in 2020? Exact number

The Titans have gone 9-7 in each of the last four seasons. They haven’t won double-digit games since 2008, but it’s certainly possible for them to reach that number in 2020.

Unsurprisingly, 9 WINS (+285) is the favorite among exact totals at BetMGM, and that’s the bet we’re making. The Titans aren’t going to go 13-3 unless Tannehill becomes an elite quarterback, but their schedule has enough winnable games to get them to 9-7 again.

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.

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Green Bay Packers playoff odds and predicted total wins: NFL futures picks and best bets

Assessing the betting odds of the Green Bay Packers making the 2020 NFL playoffs and predicting their exact win total.

Will the Green Bay Packers 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, May 25 at 5:15 a.m. ET.

Will the Green Bay Packers make the 2020 NFL playoffs?

Yes: -150 | No: +125

The Packers rolled to 13 victories and an NFC North Division crown last season, but they bowed out to the San Francisco 49ers, the eventual Super Bowl runners-up, in an NFC Conference Championship game that wasn’t very competitive. Still, the Packers had a very good regular season and they exceeded their win/loss total number by miles in 2019. Can they do it again?

The Packers made a lot of headlines this offseason, particularly at the NFL Draft, when they nabbed Utah State QB Jordan Love as the heir apparent to Aaron Rodgers. The veteran quarterback was none too pleased, and doubly unhappy that the team failed to add any skill position guys yet again. Perhaps a Rodgers with a chip on his shoulder will be just what the doctor ordered to get the Pack back into the postseason. The best bet is YES (-150), although a $10 winning bet returns a profit of just $6.67.

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

How many games will the Green Bay Packers win in 2020? Bands

BAND ODDS
0-4 Wins +4000
5-8 Wins +125
9-12 Wins -154
13-16 Wins +2500

The NFC North will be very competitive, and the Minnesota Vikings look like the team to beat on paper. The Chicago Bears also made some notable moves, and the Detroit Lions figure to be healthier, therefore a little bit better. So how will that look for the Packers as they look to defend their crown?

The Packers are a solid play for the 9-12 WINS (-154) band, as they will take a slight step back after winning 13 last season. In fact, playing a first-place schedule figures to hurt the Packers, especially early in the season. See below.

A $10 bet on 9-12 WINS only returns a profit of $6.49 if it hits, however.

How many games will the Green Bay Packers win in 2020? Exact number

It starts out with a difficult Week 1 road game in Minnesota, and a road game at the New Orleans Saints in Week 3. The Pack should stumble out of the chute, and it won’t get any easier on the road. Road trips vs. QB Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Houston Texans and the 49ers from Oct. 18-Nov. 5 could have the Packers still searching for their first win away from Lambeau into the holidays. They travel to face the Indianapolis Colts in late November, before two divisional games at Detroit and Chicago late in the year. The first half of the schedule is brutal, and it wouldn’t be out of the question to see them start out as poorly as 2-6. However, the second half of the schedule is very light, and they could rattle off seven or eight wins in the final eight to qualify for the postseason.

Target 10 WINS (+325) for a nice payday, as they’ll take a step back from 2019, but they’ll still end up in double digits for wins. OVER 9 WINS (+115) is also a strong wager, too, although a slow start will have you sweating it out.

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.

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Detroit Lions playoff odds and predicted total wins: NFL futures picks and best bets

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

Will the Detroit Lions 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, May 27 at 12 p.m. ET.

Will the Detroit Lions make the 2020 NFL playoffs?

Yes: +280 | No: -358

The Detroit Lions were flirting with mediocrity and even had an outside chance at a playoff run in a tough NFC North through Week 9 of the 2019 season. Their campaign was flipped on its head when QB Matthew Stafford suffered what turned out to be a season-ending back injury. At the time of the injury, Stafford was in the midst of his best season. He was first in passing touchdowns and passing yards, fourth in yards per attempt and ended 2019 as Pro Football Focus’ eighth-best graded quarterback.

Also, Detroit was 3-4-1 and played well enough to win six of those games. With a healthy Stafford, given a bevy of weapons and possibly the best offensive line of his career, the Lions could have one of the more explosive offenses in the NFL.

The major question about the 2020 Lions is if head coach Matt Patricia can figure out the defense. Patricia is on the hot seat going into his third season with the team. He is 9-22-1 overall record and the Lions defense fell to 31st in total yards allowed last season. The best things Patricia has going for him are a healthy Stafford and the eighth-easiest schedule in the league (according to SharpFootballAnalysis.com).

Detroit needs a playoff run or heads are going to roll in Detroit. Stafford will save Patricia’s job by taking the LIONS TO THE PLAYOFFS (+280).

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

How many games will the Detroit Lions win in 2020? Bands

BAND ODDS
0-4 Wins +550
5-8 Wins -313
9-12 Wins +400
13-16 Wins +20000

I like the Lions to make the playoffs but LOVE the LIONS TO HAVE 9-12 WINS (+400) in 2020 because of the juicy line. The 2010 Seattle Seahawks were the last team to advance to the postseason with fewer than nine wins and that’s because they won a weak NFC West. If the Lions are going to make the playoffs, which we already like, they are going to need to win nine-plus games.

How many games will the Detroit Lions win in 2020? Exact number

There is poor value in these exact wins bets because the payouts don’t compensate for the difficulty of nailing the number. The best way to bet an exact number of wins is a buckshot approach i.e. betting a few different lines and hoping to cash the most lucrative ticket. Try making these four $10 bets on exact wins. We illustrate your net profit for each bet if making all four wagers.

  • $10 on exactly nine Lions wins (+625) = $22.50 profit.
  • $10 on exactly 10 Lions wins (+1200) = $80 profit.
  • $10 on exactly 11 Lions wins (+3500) = $310 profit.
  • $10 on exactly 12 Lions wins (+10000) = $960 profit.

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.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers playoff odds and predicted total wins: NFL futures picks and best bets

Assessing the betting odds of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers making the 2020 NFL playoffs and predicting their exact win total.

Will the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 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 Monday, May 25 at 7:05 p.m. ET.

Will the Tampa Bay Buccaneers make the 2020 NFL playoffs?

Yes: -223 | No: +180

The Buccaneers lumbered to a 7-9 record in 2019, including a dismal 2-6 mark on their home turf at Raymond James Stadium. As you probably know by now, quite a bit has changed in terms of the complexion of this team. The Bucs inked future Hall of Famer QB Tom Brady, whose signing coaxed TE Rob Gronkowski out of retirement.

The Bucs’ odds to make the postseason seem rather expensive. However, their schedule isn’t incredibly daunting, and most of their difficult out-of-division games take place at the RayJay. While last season that wouldn’t have meant much, they’ll be markedly better at home. The best bet is YES (-223), although a $10 winning bet returns a profit of just $4.48.

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

How many games will the Tampa Bay Buccaneers win in 2020? Bands

BAND ODDS
0-4 Wins +10000
5-8 Wins +320
9-12 Wins -304
13-16 Wins +800

Inside the NFC South, the Bucs are likely to split their two meetings with the New Orleans Saints, and sweep the Carolina Panthers. Let’s say Tampa also splits with the Atlanta Falcons, leaving the Bucs 4-2 inside the division. That’s pretty good considering how competitive the NFC South will be. Road trips to face the Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears, Las Vegas Raiders and New York Giants doesn’t look terribly daunting, nor does a final away game at the Detroit Lions in the cozy confines of Ford Field in late December.

The Buccaneers are a good bet for the 9-12 WINS (-304) band, and there’s a good reason this is chalk. The health of Brady and Gronk is likely the only thing that would derail this bet from cashing. The biggest threat could be too much success, as 13 wins is easily attainable if they were to sweep the Falcons, and perhaps surprise the visiting Kansas City Chiefs or Minnesota Vikings at home.

A $10 bet on 9-12 WINS only returns a profit of $3.29 if it hits, however.

How many games will the Tampa Bay Buccaneers win in 2020? Exact number

Again, I have the Saints going 4-2 inside the NFC South. Figure a loss in Week 1 at New Orleans. Their next four road contests feature trips to Denver, Chicago, Las Vegas and New York (Giants), before a visit to Carolina. Those all should be chalked up as wins. In fact, it’s very conceivable that the Bucs could end up 6-2 or 7-1 on the road. Even if they improve by three games on their 2019 home mark, they’d be 5-3. Hitting 11 or 12 wins is very possible.

Here, the best bet is to pick the Bucs to win 11 GAMES (+300) for a 3-to-1 payoff on your investment. Plus, I’m very confident in the OVER 10 WINS (+105) prop.

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.

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New England Patriots playoff odds and predicted total wins: NFL futures picks and best bets

Assessing the betting odds of the New England Patriots making the 2020 NFL playoffs and predicting their exact win total.

Will the New England Patriots 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 Sunday, May 24 at 3:45 p.m. ET.

Will the New England Patriots make the 2020 NFL playoffs?

Yes: -205 | No: +165

The Patriots enter the 2020 season looking to extend an 11-year playoff streak in which they won the AFC East Division crown each of those years. The last time they missed the playoffs, they went 11-5 in 2008 and finished second in the division.

Still, the bet to make is NO (+165). New England begins life without future Hall of Fame QB Tom Brady. He’s expected to be replaced under center by either Jarrett Stidham or Brian Hoyer. The Pats’ easiest route to the postseason remains via the division title, but the Buffalo Bills are primed to win their first division crown since 1995.

A $10 bet on the Patriots missing the 2020 playoffs returns a profit of $16.50. With question marks at the most important position, it’s the easy choice to make.

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

How many games will the New England Patriots win in 2020? Bands

BAND ODDS
0-4 Wins +4000
5-8 Wins +130
9-12 Wins -160
13-16 Wins +2000

The books are hedging against some major regression for the Pats by pricing the 5-8 win band as the second favorite. A $10 bet here will fetch a modest profit of $13 as what is the most realistic result.

Chase the value and count on disaster to strike the Pats in their first season without Brady leading the way. Bet 0-4 WINS (+4000) for a $400 return on a $10 bet. New England has owned the division over the last two decades, but with the quarterback competition now even, look for a 3-3 or 2-4 result in divisional play. In addition to the Bills, the Pats will play three road games against 2019 playoff teams, including the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.

The Pats will also play back-to-back West Coast road games against the Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams in early December. Tough home games will come against the Las Vegas Raiders, Baltimore Ravens and Arizona Cardinals.

How many games will the New England Patriots win in 2020? Exact number

Following suit of the above selection, look for the Pats to win exactly 4 games at +6500. A $10 bet will fetch a profit of $650.

The Pats haven’t won fewer than 10 games since going 9-7 in 2002 and they haven’t finished with four or fewer wins since 1992. The team’s decision to not address the quarterback position since Brady’s free-agent departure will prove costly. It’s possible New England ends up in position to select Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence at the top of the 2021 NFL Draft.

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 @EstenMcLaren 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.

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Seattle Seahawks playoff odds and predicted total wins: NFL futures picks and best bets

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

Will the Seattle Seahawks 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 Tuesday, May 26 at 2:25 p.m. ET.

Will the Seattle Seahawks make the 2020 NFL playoffs?

Yes: -139 | No: +115

Since the Seahawks drafted Russell Wilson in the 2012 NFL Draft, the team has failed to miss the playoffs just once (2017). Coach Pete Carroll knows how to get his team to play to the fullest of its potential and it is always a contender in the NFC.

The 2020 season should be no different as the Seahawks look poised to make another Super Bowl run. Led by Wilson, Seattle is evolving into a more pass-happy team with WRs Tyler Lockett, D.K. Metcalf and Phillip Dorsett, acquired this offseason through free agency.

The Seahawks will certainly run the ball a ton, as well as they are hoping a few new additions to their offensive line will improve that phase of the game.

The defense has dropped off some over the last few years, but it’s tough to bet against the Seahawks making the playoffs. The combination of the head coach, quarterback and organization make YES (-139) to make the playoffs a fairly safe bet. Expect Seattle to challenge the 49ers for the NFC West crown and to possibly earn the No. 1 seed in the conference.

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How many games will the Seattle Seahawks win in 2020? Bands

BAND ODDS
0-4 Wins +6500
5-8 Wins +160
9-12 Wins -189
13-16 Wins +1400

As previously mentioned, the Seahawks have missed the playoffs just once since drafting Wilson. What is even more impressive is that Seattle hasn’t had a losing season since picking its franchise quarterback. It has won double-digit games in seven of the last eight seasons with the most wins coming in 2013 with 13.

Betting on the Seahawks to win between 9-12 GAMES is a safe bet and even a smart one at -189. While the odds aren’t fantastic, it’s still a worthwhile bet considering how safe it is.

How many games will the Seattle Seahawks win in 2020? Exact number

At BetMGM, you can bet on the exact number of wins the Seahawks will have in 2020. If you are searching for the best value, 11 WINS (+425) appears to be the best bet on the board.

Seattle won 11 games in 2019 and its roster appears to be even better this season, especially on defense with the additions of LB Jordyn Brooks, DE Bruce Irvin and CB Quinton Dunbar. While the schedule could be difficult, especially with the strength of the conference, 11 wins are certainly possible.

If you are very optimistic about the Seahawks chances this season, 12 wins (+800) is a fun longs-hot bet. Can Seattle win one more game than it did last season? If Metcalf and Lockett can continue to help elevate the passing game, it’s certainly on the table. Look for the Seahawks to be a Super Bowl contender again this season.

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