Tag: nfl futures bets

Minnesota Vikings playoff odds and predicted total wins: NFL futures picks and best bets

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

Will the Minnesota Vikings 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 1:10 p.m. ET.

Will the Minnesota Vikings make the 2020 NFL playoffs?

Yes:  -134 | No:  +110

Last season was QB Kirk Cousins‘ second campaign as the Vikings starter, leading them to a 10-6 regular-season finish and a playoff berth. It was a two-win improvement over his first year in Minnesota when the Vikes missed the postseason after going 8-7-1. By all measures, 2019 was a step in the right direction for Minnesota, but this offseason had seen a lot of roster turnover.

The notable Vikings that are no longer with the team include WR Stefon Diggs, CB Xavier Rhodes, DT Linval Joseph, DE Everson Griffen and S Andrew Sendejo. There are many Pro Bowl appearances amongst those names, so there are questions about Minnesota’s depth that will need to be answered. The biggest loss for the Vikings on offense is former offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski, who left to be the Cleveland Browns head coach. There are a lot of productive players that need to be replaced and it won’t be easy with changes on the coaching staff, but Minnesota has the guy for the job.

In his previous six seasons as head coach of the Vikings, Mike Zimmer has led them to three playoff appearances and won the NFC North twice. Since Zimmer is considered a defensive whiz around the NFL and the talent that remains on the roster, there won’t be much fall-off on defense from 2019. With the NFL playoffs expanding to seven teams per conference, I trust Zimmer enough to confidently BET YES (-134) Minnesota will make the playoffs.

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

How many games will the Minnesota Vikings win in 2020? Bands

BAND ODDS
0-4 Wins +5000
5-8 Wins +125
9-12 Wins -154
13-16 Wins +2500

Since 2014 (Zimmer’s first year as the Vikings head coach), Minnesota has the seventh-highest regular-season winning percentage in the NFL and averaged 9.5 wins per season over that time. Entering 2020, the Vikings have the 13th easiest schedule in the league, according to sharpfootballanalysis.com. Also, they were only 2-4 in one-score games in 2019, and if they progress back to the median in those games, Minnesota could cash a 13-16 wins band ticket. However, I agree with the market on this one and would TAKE 9-12 WINS BAND (-154).

How many games will the Minnesota Vikings win in 2020? Exact number

I would stay away from the action in the exact number of wins for a team in the regular-season line. Thinking about all the randomness in football, you got to have a sick handicap to cash one of these tickets.

PASS ON THE EXACT NUMBER OF 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.

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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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Denver Broncos playoff odds and predicted total wins: NFL futures picks and best bets

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

Will the Denver Broncos 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 5:55 a.m. ET.

Will the Denver Broncos make the 2020 NFL playoffs?

Yes: +165 | No: –200

The Broncos head into the new season, and hope springs eternal. But they’re in the AFC West, facing the Super Bowl champ Kansas City Chiefs twice, while also trying to get past the Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders, who each figure to be improved.

The +165 odds for the Broncos to qualify for the playoffs are a rather tall order, especially considering they face a rather daunting schedule. The best bet is NO (-200) where a $10 bet only returns a profit of $5, but it’s still the way to go.

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

How many games will the Denver Broncos win in 2020? Bands

BAND ODDS
0-4 Wins +1200
5-8 Wins -223
9-12 Wins +200
13-16 Wins +10000

The Broncos are likely to get off to a very, very poor start. Their first five games include the Steelers, two against 2019 playoffs teams in the Tennessee Titans and New England Patriots, and two against vastly improved teams in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Jets. In fact, betting YES: TEAM TO START 0-4 (+800) is more than a strong possibility. The Broncos should be able to cobble together a couple of wins against the Chargers and Raiders, perhaps splitting their season series with both. But the victories will be few and far between.

The Broncos should be within the 0-4 WINS (+1200) band, making for quite a return if they cannot recover from their projected slow start.

A $10 bet would return a profit of $120.

How many games will the Denver Broncos win in 2020? Exact number

After an in-depth analysis of the schedule, giving the Broncos the benefit of the doubt inside the AFC West with a 3-3 record, it still doesn’t look good for Denver to have much success in 2020. The Broncos welcome the Buffalo Bills, New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers to town, and they have five separate trips to the Eastern Time Zone, which will make it literally a tough road to hoe.

The best bet is for the Broncos to win FOUR GAMES (+1400), while rolling with the UNDER 7.5 WINS (+115) with a rather moderate wager.

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.

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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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Dallas Cowboys playoff odds and predicted total wins: NFL futures picks and best bets

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

Will the Dallas Cowboys 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 4 p.m. ET.

Will the Dallas Cowboys make the 2020 NFL playoffs?

Yes: -182 | No: +150

The NFL expanded its playoff field to 14 teams for next season, which means one more team from each conference will qualify. That benefits the Cowboys, as does the fact that no team has won the NFC East in back-to-back years since the Eagles did so in 2003-2004.

Despite a 9-7 record, Philly won the NFC East last season. However, Dallas looks like the team to beat in 2020 with QB Dak Prescott, RB Ezekiel Elliott and WRs Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup and CeeDee Lamb, the Cowboys’ 2020 first-round draft pick out of Oklahoma. Plus, there’s the great offensive line.

The bet here is YES (-182) because of how weak the NFC East is and the expansion of the playoff field. Dallas is one of the hardest teams in the NFL to trust, but it has the talent to win it all in 2020.

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

How many games will the Dallas Cowboys win in 2020? Bands

BAND ODDS
0-4 Wins +10000
5-8 Wins +245
9-12 Wins -278
13-16 Wins +1100

The Cowboys have alternated double-digit-win seasons since 2014. Based on that trend, they’ll finish with at least 10 wins in 2020 after going 8-8 last year and 10-6 the season before. They’ve only won 13-plus games once since 2008, and even as good of a value as +1100 is for 13-16 wins, it feels like too much of a reach.

The best bet is 9-12 WINS (-278), which is unsurprisingly the favorite. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to put a small wager on 13-16 (+1100) and a bigger one on 9-12 wins, though.

How many games will the Dallas Cowboys win in 2020? Exact number

Exactly 10 wins is the favorite at +270. The Cowboys have a great chance to win more than 10 games with an easier schedule in the NFC East, but games against the Baltimore Ravens, Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks won’t be easy outs.

Exactly 11 WINS feels like a good target for this Cowboys team and at +340 is a great value. It’s still relatively safe and not as risky as 13 wins (+1200), and seems realistic for this talented Dallas squad.

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.

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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 NFC West Division Predictions: Best bets for who will win and exact standings

Looking at the NFL betting odds to win the NFC West Division in 2020 and predicting the exact order of the standings.

The San Francisco 49ers won the NFC West Division in 2019 but will they be able to repeat? Below, we look at the BetMGM betting odds for the NFC West Division in 2020 and make our best bets for who’ll win the division title and predict the exact order of the division standings.

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Odds last updated Monday, May 25 at 11:25 a.m. ET.

2020 NFC West Division bets: Who will win?

Here are the odds to win the division.

  • 49ers +105
  • Seattle Seahawks +240
  • Los Angeles Rams +350
  • Arizona Cardinals +1000

The 49ers played in the Super Bowl last season and should still be considered the favorite to win the division. The Seahawks look like they are getting worse defensively, while the Cardinals look much improved, but not yet on the 49ers’ level. With the addition of first-round picks WR Brandon Aiyuk and DL Javon Kinlaw, San Francisco still should win the West, although it will probably be a more competitive division. Take the 49ERS (+105).

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

2020 NFC West Division bets: Who will finish second?

Here are the odds.

  • 49ers +180
  • Seahawks +195
  • Rams +250
  • Cardinals +600

As long as the Seahawks have Russell Wilson at quarterback, despite the fact the defense is not as good as it was when they were going to Super Bowls, they are always a good bet to be a playoff team. Since we have the 49ers winning the division, the best bet for second place are the SEAHAWKS (+195).

2020 NFC West Division bets: Who will finish third?

Here are the odds for third place.

  • Rams +175
  • Seahawks +210
  • Cardinals +325
  • 49ers +380

Here is where you can make some money. The Rams are favored for third place, but they are a mess. They lost key offensive and defensive players (RB Todd Gurley, WR Brandin Cooks, DB Eric Weddle and LBs Cory Littleton, Dante Fowler and Clay Matthews). The Cardinals were three defensive stops from finishing 8-8 last season and had arguably the worst defense in the league. They added three new defensive starters through free agency and drafted four other defensive players, including No. 8 overall pick Isaiah Simmons (Clemson). So, Arizona’s defense should be much improved. The offense now has WR DeAndre Hopkins, while second-year QB Kyler Murray is expected to take a leap in his development. The Cardinals will make the leap and pass the Rams. They might not make the playoffs, but the best bet for third place is to take the CARDINALS (+325).

2020 NFC West Division bets: Who will finish fourth?

Here are the odds.

  • Cardinals -182
  • Rams +300
  • Seahawks +500
  • 49ers +1400

The Rams are in transition. They are not in a good cap situation. QB Jared Goff regressed, and they lost so many starters. With the expected improvement of the Cardinals, the Rams get passed up. Take the RAMS (+300) and make some money off the third- and fourth-place teams.

2020 NFC West Division bets: Exact order of standings

The exact order combo of 49ers-Seahawks-Cardinals-Rams will win you big money at +1000. That is your best bet.

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.

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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 NFC South Division Predictions: Best bets for who will win and exact standings

Looking at the NFL betting odds to win the NFC South Division in 2020 and predicting the exact order of the standings.

The New Orleans Saints won the NFC South Division in 2019 but will they be able to repeat? Below, we look at the BetMGM betting odds for the NFC South Division in 2020 and make our best bets for who’ll win the division title and predict the exact order of the division standings.

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Odds last updated Sunday, May 24 at 11 a.m. ET.

2020 NFC South Division bets: Who will win?

Here are the odds for first place.

  • New Orleans Saints +100
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers +120
  • Atlanta Falcons +900
  • Carolina Panthers +1800

This year, the division will likely be a two-team race between the Saints and the Buccaneers. New Orleans added a top receiver in free agency in Emmanuel Sanders for QB Drew Brees. The Bucs added QB Tom Brady and TE Rob Gronkowski. Because Brady will be learning a new offense under head coach Bruce Arians and the Saints have continuity and new talent, give them the edge to win the division. Take the SAINTS (+100) at even money.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Saints to win the NFC South returns a profit of $10.

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

2020 NFC South Division bets: Who will finish second?

  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers +125
  • New Orleans Saints +135
  • Atlanta Falcons +525
  • Carolina Panthers +1000

With the Saints already picked to win the division, you have to look at the Bucs as the best pick for a runner-up finish. They might come out of the gates slowly, but they have the offensive weapons for Brady and a defense that played much better down the stretch in 2019. The Falcons might be better than their 7-9 record of last year, but they likely won’t be better than the Bucs. Take the BUCCANEERS (+125).

2020 NFC South Division bets: Who will finish third?

  • Atlanta Falcons -105
  • Carolina Panthers +260
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers +450
  • New Orleans Saints +525

Looking at the Falcons and Panthers, there is clearly a talent gap. The Panthers have a new quarterback (Teddy Bridgewater) and a new coach (Matt Rhule). The Falcons are still very talented. It will come down to their defense, as offensively, they are fine. Carolina might still be one of the worst teams in the NFL, so the easy money here is to take the FALCONS (-105).

2020 NFC South Division bets: Who will finish fourth?

  • Carolina Panthers -250
  • Atlanta Falcons +180
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers +3000
  • New Orleans Saints +3500

The Panthers are rebuilding. They added Bridgewater and WR Robby Anderson but there is little chance they pass any of the other three teams in the division. The best bet is to take the PANTHERS (-250).

2020 NFC South Division bets: Exact order of standings

The exact order of the Saints-Bucs-Falcons-Panthers wins you the least amount of money at +240 as the favorite for the exact order. It is, though, the most likely outcome and the best bet. Consider it easy money and more profitable than any of the above wagers.

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.

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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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Cleveland Browns playoff odds and predicted total wins: NFL futures picks and best bets

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

Will the Cleveland Browns 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 5:20 a.m. ET.

Will the Cleveland Browns make the 2020 NFL playoffs?

Yes: +125 | No: –150

The Browns entered the 2019 season with a lot of hype, but the winds were quickly lost from their sails with a 43-13 blowout loss at home in Week 1, and a very slow start in the first month. They’ll look for improvement, but it’s a rather tall order in a division with the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers. Still, the team had a nice draft and made a few free agent moves to shore up some weak spots.

The +125 odds for the Browns to make the playoffs seem rather high, as Cleveland faces a difficult schedule, including a season opener at Baltimore. The best bet is NO (-150), and you don’t have to eat much chalk to win. A $10 bet returns a profit of just $6.67.

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

How many games will the Cleveland Browns win in 2020? Bands

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

The Browns have the potential to get off to a rather quick start if they can handle their business at home. The first two home games at FirstEnergy Stadium are vs. the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2 and the Washington Redskins in Week 3. Unfortunately for the Browns, they also have two road games against the Ravens (Week 1) and Dallas Cowboys (Week 4), which will be rather daunting.

It’s likely the Browns should be able to split the two games, although they’ve been known to blow games they’re expected to win, too. After a so-so start, the wins will be fewer and farther between in the second half. They’ll be squarely within the 5-8 WINS (-120) band.

A $10 bet would return a profit of $8.33.

How many games will the Cleveland Browns win in 2020? Exact number

Looking at the schedule, they face a tough road ahead in the AFC North against the Ravens, Bengals and Steelers. They did stun the Ravens in Baltimore last season, however. The Bengals and Steelers each figure to be improved, though, and that’s not good news for the Brownies.

A split with the Bengals and Steelers, with a sweep at the hands of the Ravens is likely inside the division. A split of their eight home games is a reasonable expectation, with losses to playoff-hopeful teams like the Houston Texans and Philadelphia Eagles in the back-end of the home slate. On the road, they might be able to scratch out two or three victories against the Bengals and perhaps the Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets. But anyone who is a fan of the brown and orange knows nothing is a slam-dunk certainty.

Here, the best bet is to pick the Browns to win SIX GAMES (+650), along with thumping the UNDER 8.5 WINS (-115) rather hard.

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.

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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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Cincinnati Bengals playoff odds and predicted total wins: NFL futures picks and best bets

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

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

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Odds last updated Saturday, May 23 at 2 p.m. ET.

Will the Cincinnati Bengals make the 2020 NFL playoffs?

The Bengals were the worst team in football in 2019 and play in the same division as the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers. Even with a huge improvement, making the postseason will be tough, especially with a rookie quarterback in Joe Burrow.

The odds for the Bengals to make the playoffs are +675. There is a reason why it is -1250 on the flip side for No. However, at those odds, it isn’t worth a wager. The best bet is NO (-1250), but you won’t win much. A $10 bet returns a profit of just $0.80.

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

How many games will the Cincinnati Bengals win in 2020? Bands

  • 0-4 wins +230
  • 5-8 wins -264
  • 9-12 wins +1100
  • 13-16 wins +40000

The Bengals have four games against teams not expected to be good this year. They host the Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Giants and they play the Miami Dolphins and Washington Redskins on the road.

It is reasonable to think they can at least split those games. In the division, it is hard to see them getting more than one win. If they sneak one other surprise, that only gets them to four. The best bet here is 0-4 wins (+230).

A $10 bet would return a profit of $23.

How many games will the Cincinnati Bengals win in 2020? Exact number

Based on the odds, Cincinnati is expected to win between five and eight games. Six is the favorite at +270; however, as described in the previous section, they will be lucky to get one division win in the AFC North against the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers.

They might win two of the four games against the expected bad teams, and they can probably steal a win against another team. That’s only four. They will be a better team but not significantly better in the win column.

Here, the best bet is to pick the Bengals to win FOUR games (+400).

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.

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2020 NFC North Division Predictions: Best bets for who will win and exact standings

Looking at the NFL betting odds to win the NFC North Division in 2020 and predicting the exact order of the standings.

The Green Bay Packers rolled to a 13-win season en route to an NFC North Division crown in 2019, but will they be able to repeat? Below, we look at the BetMGM betting odds for the NFC North Division in 2020 and make our best bets for who’ll win the division title and predict the exact order of the division standings.

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Odds last updated Saturday, May 23 at 12:30 a.m. ET.

2020 NFC North Division bets: Who will win?

Odds to win the division: Packers +160 | Minnesota Vikings +160 | Chicago Bears +650 | Detroit Lions +850

The Vikings have a couple of tough games to negotiate early in the season, particularly road games at the Houston Texans and Seattle Seahawks. Minnesota is actually the only NFC North team to play three divisional games in three successive weekends – Week 8 through 10 – and that’s never an easy task. But Minnesota’s home schedule sets up nicely. After hosting the Packers in Week 1 and the Tennessee Titans in Week 3, five of the remaining six U.S. Bank Stadium games are against teams not expected to make the playoffs: Week 6 vs. the Atlanta Falcons, Week 8 vs. the Lions, Week 11 vs. the Dallas Cowboys, Week 12 vs. the Carolina Panthers, Week 13 vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars and Week 15 vs. the Bears. In fact, after Tennessee visits Sept. 27, Minnesota does not face another 2019 playoff team at home. Of course, the NFL landscape and win-loss records change dramatically, but right now Minnesota’s SOS (strength of schedule) doesn’t look terribly daunting. The VIKINGS (+160) are the play here – every $10 wagered profits $16 if they win the North.

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

2020 NFC North Division bets: Who will finish second?

Odds: Packers +175 | Vikings +175 | Bears +300 | Lions +550

The Packers won the division last season at 13-3, but were they really THAT good, or was the schedule just overly favorable? We’ll find out this season, as they have a murderer’s row to start. Five of their first eight games are against 2019 playoff teams, plus there’s a game vs. Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Trips to the New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers and Tampa are brutal, as well as an opener in the Twin Cities, which will get them off on the wrong foot. The Packers could be 2-6 through the first eight games, but don’t eat and drink yourselves into a beer and cheese stupor, Pack fans. I believe this team has the talent and stick-to-it-iveness to rattle off eight straight wins in the final eight games to get themselves back into the playoffs. After it’s wheels up from San Francisco Thursday, Nov. 5, the rest of the sked is a breeze. Home wins over Jacksonville, Chicago, the Philadelphia Eagles and Carolina will have Aaron Rodgers & Co. thinking playoffs again. The key to their season might actually be a Week 16 home game against Tennessee Dec. 27, which could make or break the season. Play the PACKERS (+175) here.

2020 NFC North Division bets: Who will finish third?

Odds: Bears +175 | Vikings +280 | Lions +300 | Packers +310

The Bears added QB Nick Foles as the Monsters of the Midway hope Saint Nick is the answer to their prayers. Spoiler alert – he’s not. The Bears still needs a lot of work before they’re going to overtake the Packers and Vikings, and this number of +175 isn’t very friendly for someone to take a chance …  even with a small-unit wager. Just no value here. The Bears “should” be able to cobble together a 3-3 record through the first six games, and the back end of the schedule sets up favorably for a potential 4-1 finish. That’s the good news. The bad news is that the middle of the schedule features a trip to meet the Los Angeles Rams, a home date with the Saints, a roadie against the Titans, a Monday home date with the Vikings, a road trip to the Packers (after the bye, at least) and a home game against the Lions. Chicago could lose all of those games and be in freefall. If the Bears surprise in one or two of them, a winning season is within reach. I’m still going to AVOID betting on a third-place prop.

2020 NFC North Division bets: Who will finish fourth?

Odds: Lions -159 | Bears +225 | Vikings +800 | Packers +1000

Poor Lions. The prognosticators are picking them to be the caboose in the NFC North, and who am I to argue with them? The front and back end of the schedule is not set up well for the boys in Honolulu Blue and Silver, although there will be some excitement in the middle. The road schedule isn’t too terribly demanding, but these are the Lions, and there are never any slam-dunk wins. QB Matthew Stafford is coming off a serious back injury, too, so that’s a major concern for the fortunes of Detroit’s season. He was playing at an MVP-caliber level before going down in 2019, though. The home schedule sees New Orleans and Tampa Bay coming in, as well as division toughies Green Bay and Minnesota, so Detroit will be lucky to get to .500 at home. Even with the juice, betting the LIONS (-159) to finish last is worth a small wager – every $1.59 wagered would profit $1 if they do so.

2020 NFC North Division bets: Exact order of standings

The exact order of the standings should be Vikings (12-4), Packers (10-6), Bears (7-9) and Lions (6-10). As such, backing a VIKINGS-PACKERS 1-2 FINISH (+325) is very, very attractive.

You can also bet PACKERS/VIKINGS TO FINISH TOP 2 IN ANY ORDER (+110), and that should be a slam-dunk play. If you like what you see above, the exact order of finish (1st Vikings, 2nd Packers, 3rd Bears and 4th Lions) pays +500.

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.

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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 NFC East Division Predictions: Best bets for who will win and exact standings

Looking at the NFL betting odds to win the NFC East Division in 2020 and predicting the exact order of the standings.

Despite a 9-7 record, the Philadelphia Eagles won the NFC East Division in 2019. The question is: Will they be able to repeat? Below, we look at the BetMGM betting odds for the NFC East Division in 2020 and make our best bets for who’ll win the division title and predict the exact order of the division standings.

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Odds last updated Friday, May 22 at 8:30 p.m. ET.

2020 NFC East Division bets: Who will win?

Odds to win the division: Dallas Cowboys +110 | Eagles +125 | New York Giants +800 | Washington Redskins +1100

The Cowboys are the favorite to win the division, and might end up as the only team with a winning record, similar to last season’s champ, the Eagles. Dallas has a rather favorable setup with the schedule in the early portion of the season, facing the likes of the Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns and Giants at home. Look for the Cowboys to go 5-2 through their first seven games and then hang on when the schedule – and the weather – gets a little more brutal in the second half. DALLAS (+110) is the pick here.

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

2020 NFC East Division bets: Who will finish second?

Odds: Cowboys +140 | Eagles +140 | Giants +500 | Redskins +700

Fans of Philadelphia aren’t going to like to hear this, but the 2020 Eagles will be a losing football team. The fans will point to last season’s overachievers, the emergence of RB Miles Sanders and a healthy QB in Carson Wentz (and now backup QB Jalen Hurts), and say my forecast is crazy. I predict a 6-10 or 7-9 record for the Eagles, giving them the benefit of the doubt with an extra win to get them to seven victories and second place. The schedule is BRUTAL, folks. Assuming a sweep of the ‘Skins and splits with the ‘Boys and Giants, 4-2 inside the division puts Philly in great shape, right? Wrong! Road games at the Arizona Cardinals, Green Bay Packers, Pittsburgh Steelers and San Francisco 49ers are rough enough. Add in home games against the Baltimore Ravens, New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks? Ouch! If fans are allowed back in the seats, they might be throwing A LOT of things onto Lincoln Financial Field. PHILLY (+140) is the play for division runner-up.

2020 NFC East Division bets: Who will finish third?

Odds: Giants +145 | Redskins +215 | Cowboys +400 | Eagles +400

The Giants figure to get out to a little bit of a rough start based upon their schedule. The first five games are a gauntlet, pitting them against the Steelers Monday night in Week 1, followed by a road game at the Chicago Bears, a home game vs. the defending NFC champ 49ers, a cross-country trip to face the Los Angeles Rams and a sojourn to AT&T Stadium to battle the rival Cowboys. Not good. It will be another slow start for the Giants. Things lighten up with a bevy of divisional games midseason, but what looked like a winnable Monday nighter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Nov. 2 is likely a loss now that QB Tom Brady and TE Rob Gronkowski headed to Florida’s West Coast. Three late-season roadies to meet the Cincinnati Bengals, Seahawks and Ravens could all potentially be losses, too. Back NEW YORK (+145) to take third.

2020 NFC East Division bets: Who will finish fourth?

Odds: Redskins -145 | Giants +130 | Cowboys +2000 | Eagles +2000

The Redskins have the longest odds to win the East for good reason. They’re a little bit of a mess, especially in the skill positions. EDGE rusher Chase Young, the 2020 NFL Draft’s overall No. 2 pick, is going to be a great addition to hound opposing QBs, but he still needs help. QB Dwayne Haskins is still a work in progress. The run game should be the strongest part of this team. Like the G-Men, the early part of the sked for the ‘Skins is tough. The Eagles and Ravens at home, sandwiching road games at the Cardinals and Browns. Washington might be able to scratch out one win (Cleveland, I’m looking at you!). The Redskins could start out with a donut through four (0 for 4). Other road games at the Detroit Lions, Steelers and 49ers, along with the usual NFC East suspects on the road, likely means the Redskins will be picking early again on Draft Day 2021. AVOID a last-place wager, as it’s not worth the -145 juice on Washington.

2020 NFC East Division bets: Exact order of standings

The exact order of the standings should be Cowboys (9-7), Eagles (7-9), Giants/Redskins (5-11). As such, backing the COWBOYS-EAGLES 1-2 FINISH (+190) in the “Top 2 Exact Order” prop pays you nearly double – profiting $19 on a $10 wager. A repeat of last season’s finish of Eagles first/Cowboys second (+190) also returns the same.

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.

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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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Carolina Panthers playoff odds and predicted total wins: NFL futures picks and best bets

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

Will the Carolina Panthers 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 22 at 11:15 a.m. ET.

Will the Carolina Panthers make the 2020 NFL playoffs?

Yes: +400 | No: –556

The Panthers are coming off a last-place finish, going 5-11 in 2019. They have a new coach in Matt Rhule and a new QB in Teddy Bridgewater. A big problem is that they are in a division with the New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, two of the three top favorites to win the NFC. Carolina still looks like a last-place team in the NFC South. The best bet, even though there is no value to it is, to go with NO (-556).

New to sports betting? A $10 bet at -556 only profits $1.80 if the wager wins.

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

How many games will the Carolina Panthers win in 2020? Bands

BAND ODDS
0-4 Wins +210
5-8 Wins -250
9-12 Wins +1200
13-16 Wins +200000

If you are looking at their schedule, you can probably pencil in two wins in the division. They will win one they probably shouldn’t, because this is common in the NFC South. They have winnable games against the Washington Redskins, Detroit Lions, Arizona Cardinals, Las Vegas Raiders, Chicago Bears and Denver Broncos. All are at home except the Redskins. The Panthers can probably split those games. That puts them at five wins just splitting those winnable games and not stealing any wins against teams they aren’t expected to beat.

Winning 0-4 games will be tempting with the value, but the most likely outcome is 5-8 (-250) for a $4 profit on a $10 bet.

How many games will the Carolina Panthers win in 2020? Exact number

The shortest odds for exact wins are five (+265) and six (+270). As mentioned before, getting two wins in the division is likely. Splitting the six “winnable” games is reasonable. The best bet here is FIVE (+265), but four (+375) and six (+270) are also worth looking at.

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

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

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