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).


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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

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 winis 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.


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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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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.

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

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

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

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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.


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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.

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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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.

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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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.


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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.

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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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.

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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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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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.


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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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Buffalo Bills playoff odds and predicted total wins: NFL futures picks and best bets

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

Will the Buffalo Bills 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 21 at 10:30 a.m. ET.

Will the Buffalo Bills make the 2020 NFL playoffs?

Yes: -176  | No: +145

The Bills are one of the biggest winners from the 2020 offseason. Not only did they add proven veterans in the offseason such as WR Stefon Diggs, DE Mario Addison and DE Quinton Jefferson, but Tom Brady also left the division. While Brady clearly is in decline, the New England Patriots don’t appear to be as strong as they were for most of the century. That opens up a lane for the Bills to take the AFC East for the first time since 1995.

Buffalo has made the playoffs in two of the last there seasons, but it hasn’t won a playoff game since  1995. That could change this season as head coach Sean McDermott enters his fourth season with the team.

The Bills had the league’s No. 2 ranked scoring defense last season, allowing just 16.2 points per game. They will bring back 10 of their 11 starters from last season and even added more depth including CB Josh Norman, DT Vernon Butler and LB A.J. Klein. It’s also worth noting they spent their first draft choice on Iowa DE A.J. Epenesa, who had 22 sacks over the last two seasons.

The biggest story surrounding the Bills will be their offense. QB Josh Allen improved his completion percentage (58.8%) and yards per attempt (6.7) in his second season, but both of those numbers need to continue to improve for the Bills to make the next step. The hope is Diggs will help make Allen’s job a little bit easier as he is one of the best route runners in the NFL. Pairing him with the likes of John Brown and Cole Beasley gives Buffalo one of the best receiving corps in the NFL.

The Bills have one of the best overall rosters in the NFL, a head coach who knows how to get the most out of the talent and a fairly easy schedule. Expect them to make the playoffs (-176) and potentially win the division in 2020.


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How many games will the Buffalo Bills win in 2020? Bands

0-4 Wins: +6500

5-8 Wins: +125

9-12 Wins: -154

13-16 Wins: +2500

There is some decent value available on the Bills to win between 9-12 games (-154) this season. McDermott has guided the Bills to a winning season two of the last three years. The only season (2018) when that didn’t happen was when Allen missed five starts due to an elbow injury. The team failed to win a game without him on the field (0-5) as their backup quarterback situation just wasn’t up to par.

Consider Buffalo a lock to win at least nine games during the 2020 season.

How many games will the Buffalo Bills win in 2020? Exact number

BetMGM‘s win total for the Bills in 2020 is set at 8.5. Not surprisingly, 8 wins (+300) and 9 wins (+275) are the exact win totals with the lowest odds. While both of those present decent value, the best bet on the board is 10 wins (+325).

The Bills won 10 games last season and just one of their six losses was by more than seven points. Buffalo has a really strong defense which will allow them to keep games close.

Given their relatively easy schedule, look for the Bills to win either 9 and 10 games in 2020 as they look to overthrow New England and win the division.

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