Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Here’s your NFL futures betting primer for all of the smartest wagers to make before Week 1.
Every year the NFL honors the elite players of the league with its annual awards. Thanks to the level of speculation as to who will win the major accolades, you can make futures bets on most of them.
Below we take a look at who we think will win the awards this season as well as a long-shot candidate who could bring you a lot of money if he has the kind of season in which he is capable.
Note: All betting odds come from BetMGM Sportsbook.
Cam Newton is on the free-agent market, but what teams are most likely to add him? We focus on the odds around each team.
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NFL veteran quarterback Cam Newton is a free-agent after the Carolina Panthers released him Tuesday. Unable to find a trading partner, the team ultimately decided to release him outright.
The Panthers recently reshuffled their quarterback deck with the free-agent signing of Teddy Bridgewater and the addition of XFL star P.J. Walker.
With Carolina in the rear-view mirror, and following a very active market of quarterbacks moving to new teams, one has to wonder: Where Newton will be playing next? The oddsmakers at BetMGM have updated their odds on just that…
Odds via BetMGM, last updated March 24 at 5:45 p.m. ET.
There could be a potential marriage here if the price is right and Newton’s health (foot, shoulder) is where it needs to be and the oddsmakers have the Chargers as the most likely landing spot.
Can you really see the Chargers entering the year with Tyrod Taylor as QB1? Well, it is the Chargers… and they may look at the position early in the NFL Draft, too.
This NFL futures bet is worth a moderate-unit wager at +300 value.
The Dolphins seem destined to find their quarterback of the future early in the NFL Draft. However, even if they do, a move on Newton would make sense to help bridge-the-gap better than the tandem of Ryan Fitzpatrick and Josh Rosen did a year ago. It wouldn’t, however, fit in with the total rebuild Miami has been working through.
New to sports betting? A $100 wager on the Dolphins being Newton’s team returns a $350 profit if Newton is on roster in Week 1. While the odds and profit are favorable, I’ll pass on a wager here as Miami stays the course on their rebuild.
The Jags are in rebuild mode and it makes more sense to see what magic Gardner Minshew II can pull off as QB1 for a full season rather than bring in Newton. Pass on a wager here.
Replacing Tom Brady in New England won’t be an easy job for anyone and something tells me Newton’s style wouldn’t fit nicely into the Patriots way. While New England could use more talent at the position, signing a flashy quarterback doesn’t seem in head coach Bill Belichick’s DNA. Pass on a wager here.
Get some action on NFL futures bets at BetMGM! Think you know where Newton will play next? Bet now at BetMGM.
These odds should be even longer. Yes, there is the Ron Rivera connection and team owner Daniel Snyder is always a wildcard, but Washington just added former Carolina QB Kyle Allen via trade and have second-year Dwayne Haskins, a first-round pick from a year ago, on roster. Bringing in Newton would be a strange twist from their previous moves. Plus there has been speculation they may want a quarterback early in this year’s NFL Draft… Pass on a wager here.
Four teams remain in the mix to win Super Bowl LIV, we look at the sports betting odds on each
Super Bowl LIV is on the horizon, as we are down to four remaining NFL teams in the mix after a wild weekend of divisional playoff action that saw sixth-seeded Tennessee Titans knock off the Baltimore Ravens, the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
With the Ravens out of the picture, the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers share the shortest odds — tied at +135, per BetMGM — as the favorites to win this year’s championship.
New to sports betting? An NFL future bet on Super Bowl LIV lets you place a wager on which team you think will be this year’s champion. The longer the odds, the better the profit – and higher risk. With just one weekend of NFL playoff action remaining before the Super Bowl, none of the odds are that long any longer, but there is still profit to be had.
+135 odds on Kansas City/San Francisco represents a 42.55% implied odds that each will win Super Bowl LIV. A $100 wager profits $135 should either do just that … that same wager on Tennessee returns a $800 profit if they can keep pulling off upsets as they did during the first two rounds of the NFL playoffs.
Kansas City Chiefs +135 (was +350 last week)
San Francisco 49ers +135 (was +325)
Green Bay Packers +650 (was +700)
Tennessee Titans +800 (was +2800)
Want action on Super Bowl LIV? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.
Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
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Game-by-game NFL Divisional Playoff breakdowns, with NFL betting odds, lines, predictions, picks and betting tips for each game.
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NFL Playoffs continue this weekend, as we’re down to eight teams in the chase to be this season’s Super Bowl Champion. SportsbookWire’s NFL Playoff Betting Guide is at your service, full of NFL odds, lines, spreads, game-by-game predictions, picks and best-bet selections to help you make the best NFL sports bets for the week.
Be sure to also check out our recommendations around parlay picks to cash in on during the NFL Playoffs:
Minnesota Vikings at San Francisco 49ers – 4:35 p.m. ET – NBC
Tennessee Titans at Baltimore Ravens – 8:15 p.m. ET – CBS
NFL Divisional Playoffs BetMGM Special
Bet $1, WIN $200 (in free bets) IF ANY NFL team scores a touchdown during the NFL’s divisional playoff rounds. Easy win. Win now at BetMGM!
Visit BetMGM for terms and conditions.
Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs – 3:05 p.m. ET – CBS
Seattle Seahawks at Green Bay Packers – 6:40 p.m. ET – FOX
Now that you have the skinny on what to do with each game, visit BetMGM to place a bet on your favorite matchup(s) now.
For additional sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com now and for a complete set of today’s live odds, access them at USA TODAY Sports.
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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Eight teams remain in the mix to win Super Bowl LIV, we look at the sports betting odds on each
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A Super Bowl LIV potential matchup became a little bit clearer over the weekend, as four teams were removed from competition during the NFL Wildcard playoff rounds.
While eight teams remain in the mix in what is shaping up to be a wild finish, one thing is clear: We’ll have a different Super Bowl Champion and AFC representative after the Tennessee Titans knocked off the defending Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots Saturday evening. The New Orleans Saints, Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles were also removed from the conversation
The Baltimore Ravens (+210) and San Francisco 49ers (+325), both No. 1 seeds in the AFC and NFC respectively, are at the top of BetMGM‘s oddsmakers most-likely-to-succeed view in terms of Super Bowl betting odds. Like longshots and underdogs? The Houston Texans (+2800) and Tennessee Titans (+2800) come in tied with the longest of odds of the remaining teams.
New to sports betting? An NFL future bet on Super Bowl LIV lets you place a wager on which team you think will be this year’s champion. The longer the odds, the better the profit – and higher risk. +210 odds on Baltimore, the early favorite, represents a 32.26% implied odds that they’ll win Super Bowl LIV. A $100 wager profits $210 should they do just that … that same wager on Houston or Tennessee returns a $2,800 profit if one of them goes the distance.
Baltimore Ravens +210
San Francisco 49ers +325
Kansas City Chiefs +350
Green Bay Packers +700
Seattle Seahawks +1200
Minnesota Vikings +1400
Houston Texans +2800
Tennessee Titans +2800
Want action on Super Bowl LIV? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.
Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
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Previewing the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIV chances, with NFL betting odds, picks, futures and best bets.
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Throughout the 2019 season, it appeared the Kansas City Chiefs just didn’t have “it” this season after losing 37-31 in overtime to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship last season; however, they finished the 2019 season strong, winning six straight games to become the No. 2 seed in the conference.
With a first-round bye in hand, the Chiefs have an excellent chance at advancing to the Super Bowl. Below are their odds to win Super Bowl LIV and reasons why you should and shouldn’t bet on Kansas City to take home the Lombardi Trophy this postseason.
NFL futures odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Friday at 5:15 p.m. ET.
Get some action on the games by betting at BetMGM. New customer offer: RISK-FREE First Bet (up to $500!) paid in free bets.
As we have seen over the last decade, quarterback play is a significant factor in who wins the Super Bowl. Luckily for Kansas City, reigning-MVP Patrick Mahomes is healthy, and he is starting to get back to his form of last season. It also helps that he will have his full assortment of weapons on the field in the playoffs, which might just be the best supporting cast in the AFC.
It also doesn’t hurt that the Chiefs’ defense is starting to play better, allowing just 11.5 points per game over the last six weeks. They are beginning to create sacks and turnovers, which will be needed to advance deep in the playoffs.
Given that Kansas City will host a playoff game in Round 2, it certainly doesn’t seem impossible the Chiefs can get hot and make a three-game run with Mahomes under center. At +200, the Chiefs are a great bet to win the AFC Championship. They’re also a strong play at +450 to win Super Bowl LIV.
New to sports betting? A $10 wager on the Chiefs to win Super Bowl LIV would return a profit of $45 should Kansas City win the Super Bowl.
Despite being the No. 2 seed, the road to the Super Bowl could be awfully tough for the Chiefs. They will likely host the New England Patriots in Round 2, and the Pats have shown no fear playing in Arrowhead Stadium lately. If the Chiefs can survive that contest, they will then likely travel to Baltimore to take on the No. 1-seeded Ravens. It’s a brutal draw for the Chiefs and one which could keep them out of the Super Bowl for a second-straight season.
There is also some lingering doubt about head coach Andy Reid in the playoffs. While no one can argue about his regular-season success, too often, his teams come up short relative to expectations. For Kansas City to advance to the Super Bowl, Reid will need to outcoach the likes of Bill Belichick and John Harbaugh to make it to the Super Bowl. While that’s certainly possible, there are some reasons to be concerned.
Ultimately, the Chiefs are still a great bet to win the Super Bowl due to their overwhelming amount of talent on both sides of the ball. Don’t be afraid to put down a few units on the Chiefs to make a run this postseason.
Want action on this bet? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.
Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
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Previewing the Seattle Seahawks’ Super Bowl LIV chances, with NFL betting odds, picks, futures and best bets.
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The NFL playoffs begin this weekend and the Seattle Seahawks open on the road as the No. 5 seed in the NFC, taking on the NFC East champion Philadelphia Eagles on the road Sunday at 4:35 p.m. ET.
They had a chance to be as high as the No. 1 seed in the conference but ended up one play short of winning the NFC West and getting the coveted first-round bye.
Seattle is a perennial contender and is built to win playoff games. They have been to two Super Bowls in the last decade and won one. The question is whether you should bet on the Seahawks to win Super Bowl LIV.
NFL futures odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Friday at 4:45 pm. ET.
Get some action on the games by betting at BetMGM. New customer offer: RISK-FREE First Bet (up to $500!) paid in free bets.
They have, along with the Eagles, the second-longest odds to make it to the Super Bowl out of the NFC at +1200. To win the Super Bowl, only five teams have higher odds than Seattle’s +2500.
They can provide one of the biggest paydays of all the teams in the postseason. A $10 bet on them to get to the Super Bowl will return $120 in profit and a $10 bet on them to win it all will win $250.
It is a big payday. The question is whether it is worth betting on them.
They will have to win three games on the road to get to the Super Bowl, having to play in Philadephia and then potentially Green Bay, New Orleans or San Francisco. However, they shared the league’s best road record at 7-1 and were 10-2 in one-score games.
It is hard to bet against QB Russell Wilson, but the Seahawks are without their top three running backs in Chris Carson, Rashaad Penny and C.J. Prosise. All are on injured reserve and Seattle recently had to sign Marshawn Lynch to back up rookie Travis Homer.
The defense is not what it used to be, as the Seahawks were 22nd in the league in scoring defense, and they allowed an average of 25.7 points per game over their last three games. You can’t ever count out Wilson, but the Seahawks faltered down the stretch, losing three of four to end the regular season.
The potential payout is huge, but they aren’t worth the risk of a big wager. If you are going to bet on Seattle, keep it in the casual range.
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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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Previewing the New Orleans Saints’ Super Bowl LIV chances, with NFL betting odds, picks, futures and best bets.
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Since September, the New Orleans Saints have looked like Super Bowl LIV contenders, but do they warrant an NFL futures bet?
With a 13-3 record, the Saints were dominant during the regular season. Their only slip-up games were when Brees injured his thumb in Week 2 against the Los Angeles Rams, a stunning Week 10 loss to the NFC South-rival Atlanta Falcons and a thrilling 48-46 shootout loss to the San Francisco 49ers – arguably the best game of the 2019 season.
They won six games by double-digits and enter the playoffs on a three-game winning streak – two of which came by at least 27 points and the other by 10 points.
Yet, despite rolling to a stellar regular-season record, the Saints still didn’t earn a first-round bye. Those two free passes went to the 49ers and Green Bay Packers.
NFL futures odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Friday at 4 pm. ET.
Get some action on the games by betting at BetMGM. New customer offer: RISK-FREE First Bet (up to $500!) paid in free bets.
Sitting out the Wild Card Round is a huge advantage, with more than 79% of Super Bowl representatives in NFL history being No. 1 or 2 seeds in the postseason. After all, teams with top-two seeds have to win one fewer game than teams seeded third or lower, making the path to a championship much easier.
The Saints are a rare team that can buck that trend with a four-game winning streak to claim Super Bowl LIV. And that’s exactly why you should bet on them to win it all.
According to BetMGM, the Saints are +600 to win Super Bowl LIV – the fourth-best odds of the 12 playoff teams. That’s better than even the Packers, who have a first-round bye and would host the Saints in the Divisional Round, should New Orleans advance past the Minnesota Vikings.
New to sports betting? A $10 wager on the Saints to win Super Bowl LIV would return a profit of $60 should New Orleans win the Super Bowl.
That just goes to show how the oddsmakers view the Saints and their chances of being the last team standing.
New Orleans should make easy work of Minnesota (+3300 to win Super Bowl LIV), especially with the game being played at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Saints are favored by 7.5 points, the largest spread of the four games this weekend. Brees, WR Michael Thomas and RB Alvin Kamara are all healthy entering the postseason and will help carry the offense.
Defensively, the Saints are no slouches, either. They finished 13th in points allowed and 11th in yards allowed, performing especially well against the run with the fourth-fewest rushing yards allowed per game. The Vikings prefer to lean on RB Dalvin Cook and the running game.
The Saints were good on the road this season, too, going 7-1 away from home. Should they beat the Vikings, visiting Lambeau Field shouldn’t strike any fear in the Saints.
As a team without a bye, the Saints got the better end of the playoff bracket, having to play the Packers in the divisional round instead of the 49ers. Granted, they’d visit the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game if both teams make it that far, but at least that won’t come in the second round.
Betting the house on New Orleans wouldn’t be a wise move because of the absence of a first-round bye, but you should feel good about laying down some money on the Saints to be the last team standing.
Want action on this bet? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and 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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Previewing the Buffalo Bills’ Super Bowl LIV chances, with NFL betting odds, picks, futures and best bets.
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AFC East teams besides the New England Patriots don’t typically make the playoffs. They certainly don’t usually go 10-6 or challenge New England for the division crown very often. Yet, that’s exactly what the Buffalo Bills did this season, giving the Patriots a run for their money in the AFC East and becoming just the third wild-card team from the division since 2011.
But do the Bills have a legitimate chance to win the Super Bowl? According to the oddsmakers, not really.
NFL futures odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Friday at 12:30 pm. ET.
Get some action on the games by betting at BetMGM. New customer offer: RISK-FREE First Bet (up to $500!) paid in free bets.
BetMGM has the Bills at +6000 to hoist the Lombardi Trophy in February, the longest odds of any team in the playoffs. That’s the result of them having a young, inconsistent sophomore quarterback under center in Josh Allen, a tough matchup in the first round against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium, and a second-round date with either the Baltimore Ravens or Kansas City Chiefs if they were to advance to the Divisional Round.
New to sports betting? A $10 wager on the Bills to win Super Bowl LIV would return a profit of $600 should Buffalo win the Super Bowl.
Allen had a solid season. He threw 20 touchdown passes with only nine interceptions, rushing for another 510 yards and nine touchdowns, as well. However, he only completed 58.8% of his passes and his 5.71 adjusted net yards per attempt – a good measuring stick of a quarterback’s aggressiveness and success – ranked 23rd among qualified quarterbacks.
The Bills defense is what helped carry them to the postseason, ranking second in points and third in yards allowed, but how many top offenses did they truly face? The Dallas Cowboys and Ravens were the only teams that really stand out offensively from Buffalo’s schedule, though it was impressive that they were held to a combined 39 points in consecutive weeks.
The Bills aren’t exactly coming into the postseason riding high, either. They lost three of their last four games, one of which was the season finale with Matt Barkley at quarterback. There isn’t much momentum behind the Bills heading into this wild-card matchup with the Texans, especially on offense. In the last three games that Allen completed, the Bills had fewer than 300 yards of offense in each, including fewer than 200 yards passing.
So that begs the question again: Should you bet on the Bills to win Super Bowl LIV? In short, no. Unless the Tennessee Titans go on a deep run, Buffalo will be on the road for the entire postseason run. Winning four straight games away from home is no easy task for any team, let alone one that faced only three playoff teams in the regular season – including a Philadelphia Eagles squad that barely got in.
Save your money and put it on a team like the Ravens, San Francisco 49ers or New Orleans Saints. The Seahawks at +2500 or the Patriots at +1200 are better bets than the Bills and still come with financial upside on a small wager.
So unless you just want to lay $10 down on a Bills Cinderella story, it’d be wise to pass on this wager.
Want action on this bet? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and 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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Previewing the New England Patriots’ Super Bowl LIV chances, with NFL betting odds, picks, futures and best bets.
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For most of the 2019 season, it appeared the New England Patriots were locked into the No. 2 seed in the AFC as they rode their hot defense to another 12-win season. After a colossal collapse against the Miami Dolphins in Week 17, the Patriots will now have to play on Wild Card weekend against the red-hot Tennesee Titans.
Given their history, it’s hard to count out the Patriots as long as they are still in the playoffs. Below are the reasons you should or shouldn’t bet on the New England Patriots to win their seventh Super Bowl.
NFL futures odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Friday at 11:45 a.m. ET.
Get some action on the games by betting at BetMGM. New customer offer: RISK-FREE First Bet (up to $500!) paid in free bets.
The case for why you should bet on the Patriots to win the Super Bowl is simple; head coach Bill Belichick and QB Tom Brady. The two are nearly unstoppable in the playoffs and have proven time and time again they can flip the switch when it matters the most. They have shown they can go on the road and win, something many of the other AFC playoff contenders can’t say.
It also doesn’t hurt that the Patriots have the best defense in football, allowing just over 14 points per game this season. New England can create takeaways at will and give their offense short fields with which to work. While it may not always look pretty, it’s awfully tough to not bet on the Patriots to come out of the AFC this season. And with their current odds, they actually present some excellent value, as well. Their +1200 odds to win Super Bowl LIV seem almost too good to be true.
New to sports betting? A $10 wager on the Patriots to win Super Bowl LIV would return a profit of $120 should the Patriots win the Super Bowl.
Despite six Super Bowl wins over the last 20 seasons, the Patriots have never made it to the Super Bowl, let alone win one when they were forced to play on Wild Card weekend. It’s just too difficult to make it through the AFC gauntlet when you have to play two or three games on the road in order to make the Super Bowl.
On top of that, the 2019 Patriots don’t resemble anything we are accustomed to seeing. The Patriots have scored more than 24 points just once in their last 10 games, and their offense can be shut down relatively easily. It’s also concerning how Brady appears to be in the worst slump of his career as he has a passer rating of only 80.8 over the last eight games of the season.
While it’s hard to count out Belichick and Brady, this does appear to be one of their weaker teams in recent memory. But don’t be surprised if New England finds a way to come out of the AFC for the fourth-straight season.
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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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