Andrew Mengel runs through every major Futures market ahead of what is without doubt going to be the biggest NFL season in betting history.
The long lull of Major League Baseballβs summer stretch. This yearβs innumerable click-bait pieces on helmet semantics and hold-out pissing contests. The strange excitement for 3rd-string position competitions narrated by that forever-classic, but always-nameless narrator on HBOβs Hard Knocks. This natural effect of no-NFL decay.
But summer is fleeting and in less than a week, the American sports community will get a shot of life, just like A-Rod in Billy Corbenβs Screwball, when the 2019 NFL season kicks off on September 5th with the Packers and Bears in Chicago.
With kickoff so close you can almost hear those NFL Network horns, itβs important to continue the American tradition of swearing by a few subjective predictions, to later be proven wrong and then hide behind circumstances that we claim only possible by forces named βGodβ.
But like any writerβs projections this time of the year, keep in mind the unpredictable force that always seems to strike every NFL season. Ask a Patriot fan about Week 14 in Miami last year or fantasy owners who selected Leβveon Bell, not James Connor or New Orleans residents, who watched the Rams lose in the Superbowl. Weβre not even out of preseason and thereβs already been a slew of shock and awe from frostbitten tows to Indianapolis heartbreak.
I donβt know if these events were due to an almighty power or happenstance but every year it proves to be true. With that in mind, peruse my division-by-division projections, money makers and Suberbowl favorites.
NFC
Last year, aside from the East, each NFC division was top-heavy, with the divisional leaders winning a playoff berth by at least three games. This year, with conference additions like Bruce Arians and fully-healed squads in Green Bay, Atlanta and San Francisco, the NFC will be a competition of attrition.
North
1. Green Bay β 10-6
2. Minnesota β 9-7
3. Chicago β 8-8
4. Detroit β 6-10
It seems like a no brainer to pick Green Bay this year. They lost two franchise guys in Clay Matthews and Randell Cobb, but spent big in free agency: OLBs ZaβDarius Smith, OLB Preston Smith, SS Adrian Amos, OG Billy Turner. If Green Bay finally gives Aaron Rodgers a defense, the Packers have enough offense to not only win the division but the conference. The Vikings have potential, especially if Dalvin Cook finally lives up to the pre-ACL tear hype, and could give the Packers trouble. But ultimately Kirk Cousins is too average, and I think theyβll end up missing out on the Wild Card. A lot of people like the Bears this year. Iβm not and never have been high on Mitch Trubisky, but heβll certainly have the chance to make me look like a fool, especially the last four games, where I think theyβll go 0-4: vs. Dallas, @Green Bay, vs. Kansas City, @Minnesota.
East
1. Philadelphia β 11-5
2. Dallas β 10-6
3. New York G β 5-11
4. Washington β 5-11
The Eagles have it all O-line, D-line, innovative coach and a fairly easy second place schedule. But they also have one big question: Carson Wentzβs stability. The division rests on his health, because QB2 is swatting mosquitoes in Jacksonville. Zeke will sign before the opener and if he doesnβt, I think Dallas can sustain wins until the Saints in Week 4. All in all, I expect the Cowboys to be solid this year, only losing close games and clinching a Wild Card spot. But this is still the NFC East with major upset potential in any of the in-division games, including opening weekend. And who knows, if Daniel Jones is as good against first team defenses, as he is against preseason hopefuls, and if Eli is Eli in November, maybe the Giants can make some noise. But aside from the ladder almost guaranteed, thatβs way too many ifs.
South
1. Saints β 10-6
2. Atlanta β 9-7
3. Tampa Bay β 8-8
4. Carolina β 7 -9
Good luck in the NFC South. Drew Breese and a robbed-Saints team; Matt Ryan and newly healthy Julio Jones and Devonte Freeman; seemingly Jameis Winstonβs last shot at a starting gig; and whoβs Cam Newton? All in all, the Saints have the better roster, better coach and I think that bitter taste in their mouth from last year is enough to win the division. But donβt sleep on Atlanta. Theyβve upgraded offensive line and theyβre healthy. Last year it seemed like every week they had a starter go down. The Bucs will be fun, but Bruce Arians needs a full year with Jameis, but expect that offense to put up ridiculous numbers. The Panthers could pull off a few upsets, but Cam is hurt going into the season, solely affording the Panthers fantasy value.
West
1. Los Angeles R β 10-6
2. San Francisco β 9-7
3. Seattle β 8-8
4. Arizona β 4-12
The Rams should win this division easily, with Seattle and Arizona searching for new identities. Todd Gurley wonβt see the ball as much, so look for Jared Goff to take over this offense. Thereβs a lot of anticipation for the return of Jimmy Garoppolo. With Kyle Shanahan finally confident in his starter and big-play potential in Dante Pettis and George Kittle, this offense could boom. But I still give the edge to the Rams. Seattle is interesting and Arizona will be fun to watch, but thereβs too much luck involved with finger-crossing and rookies.
NFC Playoff Seeding
1 β Philadelphia
2 β Los Angeles R
3 β Green Bay
4 β New Orleans
WC1 β Dallas
WC2 β Atlanta
AFC
North
1. Pittsburg β 11-5
2. Cleveland β 10-6
3. Baltimore β 8-8
4. Cincinnati β 5-11
Later in this article, itβll seem like I really trounce Cleveland, and thatβs only true for the beginning of their season. Once the Browns get a couple of wins under their belt, I think theyβll roll and be the highest scoring offense in the league. As long as they can control their temperament theyβll win double-digit games. But I like the Steelers to win the division. Experience, and minimal regression in production from James Washington and James Connor, who will fill the needs of WR2 and RB1. My favorite team in the division is Baltimore. Iβve read theyβre installing a Wishbone Offense for Lamar Jackson. The wishbone hasnβt been seen in the NFL since WWII. Baltimore will be gritty, ugly to watch at times, but ultimately able to beat anyone on any Sunday. And finally expect nothing short of mediocre from the Bengals.
East
1. New England β 10-6
2. New York J β 8-8
3. Buffalo β 7-9
4. Miami β 2-14
Donβt hate great. I despise the Patriots, but I absolutely love watching greatness. And the Patriotβs greatness will look a little different this year, with a lot of youth and no Gronk. They did draft Damien Harris and return Sony Michel, James White and Rex Burkhead, so expect a lot of running and short-game passing. The Patriots have dominated this division since Sam Darnold, Josh Allen and Josh Rosen were in Kindergartenβfor real, 16 for 18 in division titles since Bradyβs been the starter in 2001. Itβll definitely be worth watching how these three young guns develop, especially with this division on the brink of a complete makeover after TB12 retires. But other than a potential upset in New York in October, this will be all Patriots.
South
1. Houston β 10-6
2. Indianapolis β 9-7
3. Tennessee β 8-8
4. Jacksonville β 7-9
Andrew Luckβs retirement shook the Colts and set shockwaves through the league. Originally, I thought the Colts were a lock. Even with Luck gone, I think the Colts shock some teams and turnout to be a quality football team. In ten games started in 2018, Marlon Mack rushed for 908 yards on 4.7 yards per carry and added 10 total touchdowns. I think he follows that up with a top 10 season after the Colts drafted O-line in the first and second round and with Luck gone, I suspect a relentless running game and heavy reliance on D. They add Justin Houston to a defense that finished just out of the top 10 in total defense last year. I still like the Texans to win the division, but Iβm not confident. In Houstonβs first eight games theyβre @Saints, @Chargers, vs. Falcons, @Chiefs, @Colts. And with Houston neglecting to really fix their offensive line needs, the stage is set for an underdog to come out of this division. The Colts could be a fairytale. Tennessee is a solid sleeper, going 9-7 each of the last three seasons and Jacksonville is interesting is if Nick Foles plays even close to like he did when he was an Eagle.
West
1. Kansas City β 12-4
2. Los Angeles C β 10-6
3. Denver β 7-9
4. Oakland β 6-10
This will be the division to watch in years to come, with the Raiders rising, Denverβs young playmakers settling in, the end of Phillip Riverβs Hall of Fame career, and the wunderkind, Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs are going to be as good as advertised, and according to Travis Kelce, theyβre even fast than last year. With the Chiefs on the brink of a dynasty, the Chargers are the only team in this division thatβll put up a fight. I donβt think the Melvin Gordon holdout effects this team as much as anticipated. And if it does the Chargers will fold, knowing where Phillip Rivers is on the back nine. Denverβs always scary in September, then reveals themselves in November and Decemberβmatch made with Joe Flacco. Oakland will be fun to watch, but hold off until Vegas for any realistic expectations.
AFC Playoff Seeding
1 β Kansas City
2 β Pittsburg
3 β New England
4. β Houston
WC1 β Cleveland
WC2 β Los Angeles C
SuperBowl
Putting aside my biases, I think the Superbowl favorite comes out of the NFC. Like the Rams last year, whichever team has the firepower and stamina to survive that dogfight, will definitely earn the right. The AFC is pretty top-heavy and the only scenario I see, where the Chiefs arenβt in the Superbowl, is if thereβs a repeat of last yearβs conference championship game. Andy Reid holds Bill Belichickβs pocket when it comes to big games. And after 2017 I never bet against Tom Brady.
Top 2 Outcomes:
KC Chiefs 30 β Saints 32
NE Patriots 24 β Green Bay Packers 17
Money Makers
Donβt bet your rent, but consider these tempting takes to start 2019 in the green.
Lines as of August 28th, 2019 on Betrivers.com
Tennessee Titans +185
Week 1 vs. Cleveland Browns
The Browns currently lead the league in two categories: most hype and youngest roster. Plus, this past offseason has been packed: they hired offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens, traded for Odell Beckham Jr.; weβve heard endless soundbites from Baker Mayfield, the no-huddle drive during the first preseason game. I like moxie and a team unashamed to show it, but this has all the making for an upset. The Titans can run the ball and are known to shock teams when theyβre the underdog e.g. 2018 vs. Dallas and New England.
Pitt. Steelers +110
More wins than the Cleveland Browns
The reasons I like the Titans to upset the Browns Week 1, are the same reasons I like the Steelers to win the division, and ultimately more games than the Browns. With the departure of Leβveon Bell and Antonio Brown, the Steelers camp has been the quietest its been in almost a decade. The Steelers also have the better coach, better quarterback and better running game, which is vital for the divisional games in the winter. Clevelandβs going to be dangerous. Symbolizing the leagueβs doormat for the better part of two decades will put a chip on your shoulder. But late in the season, when the fieldβs frozen in Pittsburg, Iβll take experience over moxie.
Parlay: Los Angeles Rams -3 and Kansas City Chiefs -4 -106, -110 = +272
Week 1: vs. @ Carolina Panthers and @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Both the Rams and the Chiefs are projected to be powerhouses and both have low odds to overcome opening day. The Panthers will start the season with new faces on offense and a less-than healthy Cam Newton. And although the Jags will probably have the same fiery defense from the past few years, Iβm not a Nick Foles guy. Give me both the favorites in a parlay.