The Kansas City Chiefs are still celebrating. Vegas wastes no time, though, as it has already set the over/under win totals for 2020. That’s before the NFL Draft and free agency. Looking for a gem?
Arizona Cardinals 6.5
The over/under on the Cardinals for 2020 is 6.5. They are in one tough division, the NFC West, and are coming off seasons of three and five wins, respectively,
Atlanta Falcons 8
Will the Falcons make it back to .500? It would take a one-game improvement over the past two seasons, which each finished at 7-9. Dan Quinn and his Birds have to be looking for more than eight to keep their jobs safe and secure.
Baltimore Ravens 11
This is an interesting number. The Ravens finished 14-2 in 2019 and face a favorable schedule. They may not get back to 14 victories but they certainly look like a solid bet to reach double digits … or more.
Buffalo Bills 8.5
It appears as if the oddsmakers are not sold on the success the Bills had in going 10-6 in 2019. Is the upcoming schedule that much more difficult that Sean McDermott’s team could drop a couple games and fall to the under? Intriguing.
Carolina Panthers 6.5
Matt Rhule is a winner … at the college level. He faces a major rebuilding project in Carolina. Looks like Vegas believes it is going to take some time. The NFC South has the Saints … and everyone else. Feels like the Panthers are considered the caboose.
Chicago Bears 8
If you consider the 2019 season a hiccup, then the Bears have to be a tempting play here. They won 12 games in 2018 and for all their issues in ’19, they did manage to finish at .500. Mitchell Trubisky is a major player in the future of this play.
Cincinnati Bengals 5.5
The Bengals dropped to 2-14 off seasons of 7-9 and 6-10 in the two previous years. They do have the first pick in the draft, which will likely be LSU’s Joe Burrow. The last two years have seen Oklahoma quarterbacks play after going No. 1 in the draft. Baker Mayfield stepped in during the 2018 season and led the Browns to seven wins in 2018 after an 0-16 season. The Cardinals were 3-13 in 2018 and Kyler Murray led them to 5-10-1 as a rookie. Let the bettor beware!
Cleveland Browns 8
For all the hullabaloo and hype of how the 2019 Browns were the “it” team, they dropped from 7-8-1 to 6-10. A new regime is in Cleveland, again, and the task is to improve … quickly. Do you think the Browns can avoid the headlines and problems that plague them in 2018 to get back to .500 for the first time since 2007?
Dallas Cowboys 9
There is always interest in America’s Team. In the past two seasons with played in even years, they have won 13 and 10 games, respectively. In the odd seasons, nine and eight. We’re back to an even year in 2020 so is it worth the risk to go over?
Denver Broncos 8
The Broncos have not won eight games in any of the last three seasons. They showed improvement last year under Vic Fangio. However, they also failed to close a number of possible victories en route to finishing 7-9. This is one team that could be worth watching rather than wagering on.
Detroit Lions 6.5
It is safe to say Matt Patricia will need to lead the Detroit Lions to top the win total Vegas has set for them in 2020 if he hopes to be a long-term coach in Motown. Patricia has won nine games in his first two seasons. Fifteen after three won’t be progress.
Green Bay 9.5
They are begging you to get the Packers, who won 13 games in 2019. Absolutely begging you to go for the over, which means Vegas expects a major dropoff for Aaron Rodgers and his mates.
Houston Texans 8.5
Another team that has to be tempting to take the “over.” Since 2014, the Texans have won nine or more games in every season but 2017. That’s a good pattern to follow if you like Deshaun Watson and J.J. Watt to hit the over. This number feels quite light.
Indianapolis Colts 7.5
The Colts have only finished better than .500 in one of the past five seasons. That makes 7.5 a smart number. One that is tempting but also risky.
Jacksonville Jaguars 6.5
In eight of the past nine seasons, the Jaguars have failed to reach the 6.5 number of victories that has been set for 2020. This one almost feels like they are begging you to go under. What will the Jags do in the offseason to improve on a team that beats itself on and off the field?
Kansas City Chiefs 11.5
The Super Bowl champs have posted double-digit victories in seven of their last eight seasons. Three of the last four have seen then win 12 games. Will there be a Super Bowl hangover or will Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes roll to another dozen victories?
Las Vegas Raiders 7
Gamblers will have to decide whether the Raiders will top their 2019 total of seven victories in their first season in Sin City. Feels like a perfect number for a team that is moving to a gambling mecca.
Los Angeles Chargers 7.5
The Chargers dropped to five victories after posting 12 in 2018. They will apparently have a new quarterback. Anthony Lynn’s team was in the lead in many of the losses. This feels like it is a low number and the Bolts could top 7.5. However, the quarterback situation creates quite the quandary.
Los Angeles Rams 8.5
The Rams are an odd team when it comes to victories, having won 11, 13 and nine games in the last three years, respectively. The team that lost the Super Bowl a year ago could bounce back and top the number by winning double-digits games and the NFC West. This is another number that seems quite soft.
Miami Dolphins 5.5
The team is stacked with draft picks and came on toward the end of the season. Many wondered if Miami was going go to go 0-16 and it finished 5-11. Picking up another win or two isn’t out of the question in 2020.
Minnesota Vikings 9.5
The Vikings have won double-digit games in each of the last three odd-numbered years. However, this is an even season and in the last three of those, the Purple have won seven, eight and eight, respectively.
New England Patriots 10.5
Wow, this has to be the ultimate game of risk. You don’t know if Tom Brady will be back in 2020 with the Patriots and you are being asked to believe the team will win more than 10.5 games. And if the G.O.A.T. doesnt return how far South does this number drop?
New Orleans Saints 10
The Saints have won 37 games over the last three seasons. With Sean Payton back and Drew Brees likely to return, they feel like the class of the NFC South — again — and will likely soar past this number.
New York Giants 6.5
The bar is not that high for Joe Judge in his first season with the Giants. The NFC East is vulnerable. Daniel Jones figures to step forward. Saquon Barkley needs to avoid injury. And if that happens on the offense, it is not impossible to see the over here.
New York Jets 6.5
Both teams in the Big Apple land on the same number. Adam Gase is going to be expected to go over this one, especially since the Jets won seven games in his turbulent first season with Gang Green.
Philadelphia Eagles 10
The Eagles are coming off a pair of nine-win seasons. There reason to believe they will be hard-pressed to duplicate that. Then, again, the NFC East doesn’t exactly test. Seems like a risky number to go over.
Pittsburgh Steelers 9
Pittsburgh has nine or more wins in four of the past five seasons. Oh, so it looks easy, right? Well, the one season it won eight games was 2019, the most recent one. Mike Tomlin is a great coach and if he has Ben Roethlisberger for a full season this could seem like a low number.
San Francisco 10.5
The 49ers had a huge turnaround in 2019. They almost won the Super Bowl after winning 13 games in the regular season. That said, the schedule is tougher and they are not going to surprise anyone. Vegas is tempting you to think the Niners will drop more games. Remember, however, before last season it was 2013 when San Francisco last hit double digits.
Seattle Seahawks 9
In their last eight seasons, the Seahawks have won nine or more games every year. There was one nine-win season. Doubting Pete Carroll and Russell Wilson seems foolhardy. That said, the folks in Vegas certainly know what they are doing.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7.5
Love Bruce Arians. Don’t like the quarterback situation. Jameis Winston is far too erratic. If they turn to Philip Rivers, there is a lot of risk off his 2019 performance. This feels like an under.
Tennessee Titans 8.5
Do you believe in Ryan Tannehill or will he be a one-run player. Could Tennessee and Mike Vrabel go in a different direction? The second half of the season was impressive. The division can be testing. Risky business going in on the Titans.
Washington Redskins 5.5
A team that struggled mightily in 2019 gets Ron Rivera for a fresh start. The progress of Dwayne Haskins is the key to this team. The number makes one believe that Vegas isn’t sold on the former Ohio State star.
