Nine teams begin the season with double-digit win totals. The Los Angeles Rams and Baltimore Ravens are at the top of the board with only 11.5 wins, according to BetMGM. The Rams are the consensus Super Bowl favorite and one of the most popular picks to surpass their projected total.
The Rams announced that future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald will return after retiring in early 2024 and missing two seasons. Donald joins a sensational defense anchored by Myles Garrett. The Rams acquired the reigning Defensive Player of the Year in a blockbuster trade with the Cleveland Browns.
Keep an eye on veteran gunslingers who can push their teams over their win total: Justin Herbert from the L.A. Chargers, Joe Burrow from the Cincinnati Bengals, Dak Prescott from the Dallas Cowboys, and Baker Mayfield from the Tampa Bay Bucs.
The Detroit Lions are poised to bounce back after a disappointing season. The benefit of one of the easiest schedules this season makes them a betting favorite to win the NFC North.
L.A. Rams: Super Bowl Favorites with Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald
Last Season’s Record: 12-5
Super Bowl Odds: +500
Win Total: 11.5
Special teams were the Rams’ biggest weakness last season. Head coach Sean McVay addressed that liability by hiring veteran special teams coach Bubba Venrone.
The Rams are a betting favorite in every game, according to look-ahead lines, including all eight road contests.
Division rivals like the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers pose their biggest challenge. They kick off the season down under with a game against the 49ers in Melbourne, Australia. Even though this international game is on neutral ground, the Rams lose a home game.
Early road trips to Denver and Philadelphia will test the Rams. They also visit Seattle to play the Seahawks on Christmas.
Soft spots on their schedule include the Cardinals, Giants, and Raiders. The Cardinals, expected to finish last in the NFC West, are a popular pick to win the fewest games in the league.
The Rams also host the Bills, Cowboys, and Chiefs at SoFi Stadium. They’re slight favorites on their home turf in all three games against projected playoff teams.
L.A. Chargers: Secret Weapon Mike McDaniel as OC
Last Season’s Record: 11-6
Super Bowl Odds: +1700
Win Total: 10.5
Jim Harbaugh went 11-6 in each of his first two seasons as head coach of the Chargers, but both ended in AFC Wild Card losses. The Chargers are chasing their first AFC West crown since 2009 and first playoff victory since 2018.
New offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel could help them break through. He maximized Tua Tagovailoa’s limited skills in Miami, and now gets to work with Justin Herbert. Pairing Herbert with one of the league’s most innovative offensive minds should make the Chargers must-see TV.
The Chargers kick off the season with favorable home games against the Cardinals and Raiders. They also catch a break against subpar AFC East squads like the Jets and Dolphins.
Their first three road games are against the Bills, Seahawks, and Chiefs. If they can survive that initial difficult stretch of the season, they’ll be in a good position to reach 11 wins for a third straight season.
Cincinnati Bengals: Healthy Joe Burrow, Easy Schedule
Last Season’s Record: 6-11
Super Bowl Odds: +2200
Win Total: 9.5
Injuries to key players on both sides of the ball, including star quarterback Joe Burrow, derailed the Bengals in recent seasons. The future looks bright in Cincinnati with a healthy Burrow.
The Bengals face one of the easiest schedules, with opponents posting a combined .450 winning percentage last season. They square off against the NFC South and AFC South, two of the NFL’s weakest divisions.
The Bengals have an early bye in Week 6 and lose a home game against the Falcons in Madrid, Spain, in Week 9. In the back half of the season, only two of their final nine games are against teams with a projected winning record.
The Ravens are slight favorites to win the AFC North at +100, and the Bengals are not far behind at +160. The Bengals are a betting favorite in 15 out of 17 games on the look-ahead lines, including five out of six AFC North matchups. They have plenty of wiggle room to reach double-digit victories.
Tampa Bay Bucs: Baker Mayfield Chip on His Shoulder
Last Season’s Record: 8-9
Super Bowl Odds: +5000
Win Total: 8.5
After three consecutive NFC South titles under head coach Todd Bowles, the Bucs went 8-9 last year and finished second in a tight divisional race. They missed the playoffs for the first time under Bowles, fueling whispers that he’s on the hot seat.
It’s a make-or-break season. Bowles is fighting for his job, and Baker Mayfield enters the final year of his contract. Extension talks stalled, leaving Mayfield feeling disrespected. He begins the season with a chip on his shoulder.
The Bucs are the consensus NFC South favorite at +170. A quick glance at look-ahead lines indicates they’re a betting favorite in five of their NFC South divisional games. They only need to cobble together four more non-divisional victories to hit their Over. They have a chance at a hot start with early home games against the Browns, Vikings, and Packers.
Dallas Cowboys: Dak and Squad Up for the Challenge
Last Season’s Record: 7-9-1
Super Bowl Odds: +2500
Win Total: 8.5
The Cowboys have one of the hardest schedules this season, including matchups against the NFC West, which is why many bettors are avoiding them. Despite a packed schedule, the Cowboys are betting favorites in 10 games on the look-ahead lines. With four games against the AFC South on their schedule, the Cowboys can pick up a couple of easy wins.
In Week 3, the Cowboys square off against the Ravens at Maracanã Stadium in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. They also must wait until mid-December for a bye in Week 14.
The Cowboys host the Eagles for their annual Thanksgiving Day game, which gives them a slight edge over their divisional rival. Other favorable home games include the Giants, Cardinals, and Titans.
Head coach Brian Schottenheimer and offensive coordinator Klayton Adams begin their second season together in Dallas. Dak Prescott can’t wait to throw deep bombs to a pair of top-10 wide receivers in CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens.
Detroit Lions: Bounce Back
Last Season’s Record: 9-8
Super Bowl Odds: +1900
Win Total: 10.5
The Lions missed the playoffs after losing offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to the Chicago Bears. He led the Bears to an 11-6 record and an NFC North title in his rookie season as a head coach.
Dan Campbell and the Lions are expected to bounce back and return to the playoffs. The offense sputtered under offensive coordinator Joe Morton last season, so the Lions replaced him with Drew Petzing as their new OC.
The Lions are the favorite to win the NFC North at +175. They’re priced ahead of the Green Bay Packers (+240) and the Bears (+375). The defending divisional champion Bears face the toughest schedule in the NFL this season.
With the benefit of the sixth-easiest schedule, the Lions are an underdog in only three games according to the look-ahead lines. Those three difficult matchups are road games against the Bills, Bears, and Packers.
The Lions square off against the shaky NFC South and should pad their record against the Cardinals, Jets, Dolphins, Titans, and Giants.
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