The 2016/17 NFL season kicks off for the 97th time on Thursday, September 8th with a showdown between the reigning Super Bowl champs the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers. This is the perfect time to check out all 32 teams and see how bet365 ranks them when it comes to their chances of winning the Super Bowl. Fans out in Los Angeles will be rejoicing as NFL’s back in town with the St. Louis Rams returning to the west coast. The regular season will wind down on January 1st with the playoffs getting underway five days later. The 51st Super Bowl will be hosted at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas on February 5th.
NFL fans and bettors should be sure to look over team lineups and injury lists before making their wagers since anything can happen from day to day when it comes to injuries and suspensions.
Online NFL Betting Preview for the 2016 NFC East, where the New York Giants are favorites to win the division at 2/1:
Online NFL Betting – New York Giants:
- 2015 Record: 5-10 (3rd in NFC East)
- Predicted 2016/17 finish: 9-7 second place
- Odds of winning Super Bowl: 40/1
The Giants watched the playoffs on TV last season for the fourth year in a row, but the new-look club should make it this time around as a wild-card team. Tom Coughlin was let go and the new head coach is former offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo. The Giants’ offense ranked sixth in total points last year with Eli Manning leading the way at quarterback with help from top-target receiver Odell Beckham Jr. However, the squad isn’t nearly as good defensively and that cost them. They’ve signed several free agents to help out in that area such as Janoris Jenkins, Damon Harrison and Olivier Vernon while they lost defensive end Robert Ayers.
Online NFL Betting – Dallas Cowboys:
- 2015 Record: 4-12 (4th in NFC East)
- Predicted 2016/17 finish: 9-7 first place
- Odds of winning Super Bowl: 33/1
The Cowboys more or less fell apart last season after starting quarterback Tony Romo was shelved with an injury and they’ll be starting the 2016/17 campaign without him as well. Romo is out with a back injury which he suffered in the preseason and the ball will be handed to Dak Prescott to lead the way. Prescott has looked quite good in his preseason outings, but will need to keep it up for the first half of the season if the Cowboys hope to make the playoffs this year. They’ve won just once in the last 14 outings without Romo. The team still has a good offensive line and running back Ezekiel Elliott is a good acquisition. The pass rush is weak though and this could cost them. The Cowboys will also miss offensive tackle Otis Brown, who left in the offseason.
Online NFL Betting – Washington Redskins:
- 2015 Record: 9-7 (1st in NFC East)
- Predicted 2016/17 finish: 6-10 third place
- Odds of winning Super Bowl: 50/1
Kirk Cousins has looked good since being handed the starting quarterback job in Washington with some fine numbers last year. But the still had to pull off four straight victories in their final four outings to take the division with a 9-7 record. The Redskins ranked 10th in the league in points scored, but the defense wasn’t as sharp. Washington has added some good newcomers such as Su’a Cravens, David Bruton, Josh Norman and Kendall Fuller, but the defense needs to stay out of the infirmary if it’s going to improve. The Redskins should still be able to rack up points especially with Josh Doctson being, but they may slip in the standings this year.
Online NFL Betting – Philadelphia Eagles:
- 2015 Record: 7-9 (2nd in NFC East)
- Predicted 2016/17 finish: 5-11 fourth place
- Odds of winning Super Bowl: 50/1
Most of Chip Kelly’s moves were undone when the Eagles let him go as the club traded away the likes of Kiko Alonso, DeMarco Murray and Byron Maxwell. They selected Carson Wentz with the second pick in the draft and also recently acquired Dorial Green-Beckham. However, it make take some time for this team to gel and the immediate future doesn’t look too bright. The offensive line is probably the Eagles’ strong point with the addition of Stefen Wisniewski and Brandon Brooks. The team will likely be missing Lane Johnson with a 10-game ban though and there will be a lot of pressure on starting quarterback Sam Bradford. Last year’s defense struggled when it came to stopping opposition rushers even though Bennie Logan and Fletcher Cox are solid. Philadelphia is hoping Stephen Tulloch and Nigel Bradham will be able to help out.
Click here to read our review of the bet365 online sportsbook.
by Ian S. Palmer