If the NFL season is getting close, that means NFL odds are going to start coming out. That's exactly what's happened this week, as Bovada updated their over/unders for all 32 NFL franchises. Rather than just look at the Miami Dolphins' projection, I decided to go through and use the O/U (and the associated odds to break ties) for each division, projecting the final standings when the season ends.
NFC West
Seattle Seahawks | 11 |
San Francisco 49ers | 10.5 |
Arizona Cardinals | 7.5 |
St. Louis Rams | 7.5 |
The division that last year, saw a 10-6 team miss the playoffs, and is now the home of the Lombardi Trophy, falls pretty much how you would expect. The Super Bowl Champion Seahawks are on top, with the 49ersright on their heels. The odds makers seem to think the Cardinals' success last year with double digit wins was a one-time event, as they are statistically tied (O/U and odds) with the Rams at 7.5 games.
NFC South
New Orleans Saints | 10 |
Atlanta Falcons | 8.5 |
Carolina Panthers | 8.5 |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 7 |
The NFC South lands a new champion this year as the Saints claim the top spot, thankslargely to a drop from the Panthers, who finished 2013 at 12-4. The Falcons, according to the oddsmakers, will put last season's dismal four win season behind them, while the Buccaneers are up three games from their win total of a season ago.
NFC North
Green Bay Packers | 10.5 |
Chicago Bears | 8.5 |
Detroit Lions | 8.5 |
Minnesota Vikings | 6 |
The 2014 NFC North looks identical to the finishing order from 2013. The Packers are up a game-and-a-half, while the Bears see a half game improvement over their 2013 finish, the Lions a game-and-a-half increase, and the Vikings up a game.
NFC East
Philadelphia Eagles | 9 |
New York Giants | 8 |
Washington Redskins | 7.5 |
Dallas Cowboys | 7.5 |
In one of the tightest races on the projected standings, the NFC East is topped by the Eagles, returning to the title spot they held last year. The Giants move into second place with an eight win over/under, which pretty much claims the Cowboys' perennial 8-8 record. The Redskins edge out the Cowboys based on odds, thanks to both teams coming in at 7.5.
NFC Playoffs
- Seattle Seahawks (11)
- Green Bay Packers (10.5)
- New Orleans Saints (10)
- Philadelphia Eagles (9)
- San Francisco 49ers (10.5)
- Chicago Bears (8.5)
AFC West
Denver Broncos | 11.5 |
San Diego Chargers | 8 |
Kansas City Chiefs | 8 |
Oakland Raiders | 5 |
The only division last year to land three teams in the playoffs, this year, the Broncos can run away and hide with the division title, repeating as champions for the fourth straight year. The Chiefs, who made the biggest jump record-wise last year, going from 4-12 in 2012 to 11-5 in 2013, fall back to the middle of the pack, and third place in the division, with an eight win season. Just ahead of them, based on odds, will be the Chargers, if the odds makers are correct, while the Raiders will be in the mix for the number one overall pick in next year's NFL Draft.
AFC South
Indianapolis Colts | 9.5 |
Houston Texans | 7.5 |
Tennessee Titans | 7 |
Jacksonville Jaguars | 5 |
The Colts again win the division, though the oddsmakers do not have them reach double digits this year, after an 11 win season last year. Behind them come the Houston Texans, who, thanks to a new coach and the number one overall pick in this year's Draft, move from a two win team in 2013, to having an over/under of 7.5 this year. The Titans match their 2013 win total of seven with their seven win over/under, and the Jaguars tie with the Raiders of the AFC West for the lowest over/under total at this point.
AFC North
Cincinnati Bengals | 9 |
Pittsburgh Steelers | 8.5 |
Baltimore Ravens | 8.5 |
Cleveland Browns | 6.5 |
The 2014 AFC North would match the 2013 version, if the oddsmakers are correct. The Bengals would fall from 11 wins, while the Steelersand Ravens both add a half-game on their tally from last season. The Browns would be the biggest movers, climbing up 2.5 games this year.
AFC East
New England Patriots | 11 |
Miami Dolphins | 7.5 |
New York Jets | 7 |
Buffalo Bills | 6.5 |
As is the norm in the AFC East, the Patriots simply dominate their way to another division title, according to the over/under, while the rest of the division is all within a game of each other. The Dolphins come out in the division's second position with 7.5 wins, followed by the Jets at seven wins, and finally the Bills at 6.5 victories.
AFC Playoffs
- Denver Broncos (11.5)
- New England Patriots (11)
- Indianapolis Colts (9.5)
- Cincinnati Bengals (9)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (8.5)
- San Diego Chargers (8)
(H/T to Jimmy Shapiro, Props PR)