If you’re wondering which NFL teams have the best chances to win their respective divisions in 2017 despite not being favored to do so, then you need some expert gridiron betting advice pointing you in the right direction.
Thankfully, that’s where I come in. This look at the top 8 live longshots to win their respective divisions will identify the underdog teams that have the best opportunities of pulling off division-winning upsets this coming season. With the annual training camp period getting closer by the day, let’s rock and roll people!
8 Live Long Shot NFL Bets To Win Their Divisions
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys +110New York Giants +180Philadelphia Eagles +300Washington Redskins +450Analysis: The Dallas Cowboys are favored to win the NFC East as you can see and the New York Giants could be just as good of a bet to win the division, but if you’re looking for longshot value, then you should look to the City of Brotherly Love. Not only did the Philadelphia Eagles go 7-9 in the first year of the Doug Pederson era, but they also found their franchise signal-caller in No. 2 overall draft pick Carson Wentz and added two veteran wide receivers in Alshon Jeffrey and Torrey Smith that will actually hold on to the passes that Philly’s mediocre receivers routinely dropped a year ago. The eagles ranked a respectable 16th in scoring last season and 12th in points allowed and they could very well move into the top 10 in both categories in 2017 while getting the upset division win1
NFC North
Green Bay Packers -280Minnesota Vikings +250Detroit Lions +500Chicago Bears +2300Analysis: If you’re looking for longshot value, then the choice in the NFC North has got to be Matt Stafford and the Detroit Lions. Detroit went 9-7 last season to finish one game behind Green Bay in the race for first place, but could take another step forward after finishing the 2016 campaign ranked 20th in scoring and a solid 13th in points allowed. After making a pair of huge free agent additions to their offensive line in the offseason, the Lions could surprise, although I’ll admit that beating out Rodgers and the Packers looks like a difficult feat.
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons +130Carolina Panthers +180New Orleans Saints +300Tampa Bay Buccaneers +300Analysis: I’ve got a lot of ‘bro love’ for future Hall of Famner Drew Brees, but I believe Jameis Winston and the blossoming Tampa Bay Buccaneers are offering the best longshot value to win the NFC South after going 9-7 last season to nearly reach the postseason. The Bus finished the 2016 season ranked 19th in scoring and 15th in points allowed and look like they primed to take another step forward in head coach Dirk Koetter’s second season and Winston’s third, particularly after adding fleet-footed deep threat DeSean Jackson in free agency. Sure the Falcons reached the Super Bowl last season one year after Carolina appeared in Super Bowl 50. Could Winston and the young Bucs make it three NFC South teams to reach the Super Bowl in the last three years?
NFC West
Seattle Seahawks -350Arizona Cardinals +200Los Angeles Rams +1600San Francisco 49ers +2800Analysis: There’s absolutely no longshot value in the NFC West unless you’re looking at the Arizona Cardinals to surpass the favored Seattle Seahawks. The rebuilding Rams and 49ers are simply hoping to get back to being respectable after winning two and four games respectively last season. Arizona went 7-8-1 last season, but they could get right back in the mix for a division title seeing as how they recorded double-digit victories in each of the previous three seasons and have one of the best coaches in the business in Bruce Arians.
AFC East
New England Patriots -700Miami Dolphins +500Buffalo Bills +900New York Jets +2000Analysis: With the New England Patriots owning the AFC East, the Miami Dolphins reaching the playoffs a year ago and the New York Jets having no shot to do so in 2017, the best longshot value in this division resides with the underachieving Buffalo Bills. Despite going an uninspiring 7-9 last season, the Bills should be better in 2017 if, for no other reason, than the fact that they parted ways with underachieving head coach Rex Ryan and hired a widely respected NFL lifer in former Carolina defensive coordinator Sean McDermott. Sure, the Bills would have to have a minor miracle – or season-ending injury to Tom Brady – take place to leapfrog both, New England and Miami this coming season, but the Bills do have talent starting with Pro Bowl running back LeSean McCoy, and underrated Tyrod Taylor at quarterback and speedy, but oft-injured wide receiver Sammy Watkins. Just getting rid of the lack of attention to detail under Ryan will help Buffalo in 2017 and hey, with a small miracle or two, who knows what could happen!
AFC North
Pittsburgh Steelers -140Baltimore Ravens +200Cincinnati Bengals +220Cleveland Browns +2300Analysis: Well, if you’re looking for longshot value, then the Cincinnati Bengals are the easy pick in the AFC North at +220. Marvin Lewis’ team took a sizable step backwards last season in going 6-9-1, but they did reach the playoffs in each of the previous five seasons while winning division titles in 2013 and 2015. The Bengals added fleet-footed wide receiver John Ross and gifted running back Joe Mixon in the NFL Draft so they should be able to improve an offense that ranked just 24th in scoring a year ago. After finishing eight in points allowed, an upgrade to their offense could put them on top in the AFC North this coming season.
AFC South
Houston Texans +160Indianapolis Colts +160Tennessee Titans +180Jacksonville Jaguars +580Analysis: The AFC South consists of three teams that were separated by just one game last year, but if you’re looking for legitimate longshot value, I say it lies with Marcus Mariota and the blossoming Tennessee Titans at +180. Tennessee went 9-7 to tie Houston for victories in the AFC South but missed out of n the postseason and a real chance to reach 10 wins when Mariota went down in Week 15. Now, I’m thinking it’s Tennessee’s time to shine after ranking a solid 14th in scoring last season and 17th in points allowed. The Titans made an extremely smart pick by adding USC cornerback Adoree Jackson to help improve their abysmal pass defense (30th) and speedy Western Michigan wideout Corey Davis to give Mariota another go-to playmaker and I believe they can, not only win the AFC South in 2017, but that they will!
AFC West
Kansas City Chiefs +180Oakland Raiders +180Denver Broncos +200Los Angeles Chargers +380Analysis: With both, Kansas City and Oakland winning 12 games and Denver winning nine games, the AFC West, the best longshot value in this loaded division resides with the San Diego (Oops, I mean, Los Angeles) Chargers despite the fact that they went 5-11 last season and have a serious way to go to get past their three superior division rivals. The good news is that the Bolts made a series of great coaching hires by bringing in former Buffalo Bills assistant head coach Anthony Lynn, former Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley as defensive coordinator and former Tennessee Titans and Arizona Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt as offensive coordinator. Los Angeles also drafted sure-handed wide receiver Mike Williams out of Clemson and should be a lot better moving forward if for no other reason than their trio of smart coaching hires.
