In about a month the NFL kicks off their 2019-2020 Regular Season. Like clockwork, solid teams like the New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints will start covering spreads. But, good teams aren’t the only ones that cover spreads. Often, bad teams from a season ago end up becoming ATS darlings. Check out a list of 5 teams that struggled in 2018. In 2019, these 5 teams have a real shot of turning into against the spread juggernauts in the NFL betting odds.
Bad Teams that Could be Good NFL Betting Picks in 2019
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars went 5-11 SU and 5-9-2 ATS last season. This season, they could turn that record around. Let’s not forget that Jacksonville was a couple minutes away from upsetting the New England Patriots in the 2018 AFC Championship.
Last season was a bust, but the Jags can bounce back big time. They signed Nick Foles to play quarterback behind an offensive line that could be one of the top units in the league. The defense should be even more formidable after they drafted Kentucky DE Josh Allen. This team can rock it.
San Francisco 49ers
Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has been cleared to practice. Running back Jerrick McKinnon should be healthy while the Niners signed Tevin Coleman to back up McKinnon. SF drafted end Nick Bosa with the second pick in Round 1. Bosa is the can’t miss pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
The 49ers went 5-11 ATS last year because Garoppolo and McKinnon missed almost the entire regular season. At full strength, San Francisco can contend with the Rams for the NFC West Division title. That means SF should be a solid play ATS in almost every game unless the injury bug hits again.
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions went 6-10 straight up last season. However, they went 9-7 ATS. That tells us Detroit was underplayed in plenty of games in 2018. What will happen this season? Well, the Vikings, Bears, and Packers all offer +2800 odds or less to win the Super Bowl. Detroit offers +8000 odds.
That means the Lions will be underplayed every time they face the Bears, Vikings, or Packers. That’s 6 games on Detroit’s schedule. The Lions also battle the Chargers, Eagles, Chiefs, and Cowboys. That’s 4 more potential games where their opponents are overplayed against the spread. That’s 10-of-16 games where the Lions’ opponents should offer underlay ATS odds.
Buffalo Bills
The Bills went 6-10 in the win-loss column and 7-9 against the spread. They should most definitely be better this season than last season. The defense could emerge as a Top 5 unit. Not only that, but quarterback Josh Allen should take the next step forward.The schedule is littered with overlay opportunities: two games versus the rival Patriots and battles versus the Eagles, Cowboys, Browns, Broncos, Ravens, and Steelers. Buffalo could turn into a covering beast.
Denver Broncos
Denver plays in the AFC West where the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers rule. Nobody is even considering the fact that the Broncos should have the best defense of any team in the division. Nobody cares that Denver signed two-time Super Bowl winning quarterback Joe Flacco.
Denver went 6-9-1 ATS last season. The schedule is no cakewalk, which should provide either wins on the moneyline as a dog, or victories against the spread. This is especially in the first three weeks where the Broncos are at Oakland, battle the Bears at home in Week 2, and then travel to over rated Green Bay in Week 3.
Games versus the Chiefs and Chargers twice, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Minnesota, and Houston should provide Denver Broncos overlay opportunities. Don’t sleep on Denver to cover the spread in plenty of games. The Broncos also should upset favored opponents on the moneyline in a few matchups.
