Five Bold Bets For The 2019 NFL Season
The NFL regular season is speeding towards us like a train with no brakes. If you’re as tired of preseason football as we are, that’s exceptionally good news. However, it does mean you only have a little bit of time left to take advantage of some tasty futures bets for the 2019 season.
The good news for you is that we’re here to help you wade through the morass of foolish wagers out there. This piece will focus on five long shots that could really pay off for you when the dust settles. Want to take a flyer that can help you net a big return? These five bets are for you. For the record, nothing shorter than 3:1 odds is eligible for selection in this piece.
5. Baker Mayfield +1600 to win the NFL MVP
Want to know how Mayfield can beat the odds and finish the season as the MVP? Just take a look at what Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs did last season. If anything, we’ve got a better idea of what to expect from Mayfield in his second season. He got significantly more playing time than Mahomes did as a rookie.
On the flip side, Freddie Kitchens has a long way to go if he wants to prove he’s as brilliant an offensive mind as Andy Reid. Even so, there are a lot of weapons to help Mayfield put up big numbers in Cleveland. Odell Beckham, Jr is going to open up the field in a big way for the sophomore gunslinger.
The key for Mayfield will be to pilot the Browns to a solid playoff berth. If he puts up big numbers and Cleveland wins the division, the narrative sets up perfectly for him to take home the MVP Award as well.
4. The Packers at 10:1 to win the NFC
Aaron Rodgers may be one of the more prickly quarterbacks in the NFL, but he also happens to be a legitimate MVP candidate. If he has a big year, there’s no reason to think the Packers don’t have what it takes to win the NFC.
10:1 odds are just too long for a team with as much offensive firepower as Green Bay possesses. Davante Adams is a bona fide star at the wide receiver position. If he gets any help in the Packers’ receiver room this offense is going to score a ton of points in 2019.
The toughness of the NFC North is baked into these long odds, but the Packers are a longshot worth playing. Don’t hesitate to bet on Aaron Rodgers’ ability to overcome the odds.
3. The Patriots at 7:1 to win the Super Bowl
There’s nothing particularly fun about backing the preseason favorite to win the Super Bowl, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be profitable. There’s no real argument against the idea that Bill Belichick and company can repeat in 2019.
As long as Tom Brady stays healthy, they’re a veritable lock to win the division. Belichick might be the best postseason coach in the history of the game. Betting against that duo has cost people a collective fortune over the years. Don’t fall into the same trap. Even if you don’t like the Patriots, make this bet as a hedge against them making you unhappy when they manage to win it all…..again.
2. The Steelers at 12:1 to win the AFC
Everyone needs to stop talking about how the Steelers need to replace Le’Veon bell this season. Mike Tomlin and company already did that last year. James Conner did a really nice job of providing a similar level of production.
That means all Pittsburgh really needs to contend with this year is replacing Antonio Brown. There’s a logical argument to make that claims his departure will actually help the Steelers. Ben Roethlisberger will miss him on the field, but quite a few players will gladly bid goodbye to his antics off the field.
The other subtle addition Pittsburgh made this season was the drafting of Devin Bush in the first round. He’ll give the defense the speedy linebacker they’ve craved since Ryan Shazier’s injury. The Browns are getting all of the hype in the AFC, but don’t underestimate Pittsburgh’s ability to sneak in under the radar and make their way to another Super Bowl.
1. The Panthers at 25:1 to win the NFC
The Panthers were sailing along last season with a sterling record of 6-2 when disaster struck and Cam Newton suffered a serious injury. We understand the concerns about his health coming into 2019, but 25:1 odds for Carolina to win the NFC are simply too long to ignore.
The formula for victory here is crystal clear. If Newton comes back and plays like a Pro Bowler there’s no reason to think the Panthers can’t play at the same level they did during the first half of 2018. That, coupled with a mild defensive back powered by head coach Ron Rivera would easily catapult Carolina back into the postseason. If they make it that far, an NFC title is only a few breaks away.