2021 NFL Futures Preview – July Odds and Projections for All 32 Teams

This intro does not matter. It’s not what you came here for. Let’s jump right in! It’s the NFL, baby! AFC first, then NFC.

AFC Futures Odds Breakdown

AFC East

Times have changed, man. The Buffalo Bills are overwhelming favorites in the AFC East for the 2nd year in a row while the Patriots are … third?

That’s right. Even though the betting public is not buying it, the Miami Dolphins are projected for 0.5 extra wins and a higher spot in the standings than the Fighting Belichicks.

The Pats suffered their first losing season in 2 decades last year and experts aren’t buying that Cam Newton is the answer. At (+350) the Patriots are tied for the 2nd-shortest division odds of any team projected for 3rd place. This means it’s still very likely we will see the Pats hosting a playoff game this season. It’s just weird to have to scroll to find New England.

Buffalo Bills

AFC East Odds: -150

SB LVI Odds: +1200. The Bills are given the 3rd-best odds to win Super Bowl LVI.

O/U Win Total: 11. 11 wins is also the 3rd-highest projection of any team.

2020 Record: 13-3. The Bills were tied with Green Bay for the 2nd-best record in all of football last year behind only Kansas City. Josh Allen led the Bills to playoff victories against Indy and Baltimore before falling to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship game.

Miami Dolphins

AFC East Odds: +325

SB LVI Odds: +3000

O/U Win Total: 9.5

2020 Record: 10-6. The Dolphins were on fire at the end of last season – winning 9 of 12 to close out the season. Miami was in the playoff hunt until Week 17 – missing the cut by 1 game.

New England Patriots

AFC East Odds: +350

SB LVI Odds: +3000

O/U Win Total: 9. The over is hot on the Patriots O/U line for the 2021 season. The Belichick support is unwavering.

2020 Record: 7-9. New England had a losing record in 2020 for the first time since 2000.

New York Jets

AFC East Odds: +2000

SB LVI Odds: +10000

 

O/U Win Total: 6.5

2020 Record: 2-14. The Jets were so unbelievably awful last year.

AFC West

The Kansas City Chiefs are obviously large favorites in the AFC West at (-330) to win the division. The Chiefs are projected for 12.5 wins and have the shortest Super Bowl odds of any team at (+500).

The Chargers and Broncos are each given decent odds to pull the upset in the West but it takes big stones to bet against Patrick Mahomes in his prime.

Despite playing to an 8-8 record last year and being in the playoff hunt, Vegas has set the Raiders over/under win total at 7 this season and predicts a last place finish – giving Las Vegas (+2000) odds to pull the unthinkable upset and unseat Mahomes.

Kansas City Chiefs

AFC West Odds: -330

SB LVI Odds: +500. The Chiefs have the shortest Super Bowl LVI odds of any NFL team. KC has reached the AFC Championship game in 3-straight seasons and the Super Bowl in each of the last 2 – winning it all in 2019.

O/U Win Total: 12.5. This is the highest projected win total of any team but the under is hot right now – meaning you can get a great price if you think KC will win 13+ games. KC has won 14, 12, 12 respectively each of the last 3 years.

2020 Record: 14-2. Blown out in Super Bowl by Tampa Bay.

Los Angeles Chargers

AFC West Odds: +575

SB LVI Odds: +3250

O/U Win Total: 9.5. The Chargers are projected for 9.5 wins and are still huge underdogs in the division. This speaks to the awesome pedestal that Kansas City is living on.

2020 Record: 7-9. LA was 3-9 after 13 weeks but finished strong and won their final 4 games.

Denver Broncos

AFC West Odds: +600

SB LVI Odds: +2450

O/U Win Total: 8.5. The over is hot in Vegas right now. Apparently the betting public has faith in either Teddy Bridgewater or Drew Lock.

2020 Record: 5-11

Las Vegas Raiders

AFC West Odds: +2000

SB LVI Odds: +6275

O/U Win Total: 7

2020 Record: 8-8

AFC North

The Ravens are preseason favorites in the AFC North once again due almost exclusively to the legs and right arm of Lamar Jackson.

At (+120) to win the division, the Ravens are put just ahead of Cleveland who is at (+145).

The AFC North has become an extremely tough division with 3 teams having a great shot at taking it down. The Steelers have the 3rd-best odds in the division at (+400) and their over/under win total is set at 8.5 games.

Vegas oddsmakers and the betting public both expect Pittsburgh to take a step back this season after starting 2020 11-0 and winning the North with a 12-4 record.

Baker Mayfield enters his age-26 season, his 4th under center for the Browns. Mayfield finally proved that he deserved to be a top pick last season – throwing more touchdowns on a higher completion percentage than 2020 with 3 times fewer interceptions. Mayfield was instrumental in leading the Browns to an 11-5 record and a playoff berth – beating Pittsburgh at Heinz Field and reaching the Divisional Round.

While the Ravens are the sexy pick in this division, it is conceivable that all 4 teams could be in the race. Even the Bengals at (+2000) have the upside of a young stud quarterback who threw for 269 yards per game on 65% passing with 13 TDs and 5 picks in 10 games before going down with a season-ending knee injury.

Baltimore Ravens

AFC North Odds: +120

SB LVI Odds: +1400. The Ravens hold the 6th-shortest Super Bowl LVI odds in 2021.

O/U Win Total: 10.5. The betting public is riding the over hard right now. You will be rewarded for putting your money on the under and lucking out with a down season from Lamar and Co.

2020 Record: 11-5. Baltimore beat Tennessee in the Wild Card round before falling to Buffalo by 2 touchdowns in the Divisional Round.

Cleveland Browns

AFC North Odds: +145

SB LVI Odds: +1600

O/U Win Total: 10.5

2020 Record: 11-5. Cleveland reached the postseason last year for the first time since 2002 and won a playoff game for the first time since 1994. The Browns then fell in a close one to Kansas City in the Divisional Round.

Pittsburgh Steelers

AFC North Odds: +400

SB LVI Odds: 8.5

O/U Win Total: +4000

2020 Record: 12-4. Pittsburgh started 2020 with 11-straight wins but limped to the finish with a 12-4 record which was still good enough to win the AFC North. They earned a Wild Card Round date with the Browns at Heinz Field but lost in a shootout 48-37.

Cincinnati Bengals

AFC North Odds: +2000

SB LVI Odds: +9475

O/U Win Total: 6.5

2020 Record: 4-11-1

AFC South

The Titans and Colts are frontrunners in the AFC South. The Titans are given EVEN odds to win the division. Mike Vrabel’s squad has had good success lately – winning 3 postseason games in the last 4 years.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have a completely new look in 2021 and are given (+700) odds to win the division. Long-time Ohio State HC Urban Meyer is now at the helm in Jacksonville and has the #1 overall pick in this year‘s draft – Trevor Lawrence – under center.

The Jaguars are the highest-variability pick in this division as their combination of a brand new Head Coach and rookie quarterback means that no one really knows how the Jaguars will be on the field this year.

The Houston Texans are given (+2000) odds to win the AFC South and are projected for just 4.5 wins this season – the lowest mark in the NFL. The Texans have the longest Super Bowl odds of any team at (+17500).

Dual threat quarterback Deshaun Watson is on the Texans’ roster as of July but trade rumors have been swirling around the 25-year-old for months with a deal seeming inevitable at this point. With so much turmoil in Houston and the likelihood of a new quarterback it is very difficult to make a case for the Texans starting strong in 2021.

Tennessee Titans

AFC South Odds: EVEN

SB LVI Odds: +2650

O/U Win Total: 9.5

2020 Record: 11-5. The Titans finished 2020 tied with Indy for tops in the AFC South but earned the division title on a tiebreaker. The Titans could not capitalize – losing 20-13 to Baltimore in the Wild Card round.

Indianapolis Colts

AFC South Odds: +110

SB LVI Odds: +2500

O/U Win Total: 10. The betting public can’t make up its mind on the Tennessee vs Indy debate. Each are receiving roughly EVEN odds to win the AFC South and each are hovering around the 10-win mark on the over/under season projections.

2020 Record: 11-5. The Colts finished 2020 tied with Tennessee but were relegated to the 7 seed due to tiebreakers. Indy was forced to go on the road to Buffalo and lost by a field goal in the Wild Card round.

Jacksonville Jaguars

AFC South Odds: +700

SB LVI Odds: +8000

O/U Win Total: 6.5. Everyone is hopping on the under in Jacksonville. No one believes in the Urban-Trevor Lawrence combo.

2020 Record: 1-15. The Jaguars narrowly avoided making history for the wrong reasons in 2020.

Houston Texans

AFC South Odds: +2000

SB LVI Odds: +17500

O/U Win Total: 4.5. This is the lowest O/U win total in the league.

2020 Record: 4-12

NFC Futures Odds Breakdown

NFC East

The NFC East is still a joke with the Cowboys receiving the best odds to win the division at (+160). The Re*****s … oops … Washington Football Team hold the 2nd-best divisional odds at (+260) and happen to be the reigning Eastern champions despite the 7-9 record last year.

Dallas Cowboys

NFC East Odds: +120

SB LVI Odds: +2800

O/U Win Total: 9.5

2020 Record: 6-10

Washington (Re*****s) Football Team

NFC East Odds: +260

SB LVI Odds: +5000

O/U Win Total: 8.5

2020 Record: 7-9. The Re*****s somehow won the NFC East with that garbage record but lost to the eventual champion Tampa Bay in the Wild Card Round 31-23.

New York Giants

NFC East Odds: +375

SB LVI Odds: +6600

O/U Win Total: 7. The betting public is optimistic on New York and the over is very hot right now in Vegas.

2020 Record: 6-10

Philadelphia Eagles

NFC East Odds: +500

SB LVI Odds: +7250

O/U Win Total: 6.5. Despite the low O/U win total set by Vegas and the long Super Bowl odds, the betting public seems to like the over at 6.5 wins and has driven the odds way down. Now is the time to pounce if you see Philly losing 10+ games.

2020 Record: 4-11-1

NFC West

The NFC West is the tightest toughest division to call in the preseason (other than the NFC East, of course, which doesn’t matter) with all 4 teams being legitimate threats. The San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams are tied for the shortest preseason odds to win the West at (+190) with the Seahawks not far behind and the Cardinals at (+575).

Kyler Murray broke out last season – his 2nd in the league – and threw for 3971 yards while running for 819 yards – the 2nd-most rushing yards of any quarterback in the league.

The Cardinals began 2020 5-2 but their Week 8 bye killed the momentum the birds had accumulated. Arizona stumbled to an 8-8 record but don’t blame Kyler Murray – he was terrific all season long.

Murray is entering his 3rd season after being picked #1 overall by Arizona in 2019. The Cardinals have so much upside because of Murray and are the sexiest underdog pick in the entire NFL due to the problems that Kyler creates for opposing defenses.

Los Angeles Rams

NFC West Odds: +190. LA is tied with San Fran for the shortest odds to win the NFC West.

SB LVI Odds: +1250. These are the 4th-best odds in the league.

O/U Win Total: 10.5. The betting public is not convinced. The under is receiving a lot of action on LA right now.

2020 Record: 10-6. The Rams earned a Wild Card bid in the NFC and went on the road to beat Seattle in Wild Card weekend. LA then lost by 2 touchdowns to the Packers the following week.

San Francisco 49ers

NFC West Odds: +190. San Fran is tied with the Rams for the best NFC West odds.

SB LVI Odds: +1350

O/U Win Total: 10.5. Just like the LA Rams, the SF under is a hot bet this summer.

2020 Record: 6-10. It was well documented last season that the 49ers dealt with a historic amount of injuries.

Seattle Seahawks

NFC West Odds: +275

SB LVI Odds: +2500

O/U Win Total: 10. Pretty amazing that the Seahawks are projected for 10 wins but are still slotted for a 3rd-place finish.

2020 Record: 12-4. The Seahawks ran the NFC West last season but could not take care of business at home in Wild Card weekend versus divisional opponent Los Angeles.

Arizona Cardinals

NFC West Odds: +575

SB LVI Odds: +4000

O/U Win Total: 8. The betting public loves Arizona this summer, driving the price of the under.

2020 Record: 8-8

NFC North

The NFC North is once again the Packers’ division to lose for the 90th year in a row. Aaron Rodgers won his 3rd MVP in 2020 – posting a line of 4299 passing yards on 70.7% accuracy with 48 TDs and just 5 measly interceptions!

Despite the continued controversy about his situation in Green Bay there is every reason to expect that Rodgers will be the starting quarterback once again for the Packers in 2021. Rodgers leaving Cheesehead Nation would uproot the entire foundation of the NFL!

The Vikings (+250) and Bears (+350) are in the mix but lack the quarterback play and the impact players to beat Green Bay in a must-win game.

I’m going to give the Lions a paragraph here because I am from Michigan and am a big fan, but no one would notice if I left them out of this preview. Detroit‘s over/under win total is set at just 5 games and at (+15000) they have the longest Super Bowl odds in the NFC.

Green Bay Packers

NFC North Odds: -135

SB LVI Odds: +1650

O/U Win Total: 10.5. Fans love to put their money on Green Bay, driving the price of the over on the season win total this summer.

2020 Record: 13-3. The Packers were tied for the 2nd-best record in all of football last season and advanced all the way to the NFC Championship game where they fell to eventual Super Bowl winner Tampa Bay 31-26.

Minnesota Vikings

NFC North Odds: +250

SB LVI Odds: +4000

O/U Win Total: 9

2020 Record: 7-9

Chicago Bears

NFC North Odds: +350

SB LVI Odds: +5000

O/U Win Total: 7.5

2020 Record: 8-8. The Bears snuck into the playoffs as the NFC’s 7 seed but were killed by New Orleans in the Superdome in the Wild Card round.

Detroit Lions

NFC North Odds: +2000

SB LVI Odds: +15000. These are the 2nd-longest Super Bowl odds in the NFL.

O/U Win Total: 5

2020 Record: 5-11

NFC South

No surprise here. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the betting favorites to win the NFC South at (-200).

Despite losing Drew Brees, the New Orleans Saints are projected for a 2nd-place finish at (+300) and their over/under win total is set at 9 games. Experts don’t know who will start at quarterback for New Orleans this season. The only thing we do know is that Sean Payton likes to get froggy with his quarterback sub packages.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

NFC South Odds: -200

SB LVI Odds: +650. Tampa Bay has the 2nd-best Super Bowl LVI odds in the NFL behind only Kansas City.

O/U Win Total: 11.5. This is the 2nd-highest O/U win total in the NFL and fans are jumping on the over early.

2020 Record: 11-5. The Bucs were the 5 seed in the NFC playoffs last year but ran the table and won Super Bowl LV.

New Orleans Saints

NFC South Odds: +300

SB LVI Odds: +3000

O/U Win Total: 9

2020 Record: 12-4. The Saints bested Tampa by 1 game last season for the NFC South crown but could not beat Tampa when it mattered – losing a Divisional Round game at home 30-20.

Atlanta Falcons

NFC South Odds: +800

SB LVI Odds: +6000

O/U Win Total: 7.5

2020 Record: 4-12

Carolina Panthers

NFC South Odds: +1100

SB LVI Odds: +7000

O/U Win Total: 7.5. The betting public thinks 7.5 is too low. Everyone and their brother is jumping on the Carolina under right now.

2020 Record: 5-11