When CG Technology sportsbook opened its NFL season win totals in April, sharp bettors wagered on the Titans to go under 8½ wins, and under 8 is a minus 140 favorite.
Todd Dewey
Reporter: Sports betting
Email: tdewey@reviewjournal.com
Phone: (702) 383-0354
X: @tdewey33
Todd Dewey covers sports betting for the Review-Journal. Prior to taking over that beat in January 2017, he covered UNLV football, 51s baseball and a wide range of other events that come to Las Vegas. A native of Cambridge, Mass., and a graduate of the University of Central Florida, Dewey joined the Review-Journal in 1999 and was the 2013 Nevada Sportswriter of the Year.
New York has the NFL’s second-easiest schedule based on its opponents’ 2019 win totals and fifth-easiest schedule based on its opponents’ 2018 win percentage.
Buffalo finished second in the league in total defense last season, returns 10 of 11 defensive starters and added defensive end Ed Oliver in the NFL draft.
The renewal allows Sportradar to distribute the NFL’s real-time official play-by-play data to legal sportsbooks in the U.S. and internationally for in-play wagering.
The bad news for Denver is that it has the NFL’s second-most difficult schedule this season by two measures — its opponents’ 2019 season win totals and 2018 win percentage.
Baltimore, a plus 380 underdog, rallied to win 8-7 on Sunday when Rio Ruiz hit a walk-off two-run homer with two outs in the ninth off Houston closer Roberto Osuna.
Detroit struggled to a 6-10 record last season under former New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia and has a 2019 win total of 6½.
The Bucs finished 5-11 last season, but if first-year coach Bruce Arians can work his magic with quarterback Jameis Winston, they could make a run at the NFC South title.
Only three teams scored fewer points last season than Washington, which averaged 17.6 points and has done little to improve its offense this year.
After going 4-12 last season in Year 1 of the second Jon Gruden era, the Raiders were rewarded with the NFL’s most difficult schedule this season.
Cincinnati is a 20-1 long shot to win the AFC North, where the Browns and Steelers are plus 140 co-favorites and the Ravens are the 7-2 third choice.
In general, it’s wise to back teams with quarterback competitions and coaches motivated to win, including those in their first year with a team.
Quarterbacks and coaches are the biggest keys to handicapping NFL preseason games.
New York, which has a win total of 6 after going 5-11 last season, is the 9-2 third choice at Caesars Entertainment sportsbook to finish with the fewest wins this season.
Arizona is tied with the Miami Dolphins for the lowest 2019 season win total at the Westgate sportsbook, at 5, and is at 5½ at Caesars Entertainment.