NFL Betting Favorites Before the 2024 Season Starts

22-05-2024


Photo taken during the Los Angeles Rams training camp at UC Irvine on July 31, 2023.Wikipedia

The NFL Draft is in the bag, as are team rookie mini-camps and the official 2024 schedule has been released. Between now and mid-July training camps, the only thing that NFL fans have to look forward to are weeks of Organized Team Activities and minicamps.

Which means that there is plenty of time to talk about who are the favored teams heading into the 2024 season. Whether you are looking to drop some money on the potential Super Bowl Champion, the MVP, or the Rookie Of The Year, there are always plenty of betting options when it comes to the NFL.

Before you check the odds remember to check if your state allows sports betting. Is sports betting legal in Colorado? Yes, Colorado is one of the states where you can bet on NFL, as well as Illinois, Arizona, Louisiana, Iowa and a few others.

You can check here the updated list of US states that allow NFL betting.

Kansas City Chiefs

First and foremost are the back-to-back champions, who are in search of the elusive three-peat of Super Bowl titles. Led by Patrick Mahomes, the league’s most dynamic quarterback, the Chiefs kick off their season against Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens. Favored by a field goal, the Chiefs rank first or second among most sportsbooks to win Super Bowl LIX. After sitting atop the NFL standings for the 2022 season, the Chiefs found themselves posting an 11-6 record last season.

Don’t be surprised if the Chiefs have an early season championship “hangover”, however in what seems to be a retooled AFC West, the Chiefs don’t seem to have much competition when it comes to advancing to the post-season.

San Francisco 49ers

If the Chiefs are number one, the 49ers are “one b” in terms of favorites to capture the 2025 Super Bowl. Coming off a heartbreaking loss in Super Bowl LVIII, the 49ers return most of the same roster that made them a dominant force on both sides of the ball. Saddled with one of the weirdest schedules in the league, the 49ers play six games in which their opponent is either coming off a bye week or an extended break, something to consider when laying down a wager.

The 49ers, who won the NFC West the past two years will likely claim a third division title as the Los Angeles Rams appear to be their only competition. Quarterback Brock Purdy proved he is more than capable of leading his team in big moments.

One of those big moments will come in the first game of the season as the 49ers face Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets on Monday Night Football. While one game doesn’t determine a season, it does set the tone for a team looking to get back to the championship game.

Baltimore Ravens

The 2023 Ravens not only captured the AFC North title, but they also posted the league’s best record. Unfortunately, all of that was for not as the team lost in the AFC Championship game against the Chiefs. We all know that 2023 MVP Lamar Jackson, who despite having the fifth-best odds of winning the award again in 2024 is still a “cheat code”.

The additions of Derrick Henry and Justin Madubuike will help on both sides of the field, but the Ravens who were once favorites to win the Super Bowl were also impacted by significant losses, including eight key players.

Detroit Lions

It took thirty-two years for the Detroit Lions to move beyond the Wild Card playoff berth. After losing a lopsided affair to the then Washington Redskins 41-10, the Lions at best grabbed a Wild Card berth eight times before losing 34-31 to the San Francisco 49ers in last year’s Conference Finals.

In each of Dan Campbell’s three seasons as Detroit’s head coach the Lions have improved their regular season record and this year there is hope in Motor City that the team can take the next step. Piloted by Jared Goff, the Lions offense featuring Amon-Ra St. Brown, DJ Clark, and T.J. Hockenson is one of the best in the league. Defensively the team added more firepower with potential Defensive Rookie of the Year Terrion Arnold joining a group that includes Aidan Hutchinson, Alex Anzalone, and Alim McNeill.

Los Angeles Rams - Dark Horse

At +3000 there isn’t a lot of optimism among sportsbooks for the Los Angeles Rams to make the trip to New Orleans on February 9th.

Yet, the young and hungry Rams surprised many in 2023 by winning 10 games after a dismal 5-12 record the year before. Had one call or one possession gone differently, the Lions could have very easily been on the winning side of a 24-23 result in the NFC Wild Card game.

With a talented, battle-tested core featuring Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, and Kyren Williams plus the growth of last year’s fifth-round draft steal, Puka Nacua, the Lions have a potent offensive unit. Sure, the defensive team will be void of all-world talent Aaron Donald, but this is a chance for youngsters Ernest Jones, Kobie Turner, and Byron Young are ready to step up and collectively help fill that void.