NFL 2017-18 Season Betting Preview

New England Patriots

It isn’t completely unrealistic to think the Patriots can go 19-0 this season, especially after making some key acquisitions which could make this team even better than last season’s. Last year they went 14-2 and won the Super Bowl, so an undefeated season and more glory looks worth backing.

Seattle Seahawks

There has been a lot of hard work in the background during the offseason to improve the Seahawks’ offensive line and add much needed competition to the run game. DeShawn Shead is still sidelined with his ACL injury, and who gets the nod at cornerback opposite Richard Sherman remains undecided. But the Seahawks have high hopes for this season and have a great chance of achieving Super Bowl success.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Do the Steelers have what it takes to compete with the Patriots in the AFC? They face each other in a crucial Week 15 game at Heinz Field, and that fixture could determine who gets home-field advantage in the AFC playoffs. To even get to that point, the Steelers must make a better start than previous campaigns. They were 4-5 last year before rattling off ten consecutive wins to reach the AFC title game. In 2015, they started 4-4 and went 3-3 in 2014.

Green Bay Packers

The biggest question mark hanging over the Packers is whether they are defensively good enough to get all the way to the Super Bowl. They will rely heavily on several new pieces working out in the secondary, and the pass rush needs to be good enough to replace Julius Peppers and Datone Jones. They could be found wanting when it comes to the crunch.

Dallas Cowboys

Many experts are predicting a regression for quarterback Dak Prescott, after a brilliant season last term when winning Rookie of the Year. However, everything in his makeup suggests growth and he should enjoy a better season. Dallas are hoping that the class of 2017 can take them to glory, but question marks surround too many players to offer too much confidence.

Oakland Raiders

The Raiders face the same issue as the Pittsburgh Steelers – can they get past the Patriots in the AFC playoffs? Oakland does boast the offensive firepower to compete with both the Steelers and the Patriots, but defensively they look susceptible if they face either in the playoffs.

Atlanta Falcons

There is bound to be a lot of scrutiny of offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian, who has been brought in to replace Kyle Shanahan, a player whose offense last year was unbelievably good. He’ll be hard to replace, but if Sarkisian can keep the offense buzzing at the high level he has inherited, Atlanta could be an outside contender.

New York Giants

Do the Giants have the offensive line and running game to get close to the Super Bowl? Early indications suggest the Giants will have a similar team to 2016, but one positive is that tackles — Ereck Flowers and Bobby Hart — spent their offseason working on their game. Running back veteran Rashad Jennings has left and handed the reins to sophomore Paul Perkins. Although Perkins is more explosive, he is certainly lacking the experience of Jennings.

Carolina Panthers

The Panthers need to find a better way to protect their franchise quarterback, Cam Newton, who was consistently hit last year, with his game suffering as a consequence. It might also take some time for Newton to adjust to the quick-passing attack Mike Shula plans to roll out, so unless these factors can be sorted out quickly, the Panthers offense may struggle.

Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals are certainly a team in transition and, in David Johnson, they have the NFC’s most dynamic running back. Barring injury, he’s pretty much a dead certain for 2,000 yards from scrimmage. If the Cardinals can get enough from what looks to be an interesting mix of veterans and younger players, they could compete – but the NFC West looks a powerful one to get out of.