Media by Associated Press – Buffalo Bills tight end O.J. Howard runs on the field during the second half of a preseason NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts in Orchard Park, N.Y., Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
With the NFL preseason underway and the regular season less than a month away, it is time to look at season-long bets. Every team has an over/under on regular season win totals and when looking at the lines, keep in mind that the NFL expanded to a 17-game regular season model last year. Let’s take a look at the five teams most likely to hit their over win totals in no particular order.
Bills Over 11.5
The defending AFC East champion Buffalo Bills are -140 to win more than 11.5 games in 2022. Quarterback Josh Allen is the top MVP leader heading into the season, and he has a new offensive coordinator in Ken Dorsey. Buffalo added weapons for Allen as well with wideout Jamison Crowder, tight end O.J. Howard and rookie running back James Cook.
The Bills also improved their defense with All-Pro linebacker Von Miller and first-round pick cornerback Kaiir Elam. Allen has Stefon Diggs, Gabriel Davis, and Dawson Knox as weapons, and the addition of Cook should take the pressure off Allen to run as much as he did last season.
Buffalo won 11 games last year and while they will still have a target on their back, playing in the AFC East and against the NFC North helps them get to at least 12 wins in 2022.
Bengals Over 10
Underestimate the defending AFC champions and Joey B at your own peril. Just one play away from winning it all last February, the Bengals are +100 to win more than ten games in 2022. Yes, the Super Bowl runner-up curse is a thing, but playing in the AFC North helps the Bengals hit this total in 2022.
They improved the offensive line this year with three new players after watching Burrow get sacked 51 times last year. If he has even more time in the pocket to find Ja-Marr Chase and Tee Higgins in 2022, then the young quarterback is a legit MVP candidate and should rack up yards and touchdowns.
Buccaneers Over 11.5
It is a unique situation to get Tom Brady with plus odds, but the Buccaneers are +110 to go over 11.5 wins. Last year they won 12 games, and the argument can be made that they are even better this year. Plus, the NFC South isn’t good as a division with Sean Payton gone from New Orleans, Matt Ryan out of Atlanta, and Carolina remains a mess.
Yes, they lost future Hall of Famer Rob Gronkowski at tight end, and head coach Bruce Arians stepped down. However, with Todd Bowles sliding in and Byron Leftwich staying on as offensive coordinator, the Bucs will have a very seamless transition.
The offense gets Chris Godwin back healthy and added both veteran tight end Kyle Rudolph and wideout Julio Jones. The defense is good, borderline great and betting on Brady is an easy call.
Eagles Over 9.5
The Philadelphia Eagles are -150 to win more than 9.5 games this season in the second year under head coach Nick Sirianni. Last year they were 9-8 despite injuries to the offensive line, quarterback Jalen Hurts, and running back Miles Sanders. Hurts and tight end Dallas Goedert missed two games last year, and Sanders missed five.
With those three back, plus wideout DeVonta Smith, ready to take the second-year lead, the Eagles’ offense should be more productive in 2022. The offensive line is solid when healthy, and the defense is improved. With Washington and New York rebuilding, the Eagles have the second-easiest strength of schedule in the NFL and should get to double-digit wins as they compete in the NFC East.
Ravens Over 9.5
The Baltimore Ravens had a nightmare training camp and preseason last year, with virtually every running back they planned on using in the season getting hurt. J.k Dobbins and Gus Edwards both missed the 2021 season and are back for 2022. Meanwhile, Lamar Jackson missed five games last year, and the Ravens were 7-5 with the former MVP and 1-4 without him.
They should be healthy, at least to start the season. Add in the turmoil in Cleveland, a new quarterback in Pittsburgh, and the Ravens look to contend for the AFC North title with the Cincinnati Bengals. They improved the offensive line in the draft and got deeper at wide receiver, despite trading deep threat Hollywood Brown.
The Ravens’ defense under John Harbaugh is always good. If they can avoid the big injuries, winning ten games should be a lock for the Ravens. The over 9.5 wins is -160 and, while juicy, is a solid bet for this veteran squad and coaching staff.
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