The Best Early Season Prop Bets for NFL 2019
The clock is now ticking down until the start of the 2019 NFL regular season. With around two months remaining until the preseason talk and training is out of the way and the real action commences, it’s a good time for NFL fans to consider their options when it comes to preseason prop bets. The leading online sportsbooks have weighed up the odds in the NFL already, with many publishing their early season prop bets and handicaps for teams to try and defy.
Unfortunately, the impending arrival of FOX Bet, a new sports betting service provided by FOX Sports, won’t be up and running until the season is well and truly underway this fall. So, you’ll have to look elsewhere for 2019–20 prop bets. But there are plenty of sportsbooks that have already published projected win totals for each team as well as their chances of Super Bowl success. If you like placing a few preseason wagers to monitor throughout the regular season, let’s take a closer look at some of the early season prop bets that look to offer the best value.
Detroit Lions to Win Less Than 7 Games
It was yet another season to forget for Lions fans in 2018–19. Their team only managed six wins and limped their way over the regular season finish line. Admittedly, their roster had a whole host of injuries last term, but the Detroit Lions’ biggest issue is that they play in arguably the toughest division for the skill set. The Lions were 25th out of all NFL teams in points scored per game, scoring 30 points once in their last 11 games. Given that the Lions will face half a dozen teams with winning records as well as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Green Bay Packers who are much changed from last season, it looks a tall order for them to win seven or more games.
The Contenders to go 16-0 in 2019
Can any of the teams achieve the perfect season and reach the Super Bowl with a 100 percent record, realistically? The New England Patriots are the only side to have achieved this in the modern-day NFL back in 2007, at the peak of quarterback Tom Brady’s powers. There are a few teams that could potentially build on successful 2018–19 campaigns and go unbeaten in 2019. The Kansas City Chiefs enjoyed a tremendous 12–4 campaign thanks largely to quarterback MVP Patrick Mahomes. If Mahomes continues to develop — recently saying he could throw 100 yards — he could help the Chiefs become an unstoppable force. Spare a thought for the New Orleans Saints and the Los Angeles Rams, too, who recorded even better-winning records than the Chiefs in 2018–19, with 13–3 records.
Seattle Seahawks to Register a Double-Digit Year
The resurgent Seattle Seahawks look likely to have a promising 2019–20 NFL regular season, founded upon their much-improved home form. In 2018, the Seahawks registered a 6–2 home record, and if they can maintain or even improve upon this, they should comfortably make it to 10 wins in the season. The form of quarterback Russell Wilson will once again be pivotal to helping the Seahawks pick up wins on the road too, while Mike Iaputi’s recent arrival should also help to sharpen up the Seahawks’ offensive line. Home and away wins against the San Francisco 49ers and St. Louis Cardinals are almost a given this year, so it’s against the likes of the Cincinnati Bengals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers where they’ll need to hit the mark to reach double digits.
Chicago Bears to Also Land 10 Wins or More
Last but by no means least, keep your eyes peeled for any preseason prop bets made available on the Chicago Bears. Although tipping the Bears for a double-digit season might seem a big call given their first-place schedule versus NFC teams, their solid defense will take them a long way in 2019–20. Last season, they finished top of the pile in points conceded per game and were also number one for interceptions. They will, however, have to sharpen up their offense if they are to spring a surprise and challenge for a Super Bowl place.
It will be quite interesting to see how the preseason games pan out and which teams make sizeable cuts to their roster ahead of the regular season. But if you had to pick one of the above prop bets, then it would have to be the demise of the Lions.
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