One of the popular NFL futures markets at online bookies is whether or not a team will make the playoffs. It couldn’t be any simpler. You simply bet “Yes” or “No”.
If you don’t know, the NFL approved playoff expansion for the upcoming 2020 season. There will be 14 teams that qualify for the NFL playoffs instead of 12 (one more team from the AFC and NFC).
With an extra team qualifying as a wild card in each conference, there’s definitely some value in this futures market. I have isolated three teams paying plus money that I’m betting on to make the playoffs.
At the end of the article, you can see the odds for every team.
If this new format was in used in 2019, the Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8) and Los Angeles Rams (9-7) would have been the two teams that would have earned the third wild card in their respective conference.
We could see a .500 team in the 2020 NFL playoffs.
Teams To Bet To Make the NFL Playoffs
Bet on the Denver Broncos to Make the 2020 NFL Playoffs
Denver Broncos Odds: Yes (+175) vs. No (-225) at America’s Bookie
You’re going to get the best price on this bet at America’s Bookie currently.
The Denver Broncos are going all-in on Drew Lock this season. Lock became the starting QB in week 13 last season, and he posted a 4-1 record. The loss was against the Chiefs (23-3). His best game was in week 14 when he threw for 309 yards, 3 TDs and 1 INT against the Texans in a 38-24 win.
They drafted WRs Jerry Jeudy (Pick #15) and KJ Hamler (Pick #46), who is a speedster. They’ll both be mentored by Courtland Sutton, who is coming off a big season (1112 receiving yards and 6 TDs).
Adding Melvin Gordon to the backfield is a good move too. Phillip Lindsay rushed for 1011 yards (7 TDs) in 2019. Last year’s 28th ranked scoring offense (17.6 PPG) should be much better.
The defense loses some pieces, but should still be a top 10 unit. In 2019, the Broncos only allowed 19.8 PPG (8th). Denver won’t compete with the Chiefs for the AFC West title in 2020, but I expect them to finish 2nd again, but with 9 or 10 wins, which would get them into the playoffs.
Bet on the Atlanta Falcons to Make the 2020 NFL Playoffs
Atlanta Falcons Odds: Yes (+220) vs. No (-260) at BetOnline
I’m high on the Falcons in 2020.
I discussed in a previous article that I bet on the Falcons to win over 7.5 games (-120) this season, you can read the details in my article Post NFL Draft Team Win Total Best Bets. Despite having one of the toughest strength of schedules in 2020, the Falcons are going to prove everyone wrong this year by making the playoffs.
Atlanta had a historically bad start to the 2019-20 season. They went 1-7 before their week 9 bye and they allowed an average of 31.3 PPG in those games. In the second-half of the season, the Falcons went 6-2, but more importantly, the defense only allowed an average of 18.6 PPG in those games.
After the bye week, Dan Quinn stopped calling the defensive plays. Raheem Morris and Jeff Ulbrich took over play calling duties on defense. Morris was promoted this off-season to defensive coordinator and I expect him to have a big impact on improving the Falcons defense.
If Todd Gurley can find his form again, the Falcons could contend for the Super Bowl. This team has had to focus on a pass-heavy offense, but being able to mix it up some more would be ideal.
Bet on the Houston Texans to Make the 2020 NFL Playoffs
Houston Texans Odds: Yes (+150) vs. No (-190) at America’s Bookie
In my last NFL article here at SAS, I made some early NFL Week 1 predictions and I picked the Chiefs to cover ATS against the Houston. I also said the Texans made some head-scratching moves during the off-season, which while true, doesn’t mean the Texans won’t be able to make the playoffs in 2020.
The Texans won the AFC South last season with a 10-6 record. They could regress a bit and still end up making the playoffs, especially now that an extra team will make it out of the AFC.
I still dislike the DeAndre Hopkins trade, but the Texans offense isn’t in terrible shape.
They hopefully have a healthy David Johnson at RB. Duke Johnson will work out of the backfield on passing downs. They also added WRs Brandin Cooks and Randall Cobb. One thing the Texans will be able to do is stretch the field on offense. They have plenty of speedsters on the roster.
Deshaun Watson is going to need to have an MVP-like season, but he’s more than capable.
The AFC South is weak as well. I don’t think the Titans are going to be great in 2020 and the Colts are going to be bad. The Texans will be able to pick up some easy wins in the division.
Team Odds to Make the NFL Playoffs in 2020
Here are the odds for every team to make the 2020 NFL playoffs from America’s Bookie:
Arizona Cardinals: Yes (+230) vs. No (-300)
Atlanta Falcons: Yes (+200) vs. No (-250)
Baltimore Ravens: Yes (-1000) vs. No (+600)
Buffalo Bills: Yes (-190) vs. No (+150)
Carolina Panthers: Yes (+425) vs. No (-600)
Chicago Bears: Yes (+140) vs. No (-170)
Cincinnati Bengals: Yes (+525) vs. No (-800)
Cleveland Browns: Yes (+120) vs. No (-150)
Dallas Cowboys: Yes (-250) vs. No (+200)
Denver Broncos: Yes (+175) vs. No (-225)
Detroit Lions: Yes (+300) vs. No (-400)
Green Bay Packers: Yes (-140) vs. No (+110)
Houston Texans: Yes (+150) vs. No (-190)
Indianapolis Colts: Yes (-190) vs. No (+150)
Jacksonville Jaguars: Yes (+800) vs. No (-1800)
Kansas City Chiefs: Yes (-1100) vs. No (+650)
Los Angeles Chargers: Yes (+165) vs. No (-205)
Los Angeles Rams: Yes (+150) vs. No (-190)
Miami Dolphins: Yes (+425) vs. No (-600)
Minnesota Vikings: Yes (-130) vs. No (+100)
New England Patriots: Yes (-175) vs. No (+145)
New Orleans Saints: Yes (-340) vs. No (+260)
New York Giants: Yes (+350) vs. No (-475)
New York Jets: Yes (+315) vs. No (-425)
Las Vegas Raiders: Yes (+220) vs. No (-285)
Philadelphia Eagles: Yes (-200) vs. No (+160)
Pittsburgh Steelers: Yes (-150) vs. No (+120)
San Francisco 49ers: Yes (-320) vs. No (+240)
Seattle Seahawks: Yes (-125) vs. No (-105)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Yes (-205) vs. No (+165)
Tennessee Titans: Yes (-130) vs. No (+100)
Washington Redskins: Yes (+625) vs. No (-1000)
