As the most popular pro sport in America, the NFL makes headlines 365 days a year. For the first time since 1978, when the slate went from 14 to 16 games, the NFL lengthened the regular season again this year. The 2021 NFL schedule was released on May 12 and all 32 teams will play 17 games over an 18-week season. That means NFL fans get an added week of NFL betting and fantasy football action. It also affects win total bets.
Week 1 opens with Dallas visiting defending NFL champion Tampa Bay on September 9. The week ends with Las Vegas hosting Baltimore in the Monday Night Football fight. Regular season action concludes with Seattle visiting Arizona on Jan. 9, 2022. Wild Card Weekend, Divisional Round playoffs, and Conference Championship Sunday follow. The season ends with Super Bowl LVI on Feb. 13, 2022, at SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, Cali.
AFC West Division Futures Odds
Looking like the mighty Secretariat during his 1973 Belmont Stakes Triple Crown clinching romp, Kansas City (14–2) was the class of the AFC West last season. The Chiefs won the regular-season division title for a fifth straight year; the longest active streak of any division winner. Following a 6–3 start, during their inaugural season in Las Vegas, the Raiders finished second with an 8–8 record. Despite a solid season, by 2020 NFL Rookie of the Year QB Justin Herbert, Los Angeles (7–9) was third. Struggling on both sides of the ball, Denver (5–11) finished fourth.
Preseason betting options are being offered at several popular USA based sportsbooks. AFC West Division title odds, plus team win totals, are posted on the NFL futures board at FanDuel. While the odds and prices are subject to change, unless there is a serious injury, or a stud player changes teams, the moves will be subtle. Will the Chiefs make it six straight division championships? Will Herbert avoid a sophomore slump? Is Drew Lock or Teddy Bridgewater the answer at QB for Denver? Will the Raiders claim their first division title since 2002? Let's discuss!
Kansas City has been on a quite a roll posting a 60–20 record over the last five years. Los Angeles is a distant second as the Chargers are 38–42 since the 2016 season. After playoff wins against Cleveland (22–17) and Buffalo (38–24), Kansas City fell short of a NFL Championship repeat as they lost 31–9 to Tampa Bay during Super Bowl LV. Falling well off the pace early, after a 2–7 start, the Chargers closed the season with four straight wins. If Herbert maintains his form, and the defense improves, the Chargers are set up to challenge the Chiefs for the division title.
Denver showed flashes of life early, as they opened the season with a 3–4 record. Struggling on both sides of the ball after that, the Broncos were eliminated from the playoffs following a 48–19 loss at home against Buffalo in Week 15. Seemingly in a perpetual rebuilding mode, Las Vegas looked like they might challenge for a playoff spot last year. Following a 6–3 start, the wheels fell off as the Raiders went 2–5 and were outscored 237–179 during their final seven games. Setting up a possible hedge bet, later in the season, I am taking the generous Chargers moneyline price.
AFC West Champion Prediction: Los Angeles Chargers (+500)
