The NFL futures odds at BetOnline to win the AFC West Division title this season point to a changing of the guard in what should remain an exciting race all year long.
The recently updated NFL futures odds at BetOnline to win the AFC West this season could result in one of the tightest races on the board. Here is a quick look at all four teams along with the betting value in each one’s odds to win.
Los Angeles Chargers +150
The Chargers owned the AFC West back in the 2000’s with five division titles from 2004 right through 2009. After enduing back-to-back losing seasons with a combined nine wins in their final two years in San Diego, they made a serious run at the playoffs at 9-7 in their first season in Los Angeles.
Veteran quarterback Philip Rivers always gives this team a chance to win and the addition of four defensive players with the first four picks in the draft should add depth to a unit that was third in the league last season in points allowed (17.0). The Chargers also added tight end Virgil Green and offensive lineman Mike Pouncey as free agents to bolster the other side of the ball.
Kansas City Chiefs +250
The reigning AFC West Champs could take a step backwards this season after replacing veteran quarterback Alex Smith with second-year signal caller Patrick Mahones. The Chiefs had won this division the last two seasons behind double-digit victories in each campaign, but their projected win total for 2018 is eight games with the betting odds favoring the UNDER at -120.
Andy Reid is a veteran head coach that knows how to squeeze the most out of his team but switching over to Mahones comes with some risk that squeezes some value out of Kansas City’s odds to win a third-straight AFC West crown.
Oakland Raiders +300
The Raiders could be the most interesting team in this division race. After failing to post a winning record for 13-straight seasons going all the way back to 2003, they finished second in the AFC West in 2016 at 12-4. A slide to 6-10 last season cost head coach Jack Del Rio his job to open the door for the return of Jon Gruden to the NFL coaching ranks.
If Gruden can get Derek Carr playing at a high level right out of the gate and if the fifth-year quarterback can stay healthy for all 16 games, there is quite a bit of value in Oakland’s odds to get back to double-digit wins this season. Gruden will also have to work his magic with a defense that slipped to 23rd last season in the NFL in total yards allowed.
Denver Broncos +500
The Broncos are just three years removed from winning the Super Bowl, but they have moved in the wrong direction quickly with a 9-7 record in 2017 followed by just five wins last season. The retirement of Peyton Manning was one of the main reasons for the sudden slide as well as some losses in other personnel over the past few years. The fact that the offense averaged just 18.1 points per game in 2017 did not help the cause.
Denver still has quite a bit of talent on a defense that was ranked third in the league in yards allowed, but 24th in points allowed (23.9). If the Broncos can tighten things up on that side of the ball with the help of first round pick Bradley Chubb and quarterback Case Keenum can play to the level like he did last season in Minnesota, they have a shot at making a legitimate run at the AFC West title this season.
