Most NFL team props revolve around an offensive’s performance during the regular season, but this time around I have focused my attention on a pair of defensive props for all 32 team’s projected sacks and interceptions this year. The following are my top three plays based on BetOnline’s, team prop betting odds.
The defending Super Champion Broncos’ projected sack total for the 2016 regular season is set at 49.5 with the betting odds favoring the OVER at -125, The moneyline on the UNDER is listed at -105.
Denver led the league in sacks last season with 52 and a big part of that total was linebacker Von Miller’s 11 sacks. DeMarcus Ware was second on the team with 7.5 and defensive tackle Malik Jackson was a big part of the mix with five.
The Broncos avoided a holdout by Miller by awarding him with a fat new contract, which right off the bat makes me concerned about a drop-off in production this year. Ware is entering his 12th season in the league and already hampered with injuries in the preseason and Jackson decided to sign with Jacksonville as a free agent. All of this points to a play on the UNDER in this prop on a defense that figures to be on the field much more this season given the quarterback situation in Denver.
The Eagles were one of the top teams in the NFL in sacks in 2014 with 49, but that total dropped off quite a bit to 37 last season. Philadelphia’s projected number of sacks in 2016 has been set even lower at 32.5 with a moneyline of -115 for both the OVER and the UNDER.
When Chip Kelly was the head coach in Philly he was never really concerned with time of possession on offense, which in turn left his defense on the field for most of the game. A change at the top brought in Doug Pederson as the team’s new head coach and one of his first moves was to hire Jim Schwartz as his defensive coordinator.
There are some solid pieces in place when it comes to the Eagles’ front seven including Fletcher Cox and Connor Barwin, who combined for 16.5 sacks last year. Another plus is that you can expect Schwartz to instill a much more aggressive style of play this year that focuses on getting after the quarterback. This defense was ranked near the bottom of the league in almost every major category in 2015 so it really has nowhere to go but up. It all adds up to some pretty good value for a play on the OVER in this prop.
Last season, the Jaguars were tied for 26th in the NFL in interceptions with nine and their defense as a whole was ranked 28th in passing yards allowed. The projected number of interceptions for this squad heading into the 2016 season is set at 12.5 with the moneyline favoring the OVER at -140. The betting odds on the UNDER for this prop are +110.
Jacksonville is one of the up and coming teams in the NFL given all of the talent they have able add through high draft picks over the past few years. With rising stars like quarterback Blake Bortles, wide receiver Allen Robinson and running back TJ Yeldon anchoring the offense, head coach Gus Bradley turned his attention to the draft and free agency to address some pressing needs on defense.
Along with getting Jackson from Denver to help the front seven, the Jaguars used the fifth overall pick in this year’s draft to select cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Ramsey alone could add two or three picks to last season’s total and the addition of cornerback Prince Amukamara as a free agent from the New York Giants is another big step to turning this entire defense around. There is some risk with a play on the -140 moneyline for the OVER in this prop, but not enough to keep me from going that way.
