A look at NFL futures: NFC South and West

The final installment of looking at the futures for the NFL and the 2020 schedule.  Today we wrap it up with the NFC South and West, plus a look at Division, Conference and Super Bowl futures.

NFC South:  It's Brees vs. Brady Division!

New Orleans Saints - Over 10.5
Can Brees keep it going?  Not a lot of weakness with this team.  Schedule doesn't present too many issues.  There is a 3 game road trip as they travel to an improved Denver team, to Atlanta and then to Philly.  Getting KC and Vikings at home towards end of season helps.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Under 9.5
This over/under going to be real close.  I see a 9-7 season, but could move to 10-6.  All depends if Brady is a big difference maker.  Somewhat of a tough stretch between Week 9-14, with games vs Saints then at Carolina, but then 4 home games against Rams, KC and Vikings.  Finish with Atlanta, Detroit, Atlanta, not bad.

Atlanta Falcons - Under 7.5
After the bye week it gets interesting.  They play Saints twice in three weeks with Raiders in between, then Buccaneers twice in three days with the world champ Chiefs in between.  After all that a road trip to play the Chargers.

Carolina Panthers - Over 5.5
I think they can get to at least 6 wins if not 7.  Get a little break in weeks 4-6 with games against Cardinals, Falcons and Bears (oh my!) before going to New Orleans.  They have some tough road games however with trips to Green Bay, Kansas City and Minnesota.

NFC West:  Clearly the toughest division in the NFL

San Francisco 49ers - Over 10.5
They could open up 7-0 with 3 straight home games against Eagles, Dolphins and Rams.  They do have a back to back New York games against Jets and Giants.  After those first 7 games the heat does turn up with road games against Patriots, Seahawks and Saints plus Green Bay at home.

Seattle Seahawks - Over 9.5
After the bye week it gets a little dicey as they travel to Arizona, then home against 49ers and Bills, and road against Rams.  Back home against Cards then fly to Philadelphia.  Get through that batch with 5 wins and they could be front runner for division.

Los Angels Rams - Over 8.5
I am enjoying that most media is down on Rams, although they will still likely finish third in this division.  Tough first 3 games; Dallas, at Philly, at Bills.  Over may be decided right here.  Nice to get 3 out of final 4 games at home and all winnable; Pats, Jets, Cards.

"pssst...people don't think we will be any good..."

Arizona Cardinals - Over 7
Lots of road and home streaks.  After opening on the road vs. 49ers its home for 2 in a row against Lions and Redskins then 3 road games against Panthers, Jets, Cowboys, then 3 more at home against Seattle, Minnesota and Buffalo.

Where Kliff will be watching the playoffs...

The NFC West was the only division that had every team on the over.

Here are my division, conference and Super Bowl futures picks: (odds via DraftKings)

AFC East:  Patriots +125 (Patriots edge out Bills)
AFC North: Ravens -200 (no way they don't)
AFC South:  Texans +350 (Titans probably win it but at +350 why not take Texans)
AFC West:  Chiefs -400 (wouldn't even bet this with that juice)

NFC East:  Cowboys +100 (Might be easy money)
NFC North:  Vikings +165 (close between Vikes and Pack, so not worth the bet)
NFC South:  Saints -110 (Will be fun to see Brees vs. Brady twice)
NFC West:  Seahawks +225 (might be my favorite bet on the board)

AFC Conference:  Ravens +333 (Dark horse: Chargers at +2000)
NFC Conference:  Saints +650 (two others I like are Seattle +1100 and Cowboys +900. Dark horse: Rams +1600, I mean why not)

Super Bowl:  Saints +1300 (Story book ending for Brees) 

All predictions subject to change come August....

A look at NFL futures: NFC East and North

We move onto the NFC and take a look at the East and North futures and schedules for the 2020 season.

NFC East - The Boys might be poised for a run..

Dallas Cowboys - Over 9.5
The Cowboys get a 3 "easy" home game stretch against Browns, Giants and Cards.  Back to back games against 49ers and Eagles Week 15 and 16 are both at home.

Philadelphia Eagles - Under 9.5
They have a much tougher schedule than the Cowboys.  After a fairly easy start to the season, Week 4 they travel to San Francisco then to Pittsburgh and then get Ravens at home.  Week 12-14 no picnic either with games against Seattle, Packers and Saints.

New York Giants - Under 6.5
Tough to find 7 wins in their schedule.  Can they split with Eagles and Cowboys?  And then beat the Cardinals and Browns at home?  Not even sure that will give them enough.

Washington Redskins - Under 5.5
Will they get swept in their division?  Brutal end to the schedule too starting on Thanksgiving in Dallas.  This is followed by trips to Pittsburgh and San Francisco, back home to face Seahawks and Panthers and then wrap up the season at Philadelphia.  Ouch.

NFC North - Vikings could be King in the North!

Minnesota Vikings - Over 9
This could be close at 10-6 or a push at 9-7.  Second half of the season they get Bears and Lions twice plus home games vs Panthers and the Jags.  Cowboys at home and trip to New Orleans are marquee non division games late in the season.

He has no chin! Where is his chin?  I don't see it!

Green Bay Packers - Over 9
I see this landing right at 9 wins.  So stay away.  Gets interesting right out of the bye as they play at Tampa Bay, at Houston, home game against rival Vikings then at 49ers. 

Detroit Lions - Under 6.5
See this landing at 6-10.  Final 7 games of season no joke:  Houston, at Chicago, Green Bay, at Tennessee, then home games against Buccaneers and Vikings.  With those games at home, maybe they push it over.

Chicago Bears - Under 8.5
No way they win more than 8 games.  Pretty tough 4 game stretch in the middle of the schedule playing at Ravens, Saints, at Titans then Vikings before the bye.  Will it be the  Chinless Fuck or Bitch Trubisky?

A look at NFL Futures: AFC South and AFC West

Let's finish off the AFC with looking at the South and the West...

AFC South: Texans could have their hands full 

Houston Texans - Over 8
Lots of people are down on the Texans this year.  With Watson I am not.  I think they will get to at least 9-7.  It will depend on how they come out of the gate.  First four games are at Chiefs, Ravens, at Steelers and the Vikings.  Facing Jaguars twice and having the Browns and Bengals on the schedule doesn't hurt.

Tennessee Titans - Over 8.5
People, don't forget how they finished the season.  Strong playoff run.  They get 3 home games before the bye (albeit one is against Texans) then after the bye get Bengals and Bears.  Tough final 2 road games against Packers and Texans though.

Indianapolis Colts - Under 8.5
I always liked Rivers, but not sure how much he has left in tank.  He always looks like it takes an extraordinary amount of energy for him to throw the ball.  And how is this for late season schedule Week 13-16: At Texans, At Raiders, Texans AGAIN, followed by a trip to Pittsburgh.

Jacksonville Jaguars - Under 4.5
Is it Tank for Trevor?  That's what I am hearing.  But even if they are not, where are their 5 wins going to come from?  Colts? Dolphins? Bengals and Bears?  That's only 4.  Maybe Browns.  Doubt it.

AFC West: Its still Chiefs' Kingdom, but the gap is closing ever so slightly

Kansas City Chiefs - Over 11.5
I would take the over, but it won't be by much.  They have some challenging and interesting back to back road games:  Week 2-3 Chargers/Raiders.  Week 6-7 Bills/Broncos.  Week 11-12 Raiders to Tampa Bay.

Los Angeles Chargers - Over 7.5
I think this team is going to surprise some teams this year.  They do have a tough back to back road trip against Buccaneers and Saints.  Final three games are against divisional rivals which could have a lot of playoff implications.

Denver Broncos - Under 7.5
I know people seem to be high on the Broncos, but I can't see them winning 8 games.  Tough NFC games vs. Saints and Bucs.  I can't even get them to 8 wins with a possible upset against the Chiefs!

Las Vegas Raiders - Under 7.5
Same thing here.  I am not finding the wins to get them to 8.  I want to.  I may become a closet Raider fan now that they are in Las Vegas.  Week 9-11 3 straight divisional games but I do like that they have 3 home games late in Week 14-16.  Wonder if teams will get the Vegas flu like they do in the NHL when they come to play the Golden Knights...

Next post we will dive into the NFC...

A look at NFL Futures: AFC East and AFC North

During this extraordinarily boring not sports time I thought I would take a dive into the future win totals and NFL schedules for the upcoming 2020 season.  Today we will look at half of the AFC, the East and the North.  Plus it gives me an excuse to post pictures of cheerleaders...

AFC East:  One Mediocre Mess

Now that Brady has moved on, it will be interesting if Belichick is what drove the Patriots Machine or was it Brady...

Buffalo Bills - Under 9

They might hit it right at 9-7 but if I was to bet I would take the under.  They have a tough middle of the season with road games against Raiders and Tennessee then home against the Chiefs, then two division rivals Jets and Patriots followed by Russell Wilson and the Seahawks.  

New England Patriots - Under 9

Well I guess by saying under 9 I am saying Brady was responsible for the Patriot Machine.  Lots of travel early in the schedule; home game then to Seattle, then back home and then to KC.  After the bye is brutal:  49ers, at Bills, at Jets, Baltimore and Houston.  Ouch.

New York Jets - Over 6.5

I surprised myself with going with the over with the Jets.  I am not sold on "I'm seeing Ghost" Darnold but they seem to have a favorable schedule.  Toughest spot is really a west coast swing where they have back to back games at Seattle and at the Rams. 

Miami Dolphins - O/U 6 leaning over

6 wins seems to be the spot.  They have a tough early stretch starting in Week 4 as they play Seahawks then road games against 49ers and Broncos.  3 road games in December doesn't help either. 

AFC North: Ravens perched high above the rest

It will take a minor miracle or major injury for any team other than the Ravens to win this division.  

Baltimore Ravens: Over 11.5

I can't see them losing more than 2-3 games all season.  Last 4 games are Browns, Jaguars, Giants and Bengals!  Laughable. 

Pittsburgh Steelers: O/U 9 leaning under

9-7 sounds about right, but if I had to go one way or the other I probably would lean to the under.  They have a good chance to get out of the gate fast with 4 home games in their first 6.  This could be key to going over the 9.  A bye between two road games against Ravens and Cowboys helps too.  

Cleveland Browns: Under 8.5

8-8 season for the Browns as they continue to improve each year.  The end of the season will be a challenge for them as they have 4 road games out of last 6 which includes a New York road trip to face Jets and Giants which is smack dab in between games against Ravens and Steelers.  

Cincinnati Bengals: Under 5

I'm sorry Bengals but the NFL did not do Burrow any favors with this schedule.  Just look at the last 5 games:  Road against Dolphins but then they play Cowboys, Steelers, Texans and Ravens.  Blood bath.

Next post we will look at the AFC South and West...