As legalized sports betting has expanded in the United States over the past few years, oddsmakers have been able to ramp up the number of offerings for bettors and put up existing markets faster than ever before.
Now, we can look at odds for all 17 regular season games for every NFL team months before things get underway. While these will change over the course of the season as oddsmakers adjust and factor in injuries, team strength and other factors, they can provide an interesting snapshot of how good or bad of a season we can expect.
We looked at the five teams favored the most this upcoming season, now let’s look at the other side of the coin. Here are the five teams favored in the fewest games for the 2023-24 NFL season at DraftKings Sportsbook:
Arizona Cardinals (0)
(Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
With Kyler Murray potentially coming back from an ACL tear (if he plays this season) and Kliff Kingsbury being fired — not to mention a lack of talent on the roster — there aren’t a lot of pundits expecting big things from the Arizona Cardinals this season. Oddsmakers have seen Colt McCoy enough on an NFL field.
They are owners of the NFL’s lowest preseason over/under at 4.5, and unfortunately hold the dubious distinction of also being the league’s only team not currently favored in at least one of its 17 games. Arizona is an underdog of at least 6.5 points in a league-high nine contests.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1)
(Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports)
My, how quickly things can change in the NFL. A team that won the Super Bowl in 2020 now has a win total of 6.5 and is favored in one solitary game (-1 vs. Panthers in Week 13). Baker Mayfield or Kyle Trask will start at QB, but that’s probably not going to matter much in their odds. It could be a long season in Tampa Bay.
Washington Commanders (2)
(AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)
With Sam Howell set to be the starting QB and a strong defense, it’s a little surprising the Commanders are only favored in two games this season. Playing in a tough NFC East and playing the AFC East out of division will do that. Difficult road games against the New York Jets and Denver Broncos don’t help, either.
Indianapolis Colts (3)
(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
The Colts made the move this week to start rookie first-round pick Anthony Richardson at QB … and it’s likely he’ll have some growing pains with Indianapolis’ schedule. The Colts are favored just once before their bye in Week 11 (-1 vs. Titans in Week 5).
New England Patriots (3)
(AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
We’re not used to seeing the Patriots on any list like this. But with the lowest win total (by three whole games) in the AFC East, oddsmakers aren’t expecting big things from New England. The Patriots are underdogs in six of their eight home games this season, something that would’ve been unthinkable in the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick era.
Houston Texans (3)
(AP Photo/David J. Phillip,File)
The Texans are exactly the kind of team we’d expect to be on this list. With a new potential franchise QB in first-rounder C.J. Stroud, at least Houston fans have some hope for the future. The Texans are underdogs in their final seven games.
