2022 NFL Preview
2022 is here…year has flown by really. We are already 2 weeks into college football with games that have given me plenty of reasons why not to bet on college football.
Here’s the NFL Preview, we’ll go by division on my thoughts and plays n props I have made are in BOLD. First with the NFC…
NFC East:
I’m bullish on Philly this year; the picked up A.J. Brown at WR and rookie from Georgia DT Jordan Davis could be the next big thing on defense at that position. Their schedule also is super easy; they will probably be favored in their first 4 games. I have the Eagles OVER at 9.5 (-145). I can see them getting to as high as 12 games this year. Jalen Hurts sophomore slump is always a concern (along with issues getting off his first read) but that’s something we can exploit when the playoffs come around. Dallas will probably make the playoffs and lose in the first round because Mike McCarthy forgot time ran out or something. The Giants will be boring but probably get a little better by the end of the season with Daboll under the helm. I also took the Washington Commanders UNDER 8 (-125) because their name is terrible, their owner is terrible, and their QB is terrible (although if Wentz gets hurt if Sam Howell plays it could be in danger he looked good in preseason). Eagles and Cowboys both +150 to win division; sounds about right.
NFC North:
Boring division. Aaron Rodgers is bitching again, now about his WRs since DaVante is gone; you’d think he’d be more chill after a summer of tripping balls in the Peruvian desert. Minnesota will be the same as last year, including having the usual kicker woes because Vikings. Detroit will be slightly improved from last year; as we saw on Hard Knocks, Dan Campbell’s style of coaching is welcomed by players and they were one of the better teams’ ATS last year. The Lions issue is more at QB and depth at RB; Hutchinson on defense looks to be a stud however. I have Chicago’s UNDER at 6 (-125); I believe 6 wins is their ceiling: superstar LB Roquan Smith is not happy and will probably be traded, bad juju around them potentially leaving Soldiers Field, and Justin Fields at QB…he looks just meh. The Packers win this division, I guess… but if you are feeling froggy for a longshot Detroit at +1000 (Lou’s been talking about this one for years LOL).
NFL South:
Pat Darts’ likes Tampa’s under at 11.5 (+130) after Tom Brady “unretirement” stunt where he tried to retire under former HC Bruce Arians. The Buccaneers’ owners, the Glazers, flew Brady to the UK to hang out with Ronaldo at Manchester United to convince him to come back. As a result, Arians “retired” up to the front office and now Todd Bowles is coach. According to Brady’s new contract, he also had input in defensive game planning. Why not just make him the coach at this point? Now Brady is reportedly having issues at home with his wife AND he lost his starting center in training camp. Despite all this, they probably win at least 11 games and the division which is full of young, incomplete teams: Matt Rhule is the favorite to be the first coach to be fired; the Saints have Jameis at QB, and the Falcons are young and led by Marcus Mariota.
NFC West:
LA is super talented, they have a good coach, and they don’t care about the salary cap. They probably should not only win this division, but also the conference. San Francisco may have something to say about that; I have the 49ers to make the playoffs at -200 and they could meet LA again at SoFi in the playoffs like last year. Arizona could be the LOL team of the year; Kliff Kingsbury first to be fired is tasty at +1000 after the offseason they had. The Cardinals’ front office is so full of nepotism and failure they can’t even get re-signing their QB right (when he’s not on the tablet playing Hearthstone). Seattle, despite a good WR and RB group, maybe the WORST team in football. I am taking the Seahawks UNDER 5.5 (-115) because there is no way Drew Lock and Geno Smith combined (with a terrible OL) can win 5 games.
AFC
AFC East:
I have the Bills OVER at 11.5 (-115); I think they win at least 13 and try their darnest to get the AFC Championship game at Rich Stadium (I’m calling it that I don’t care what the new name is) this year. Them to win division at -240 isn’t a bad play either; week 1 BUF at LA Rams could be a Super Bowl preview. The Patriots offense looks bland but with Matt Patricia and Joe Judge involved, what would you expect? I just hope they don’t fuck up Mac Jones’ development; Pats’ saving grace is their defense and special teams. The Dolphins have made a ton of fun new offensive additions with Tyreek Hill and Chase Edmonds, with a Kyle Shanahan protégé as play caller, but their defense still isn’t good enough for me to say they can challenge for the division. Miami and the Patriots probably do dig it out for the 7th playoff spot. The Jets, as usual, suck.
AFC South:
I took the Colts to win the division at -130; they have an actual professional QB now in Matt Ryan with a top 3 running game in football and a fast, good tackling defense. The Titans will dig it out for the wild card spots; they lost a lot of players in Free Agency and if you’d watched the preseason, QB Malik Willis looked so good one should think he should start now over Ryan Tannehill; the Titans secondary still is blah however. Jaguars will slightly improve and I have Trevor Lawrence Passing Yards OVER 4000.5 -125 as he now has actual professional coaching. The Texans will dual it out with Seattle to be the shittiest team in the league.
AFC North:
Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati can all win this division; they can also all go 8-9 with injuries. Cleveland sucks and I think the DeShaun Watson move was a mistake but what do you expect from an owner whose company was involved in a fraud scandal.
AFC West:
What a fun division! All of these teams can make the playoffs, and 3/4 can also make the Super Bowl (minus Denver; they project to be a Wild Card contending team). The Raiders have an awesome receiving group; the question is Derek Carr under McDaniels. I have Chargers UNDER 10.5 -115 for small amount as folks are a little TOO high on them, the coach goes for it on 4th down like it’s a Madden exhibition game, and their special teams’ is still Chargery.
