NFL 22/23 Definitive Season Preview: Betting, Teams To Watch & Tips
The Buffalo Bills have been installed as the $5.80 favourites to win Super Bowl LVII after signing star linebacker Von Miller in the offseason.
Miller delivered a string of superb performances to power the Los Angeles Rams to Super Bowl glory last season. The Bills hope he can repeat the feat in Western New York after handing the 33-year-old veteran a six-year contract worth $120 million.
They are built for immediate success, but they will face stern competition from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a revitalized Kansas City Chiefs, the Green Bay Packers, the Rams and various other elite teams. It promises to be an exciting season, and we have a wealth of NFL betting options to help punters dial up the fun.
When Does The NFL Season Start?
The NFL Kickoff Game will take place at 8.20pm ET on Thursday, 8 September. That means Australian gridiron fans will be able to watch it unfold at 10.20am AEST on Friday, September 9.
Miller will face an immediate reunion with his former teammates, as the Rams host the Bills at SoFi Stadium for the NFL Kickoff Game. The Rams opened as the slight favourites, but the Bills are now favoured by 2.5 points in this game.
American Football Conference 22/23 Preview
The Bills are the $4.30 favourites to win the AFC this season. They lost to the Chiefs in the divisional round last season, but they have made bold moves to bolster their roster since then. Miller is the star signing, but they have also snapped up Rodger Saffold, Tim Settle, DaQuon Jones, Kaiir Elam and James Cook, while Stefon Diggs agreed a $104 million contract extension.
QB Josh Allen has some terrific weapons at his disposal, so Buffalo will take some stopping this year. However, the Chiefs also look formidable. Their 42-36 victory over the Bills last season was widely viewed as one of the greatest modern day NFL playoff games. They went on to host the AFC Championship game for the fourth consecutive year, but they suffered a shock defeat to the Bengals. Star wide receiver Tyreek Hill has now left, but they have rebuilt the offence, and they will be confident in their ability to reach another Super Bowl.
The Denver Broncos are also in the mix after signing Russell Wilson, one of the greatest dual-threat quarterbacks in NFL history, from the Seahawks. The LA Chargers are expected to be strong, while the Ravens could be dangerous if they avoid the sort of injury crisis that befell them last year. Many analysts expect the Bengals to regress – the Super Bowl hangover is real – but they cannot be written off. It will also be interesting to see how a star-studded Cleveland Browns team perform after QB Deshaun Watson was suspended for 11 games.
National Football Conference 22/23 Preview
The big story in the NFC is the return of Tom Brady. The seven-time Super Bowl champion retired at the end of last season, but it lasted just 40 days. The odds on the Buccaneers winning the conference shortened dramatically after Brady reversed his retirement decision, and we now make them the $3.80 favourites to win the conference.
It will be interesting to see how the Rams get on without Miller. The defence has been gutted, and there have been some departures among the coaching staff, so Sean McVay has his work cut out in trying to defend the crown. They are in a ferociously competitive NFC West along with the 49ers and the Cardinals, and the Rams are by no means guaranteed to win the division.
Elsewhere, Aaron Rodgers will aim to win a third consecutive NFL MVP award. He lost his favourite offensive weapon in the offseason, as Davante Adams was traded away, so he could clinch the award again if he manages to put up similar numbers this time around.
What Are Most Exciting NFL Week 1 Games?
Buffalo Bills at Los Angeles Rams
The Super Bowl favourites will take on the reigning Super Bowl champions at SoFi Stadium in the NFL Kickoff Game. We have $1.89 on the Bills -2.5 and $1.91 on the Rams +2.5, while the Bills are the $1.70 favourites to win the game straight up. However, home teams are 16-4 straight up in the Kickoff Game since it started in 2002, so history is against the Bills.
Cleveland Browns at Carolina Panthers
QB Baker Mayfield will come up against his former team after moving from Cleveland to the Carolina Panthers in the offseason. His departure was acrimonious, and he will be keen to show the Browns what they are missing. Cleveland could struggle in Watson’s absence, and Mayfield will relish the chance to hand them a Week 1 defeat. We have $1.92 on the Panthers -2.5 and $1.88 on the Browns +2.5.
Kansas City Chiefs at Arizona Cardinals
The Chiefs brought in JuJu Smith-Schuster, Marques Valdez-Scantling and Skyy Moore in the wake of Hill’s departure. That gives Patrick Mahomes some very interesting targets, and the Chiefs could be formidable. They are $1.90 to cover a 3.5-point line against Arizona, who look unconvincing in defence.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Dallas Cowboys
Brady will head to Dallas for his first competitive game after reversing his retirement decision. He is now 45 years old, but he still looked sharp last season, and the Bucs have kept most of the supporting cast intact. This will be the start of a new era for the Cowboys, who traded Amari Cooper to Cleveland in the offseason. It is expected to be a tight game, with Tampa Bay favoured by just a single point in the handicap line.
Denver Broncos at Seattle Seahawks
Wilson returns to Seattle for his first game with his new team in Week 1. It will be interesting to see what sort of reception he receives from the fans at Lumen Field. The Broncos are the 6-point favourites for this game, and we have $1.90 on over 42 points and on under 42 points.
Who Are The Teams To Watch In NFL 22/23?
These are the top five teams to watch this season:
- Buffalo Bills | The Bills are the Super Bowl favourites after sharpening up their roster in the offseason, but can they end the Chiefs’ AFC dominance?
- Kansas City Chiefs | This is the first time since 2018 that the Chiefs are not the preseason favourites. They may have lost Hill, but Mahomes will have no trouble finding different wideouts.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers | The Bucs are the heavy favourites to win the NFC after Brady’s return. However, they have some injury problems right now, so it remains to be seen how they will fare in the early weeks of the season.
- Green Bay Packers | Rodgers will make the Packers competitive in every game, and a backfield of Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon looks formidable.
- Los Angeles Rams | Matthew Stafford quickly recovered from an elbow injury, and the Rams could repeat if he stays healthy.
Who Are The Players To Watch In NFL 22/23?
Bills QB Allen is the $7.50 favourite to win the NFL MVP award, ahead of Mahomes ($9.00), Brady ($9.50) and Rodgers ($11.00). Elite QBs including Justin Herbert, Joe Burrow, Wilson and Dak Prescott are also in the mix.
We make Deebo Samuel and Jonathan Taylor the $10.00 joint favourites for the Offensive Player of the Year award, narrowly ahead of Cooper Cup and Derrick Henry. Myles Garrett is the $7.75 favourite for Defensive Player of the Year, while he faces competition from T.J. Watt, Aaron Donald, Micah Parsons, Nick Bosa and Joey Bosa.
Henry is the $4.80 favourite for the Comeback Player of the Year award, with Jameis Winston, Christian McCaffrey and Mayfield also in the mix. Promising rookies include Kenny Pickett, Breece Hall and George Pickens. As for interesting players to keep an eye on, Ravens QB Lamar Jackson could return to his brilliant best and Broncos running back Javonte Williams is primed for a breakout season.
NFL Futures Betting
The Bills are the $5.80 favourites to win the Super Bowl, ahead of the Buccaneers at $8.00, the Chiefs at $9.50, the Packers at $11.00 and the Rams at $12.00. We also make Buffalo the $4.30 favourites for the AFC, while the Bucs are the $3.80 favourites for NFC glory.
You can bet on the winner of each division too. The NFC West will be interesting, with the Rams priced at $2.17, the 49ers at $2.81 and the Cardinals at $4.30 to win it. An interesting two-horse race could develop in the AFC East, where the Philadelphia Eagles are the $2.37 favourites, but they face tough competition from the $2.39 Cowboys.
We take bets on every team to make or miss the playoffs. You can also bet on which conference will yield the Super Bowl champion, over/under on the number of regular season wins each team will secure and a variety of player awards, plus Coach of the Year.
NFL Season 22/23 Betting Tips
Kansas City Chiefs to win the AFC West @ $2.50
The Chiefs have more than enough quality to win a seventh consecutive AFC West title this year.
AFC Conference to win the Super Bowl @ $1.74
The AFC appears stronger than the NFC this year, as the Chiefs and the Bills look like the top two teams in the league.
Kansas City Chiefs to win the Super Bowl @ $9.50
It could come down to another intense battle between the Chiefs and the Bills in the AFC. The Bills have strengthened, but Mahomes is phenomenal and he arguably has an even better receiving corps at his disposal this year, so the Chiefs should win the conference and secure another Super Bowl title.
Nick Chubb – Most Rushing Yards @ $11.00
The Browns will need to run the ball in Watson’s absence, and Chubb should have plenty of opportunities to rack up carries this season.
**Odds quoted are accurate at the time of writing but are subject to change
