It’s the NFL Season’s midpoint, which means it’s time for us to consider future bets on which teams take competitive divisions, which teams look best to win the conference titles and which squad we believe wins Super Bowl 56. Check out some of the boldest midseason predictions you’re likely to find so you can get all set to bet against the NFL odds.
NFL Betting Analysis | Mid-Season Predictions
2021 NFL Season
- When: Sep. 9, 2021 – Jan. 9, 2022
The Raiders continue to win and take the AFC West
Right now, the Las Vegas Raiders are in first place. The Raiders are a game ahead of the Los Angeles Chargers. In most seasons, we’d expect the Raiders to fold and give it up to the Kansas City Chiefs, the Bolts, or even the Denver Broncos.
Not this season. After eight weeks it’s apparent that Las Vegas is the best team in the division. So even though Henry Ruggs may not play another down this season, Vegas should continue to play well enough to take the West.
Cincinnati wins the AFC North
Losing to the Jets was a bad look. Still, the Bengals dusted the Baltimore Ravens the week before.
Cleveland has become a bad football team. Also, Pittsburgh, although they’ve played well, hasn’t shown they’ve got an offense that can hang with Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Joe Mixon.
Cincinnati’s defense proved against Lamar Jackson and the Ravens that it can shut down a top offensive team. The Bengals require more consistency. Look for that consistency to happen in the second half.
New Orleans sweeps Tampa Bay and wins the NFC South
Nobody believed the Saints were going to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 7. Then, after Jameis Winston went down to a season-ending injury, most turned their televisions off.
The thing about the 2021 New Orleans Saints, though, is that they lean on a strong rushing attack and a great defense. New Orleans ranks thirty-first in passing yards per game by design.
The Saints are better on defense than the Bucs. The rushing attack is much better than Tampa’s and Tom Brady showed he has trouble with Saints’ defensive coordinator Dennis Allen’s schemes. New Orleans beat the Bucs in the rematch and wins the NFC South.
Dallas wins the NFC
At the midpoint, one team in the NFC is above the rest. The 1-loss Dallas Cowboys have shown they can win with a backup quarterback, Cooper Rush, on the road versus a tough AFC team, the overtime victory versus the Patriots, and leaning on their defense, holding the Chargers to 17 points and the Vikings to 16.
The Cowboys are 7-0 against the spread. They’d be 6-1 straight up if not for a couple of unlucky bounces in their opening night 2-point loss to the Buccaneers. Dallas is the class of the NFC and will win the conference.
Buffalo wins the AFC
The Buffalo Bills are the dominant team in the AFC. Even though the Bills have lost twice this season, to Pittsburgh in Week 1 and to the Titans a few weeks ago, Buffalo remains the overall best team.
How good are the Bills? Buffalo ranks first in the two most important football categories, points per game and points allowed per game. Opponents average less than 17 points per versus Buffalo. The Bills score close to 33 points each game.
The difference between what the Bills allow and what the Bills average is 16. Josh Allen is the most unique quarterback in the league. He’s close to unstoppable. So even though the Titans, Ravens, Patriots and Bengals have played well, Buffalo wins the AFC.
Dallas beats Buffalo in Super Bowl 56
Buffalo and Dallas battled in a couple of Super Bowls in the 1990s that the Boys won. Bills fans will be excited for a rematch, but it won’t matter.
As awesome as Buffalo is, the Dallas Cowboys are destined for Super Bowl rings. The Cowboys defense has gotten better with every game. Not only that, but Dallas rookie linebacker Micah Parsons is fast enough to get to Allen before he can find a crease in the defense.
You heard it here first. The Dallas Cowboys will beat the Buffalo Bills 38-35 in Super Bowl 56.