2022 NFL Betting Preview: Best Bets To Win Each Division

The NFL regular season is still a few months away but there are plenty of futures bets available, from MVP to Super Bowl champion to Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year.

The sportsbooks have also released odds to win each division. Some have clear favorites while others are expected to be heavyweight battles until the end.

Here are my picks to win each division and the exact order finish, keeping value in mind. Odds via DraftKings on June 7.

AFC East

Bills -225
Patriots +450
Dolphins +500
Jets +2200

I’m going to lean toward underdogs in this exercise, but not in the AFC East. I think the Bills are the best team in the NFL and there isn’t another legitimate Super Bowl contender in the division. Buffalo had a very inconsistent regular season in 2021 but don’t let that dissuade you. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Bills won this division by three or more games. I like the Dolphins to edge out the Patriots for second place, with the Jets bringing up the rear.

Divisional Pick: Bills -225

Exact finish: Bills/Dolphins/Patriots/Jets +240

AFC North

Browns +190
Bengals +200
Ravens +210
Steelers +1100

Deshaun Watson was hit with two more sexual misconduct allegations recently, and it certainly feels like a lengthy suspension is warranted based on the two dozen claims against him. The Browns remain the slight favorites in the AFC North, but the oddsmakers see this as a three-way race. I think the Ravens are the best team in the division, and these odds make it a no-brainer. The team has great coaching, a great defense, and a superstar quarterback. Can’t go wrong betting on that combination. The exact divisional finish is going to be tough, but because the odds are slightly longer, I’ll take the Bengals to finish second ahead of Cleveland.

Divisional pick: Ravens +210

Exact finish: Ravens/Bengals/Browns/Steelers +750

AFC West

Chiefs +175
Chargers +225
Broncos +250
Raiders +650

The Chiefs lost star wide receiver Tyreek Hill this offseason and have an absolute gauntlet of a schedule. The Chargers, Broncos and Raiders, meanwhile, all beefed up, which should lead to divisional fireworks. I believe in Justin Herbert’s greatness, and there are myriad recent examples of teams taking a leap in their star quarterback’s third or fourth year. The Chargers can definitely win this division, but I can’t imagine the Chiefs finishing any lower than second. And even though the Broncos added Russell Wilson, I still foresee a third-place finish.

Divisional pick: Chargers +225

Exact finish: Chargers/Chiefs/Broncos/Raiders +900

AFC South

Colts -125
Titans +175
Jaguars +700
Texans +3000

I like the favorite here, as Matt Ryan should perform well behind a good offensive line, even at his advanced age, to lead Indy to the division title. The more intriguing part to me is who finishes second. The oddsmakers believe the Titans will give the Colts a good run for their money, but I wouldn’t be shocked at some regression. The wide receiver corps is subpar, and if things go south at some point, the Titans could allow rookie Malik Willis some snaps in place of veteran Ryan Tannehill to asses their potential quarterback of the future. Meanwhile, the Jaguars should be improved in 2022, maybe by just enough to squeak past the Titans for second place in the South.

Divisional pick: Colts -125

Exact finish: Colts/Jaguars/Titans/Texans +900

NFC East

Cowboys +130
Eagles +165
Commanders +450
Giants +1000

I’d be surprised if this was anything more than a two-team race. The question: Can the Eagles’ roster depth overtake Dallas’ clear edge at quarterback? The Cowboys have some flaws but their offense still has high-end ability. However, the loss of several key players this offseason leaves the door open. Much is dependent on Jalen Hurts, but a step forward this year could very well lead Philadelphia to the division title. I think the Commanders are better than the Giants, but the value is too great not to flip them in exact order of finish.

Pick: Eagles +165

Exact finish: Eagles/Cowboys/Giants/Commanders +1000

NFC North

Packers -175
Vikings +275
Bears +1000
Lions +1000

This is a depressing division to pick. The Packers are probably going to be worse than last season but it won’t really matter. They should win the NFC North again, and it’s hard to imagine the Vikings finishing anywhere but second. I guess the biggest intrigue is the race for third place. The Lions have a more cogent plan than the Bears this season, so they are the choice there.

Pick: Packers -175

Exact finish: Packers/Vikings/Lions/Bears +400

NFC South

Buccaneers -300
Saints +350
Panthers +1200
Falcons +2500

The Bucs are too big of a favorite to wager on in this scenario, and it’s really hard to figure out a legitimate scenario in which the Panthers or Falcons win the NFC South, so yes, we’re down to the Saints. And you know what? I don’t hate it. New Orleans isn’t as good as Tampa Bay, but the gulf isn’t incredibly large. The Saints need Jameis Winston to have a career year in order to win the division, but he does have enough natural talent to make it a possibility. The Bucs are probably going to capture the NFC South once again, but the odds are enticing enough to choose New Orleans (and to pair it with a Dennis Allen Coach of the Year futures wager).

Pick: Saints +350

Exact finish: Saints/Buccaneers/Falcons/Panthers +1600

NFC West

Rams +125
49ers +165
Cardinals +400
Seahawks +1600

These odds are not giving Arizona enough credit. The Cardinals blew the division last season but were still in the driver’s seat all year. They may not be as deep as the 49ers or boast as much high-end talent as the Rams, but the Kyler Murray factor should not be ignored, as he is the best quarterback in the division. Los Angeles relies on its elite players more than others, and a key injury or two could spell trouble. The 49ers have a high floor, but if Trey Lance struggles, they could finish with eight or nine wins, opening the door for the Cardinals to claim the NFC West. At these odds, it’s a worthy gamble. And, yeah, Seattle is definitely finishing in the basement.

Pick: Cardinals +400

Exact finish: Cardinals/49ers/Rams/Seahawks +900