NFL best, worst record odds: Value on the Vikings, fade the Dolphins
Forget the stress of a Super Bowl futures bet, which is dependent on the volatility of the playoffs.
Instead, look for value in the NFL's best record bet, which cashed for Saints and Rams bettors a year ago. There's also value to be had in the league's worst record wager, with those betting on Arizona last year coming out as winners.
Here are the odds for the best and worst records in 2019, with three of our best bets for each:
Best record
| TEAM | ODDS |
|---|---|
| Patriots | 11-2 |
| Chiefs | 8-1 |
| Rams | 9-1 |
| Saints | 9-1 |
| Colts | 10-1 |
| Eagles | 10-1 |
| Chargers | 14-1 |
| Bears | 16-1 |
| Browns | 16-1 |
| Packers | 17-1 |
| Steelers | 17-1 |
| Cowboys | 23-1 |
| Vikings | 25-1 |
| Seahawks | 26-1 |
| Falcons | 29-1 |
| Ravens | 29-1 |
| Texans | 34-1 |
| 49ers | 34-1 |
| Panthers | 50-1 |
| Bills | 60-1 |
| Jets | 60-1 |
| Raiders | 60-1 |
| Jaguars | 80-1 |
| Buccaneers | 80-1 |
| Titans | 80-1 |
| Broncos | 100-1 |
| Redskins | 100-1 |
| Bengals | 150-1 |
| Lions | 150-1 |
| Giants | 150-1 |
| Cardinals | 250-1 |
| Dolphins | 300-1 |
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook
New England Patriots (11-2)
Love them or hate them, the Patriots have had a share of the league's best record in three of the past five years. No other team has done it more than once in that span.
The reigning champs enter this year as the runaway favorites for league supremacy behind the NFL's easiest projected strength of schedule (based on 2018 win percentages). A season-ending slate against Cincinnati, Buffalo, and Miami could have the Pats claiming the top seed with relative ease.
There's better value on the board, but New England is once again the safest bet.
Los Angeles Chargers (14-1)
The Chargers were tied for the AFC's best record a year ago and were one game back of the NFL lead. They now enter 2019 as a sleeping giant behind a powerhouse offense and a defense built on speed and versatility.
Melvin Gordon's holdout looms, though five of L.A.'s first seven games come against non-playoff teams from 2018. If the Chargers can avoid the silly mistakes that seemingly haunt this franchise, 13-plus wins are in order.
Minnesota Vikings (25-1)
Remember the Minnesota teams that claimed the NFL's best record in 2017 and were hyped as an NFC favorite just a year ago? This is largely the same group, but with more investment along the offensive line and a full offseason under a coaching staff more tailored toward the team's strengths.
There's simply too much talent to ignore at a 25-1 price, especially in a division with major coaching changes for Minnesota's two biggest challengers in Chicago and Green Bay.
Worst record
| TEAM | ODDS |
|---|---|
| Dolphins | 17-5 |
| Cardinals | 23-5 |
| Bengals | 11-2 |
| Giants | 15-2 |
| Raiders | 17-2 |
| Redskins | 17-2 |
| Buccaneers | 11-1 |
| Bills | 13-1 |
| Lions | 16-1 |
| Broncos | 17-1 |
| Jets | 20-1 |
| Panthers | 32-1 |
| Titans | 32-1 |
| Jaguars | 34-1 |
| Texans | 44-1 |
| Ravens | 50-1 |
| Steelers | 50-1 |
| 49ers | 50-1 |
| Seahawks | 50-1 |
| Falcons | 60-1 |
| Cowboys | 60-1 |
| Vikings | 60-1 |
| Bears | 75-1 |
| Browns | 75-1 |
| Packers | 75-1 |
| Colts | 100-1 |
| Chargers | 100-1 |
| Eagles | 100-1 |
| Rams | 200-1 |
| Saints | 200-1 |
| Chiefs | 250-1 |
| Patriots | 350-1 |
Miami Dolphins (17-5)
The Dolphins are the obvious choice here thanks to a deconstructed roster and an ugly quarterback competition in which Ryan Fitzpatrick is the clear front-runner. Yikes.
Miami's front office essentially announced a 2019 tank job when it started stockpiling 2020 picks and hired 38-year-old Brian Flores - who had previously never been a head coach or a full-time coordinator - as the team's bench boss.
"Tank for Tua" should spell profits for those who fade the 'Fins this year.
Cincinnati Bengals (11-2)
Zac Taylor, the latest product of the Sean McVay coaching assembly line, takes over a Bengals team with little talent and even less optimism for 2019.
A.J. Green and Joe Mixon are legitimate weapons, but the former can't stay healthy and the latter can't find room behind a patchwork offensive line. Cincinnati's defense was below average in nearly every way last year, and now it's led by a first-time NFL defensive coordinator in Lou Anarumo.
The Bengals lack the punch to win many games this season, especially if Green is out with injuries.
Oakland Raiders (17-2)
The Raiders were one loss away from the worst record in 2018 and have the NFL's toughest projected schedule in 2019. They have two games apiece against the Chiefs and Chargers on top of division slates against the NFC North and the loaded AFC South.
Oakland's roster clearly has more talent than it did a year ago, but are we sure about the coaching? Jon Gruden couldn't turn around former MVP candidate Derek Carr's downward spiral, and the defense needs reinvention.
Maybe "Hard Knocks" turns this team around, but the better bet is a total collapse for our viewing pleasure.