The AFC race is already taking shape on the betting board, and the early read from sportsbooks is clear: Baltimore and Buffalo sit a step ahead of everyone else.
Baltimore opens as the favorite to come out of the AFC at +470, which carries an implied probability of 17.54%. That’s despite the Ravens missing the playoffs last season. They also enter this year with a new voice on the sideline, having moved on from John Harbaugh and hired former Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter as head coach.
For Baltimore, the biggest swing factor remains Lamar Jackson. The source of the optimism is obvious: if he stays healthy and returns to an MVP-level form, the Ravens have the kind of ceiling that makes them hard to deal with in January. Last season brought injuries and a drop-off from his usual standard, and that’s the hurdle they have to clear.
Buffalo is right behind them at +510. Like Baltimore, the Bills made a coaching change, promoting offensive coordinator Joe Brady to head coach. They’re another team trying to break through and get over the hump.
New England is third at +760, even after winning the AFC last year. The Patriots now face a first-place schedule after benefiting from what the source describes as one of the easiest schedules in NFL history a season ago.
Then there’s Kansas City, which may be the biggest storyline in the conference. After nearly a decade of controlling the AFC, the Chiefs missed the playoffs last season, undone by poor play and an injury to Patrick Mahomes. Oddsmakers have them fourth at +770, leaving them just behind the top three as they try to reclaim their place at the top of the conference.
Here’s the full list of odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook. Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
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