It’s August, which means that the NFL season will soon begin. Many bettors are working on their predictions for division champions and bet on the AFC winner. The top contenders are also emerging in the early betting odds, which include the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs.
In my AFC preview, I discuss the favorites and underdogs in their respective divisions. I also offer my predictions on the winners and help you search for value in the early betting odds for NFL futures. Here’s how the AFC is shaping up this season.
After a devastating end to their season in 2021-22, the Buffalo Bills are now gearing up to become the next AFC winner. They’ve now won consecutive division titles and shouldn’t have any issue winning the AFC East for the third straight year.
In my view, the New England Patriots were the AFC East team that took a major step back during the offseason. The Patriots would lose three of their final four games despite starting the 2021-22 season with a 9-4 record. Mac Jones also hasn’t proved himself as a top QB in the NFL.
The Miami Dolphins and New York Jets are still searching for their identities. However, the Jets are showing a lot of promise, despite only winning four games last season. They beefed up on offense, adding Breece Hall, Garrett Wilson, Tyler Conklin, and CJ Uzomah.
The Bills are simply too good – the team has one of the most talented rosters in the NFL. Furthermore, starting QB Josh Allen has already proved that he’s the real deal, and he’s a big reason why the Bills are favorites in the AFC Championship odds.
The Kansas City Chiefs are perennial contenders mainly because of Patrick Mahomes II. He’s an elite NFL player who’s won the AFC West every year since he became the starting quarterback for the Chiefs in 2018.
Remember that AFC West is arguably the best division in the entire NFL. Each team made significant acquisitions in the offseason and should be ready to compete for an AFC championship. Here’s what some of those transactions include:
The Broncos acquired Super Bowl-winning quarterback Russell Wilson from the Seahawks. Pro Bowlers Khalil Mack and JC Jackson joined the Los Angeles Chargers. The Las Vegas Raiders traded for All-Pro wider receiver Davonte Adams from the Green Bay Packers.
I believe that things will shake up in the AFC West this season. The Chargers are loaded on offense, and the defense should be a lot better after the team made several roster moves. In my view, they’re more than ready to claim the division.
The reigning AFC champion Bengals won’t open the season as favorites to win their division. However, Cincinnati won the AFC North last year – their first division title since 2015. They also played against the Los Angeles Rams in a highly contested Super Bowl, losing 23-20.
The Baltimore Ravens suffered a number of injuries in 2021-22, which derailed the team’s season. However, several impact players will be fully healthy entering 2022-23. This includes Baltimore’s top two running backs, J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards.
The Steelers are the outlier in the AFC North, despite dominating the division when former QB Ben Roethlisberger was at the helm. Pittsburgh invested a first-round draft pick on Kenny Pickett, who many believe was the most “NFL ready” QB in college.
My AFC preview has to include a sleeper, and the Steelers are an underdog that I really like. Despite the uncertainty at the quarterback position, Pittsburgh has plenty of talented players on the roster and one of the best head coaches leading the way.
The Indianapolis Colts are the best team in the AFC South, although that’s not saying much. Both the Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans were abysmal in 2021-22, with a combined record of 7-27.
Indianapolis has all the tools to succeed right now. The team has playmakers all over the field, and the defense was pretty stellar last season. The only position where the Colts lack depth is wide receiver.
The Titans should also be a competitive team this year, but many believe they overachieved in 2021-22. Despite having a lackluster offense, they finished the season with the AFC’s No. 1 seed for the playoffs.
Acquiring Matt Ryan should stabilize the quarterback position for Indianapolis. He’ll bring a lot of experience and discipline to the team, qualities that former Colts QB Carson Wentz severely lacked.
The Kansas City Chiefs have played in the AFC Championship game in two of the past three seasons. It’s only logical that they’re among the favorites in the AFC winner odds. However, the entire conference is loaded with talent, and many teams pose a real challenge.
I wouldn’t even consider the Chargers a sleeper team, yet the odds offer you a ton of value. Justin Herbert is also hitting his stride and quickly becoming an elite quarterback. He’s only entering his third season in the NFL, and he’s already among the best at his position.
If you want to bet on the AFC winner for 2022-23, I recommend that you explore the best football betting sites. You’ll discover plenty of NFL futures and other markets that offer competitive odds.
Every game from the upcoming season will be available, and you can find plenty of promotions to boost your returns.
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