The NFL is king at keeping us interested year-round! April was the Draft; the stars of tomorrow found their new homes. Now, they’ve released the full schedule, all 272 games. The road to Super Bowl LXI in Los Angeles is mapped out. Who will take advantage of their schedule, and who should we fade? Let’s take a look at my top win total bets after the release of the NFL schedule.
New Orleans Saints Over 7.5 Wins (-110)
The farther into the offseason we get, the more excited I get about this New Orleans team. They seem to be doing just about everything right when it comes to building for the future. Kellen Moore has put the pieces in place, and the team surprised at times last year. Tyler Shough might just be the answer, and they’ve built the team around him. The Saints end up with the second-easiest schedule in the league, which makes me love this total even more.
Only the Lions have a harder schedule. The combination of a last-place schedule, paired with playing their NFC South foes twice each, sets up nicely. They start with tougher games against the Lions and Ravens, but don’t be shocked if they pick up a win in one of those games on the road. Then they come home for three confidence builders in Las Vegas, Atlanta, and Minnesota. It’s off to the races from there. Don’t forget, this team won six games in 2026. We’re only asking for them to win two additional games here.
Cincinnati Bengals Over 9.5 Wins (-120)
We’ll call this the can Joe Burrow stay healthy bet. That’ll be the biggest key for the Bengals, who are a good team when he is healthy. They’ve hit nine wins in two of the last three seasons, and had 12 and 10 the two years before that. They are another benefactor of an easy schedule, checking in with the third easiest behind New Orleans. With the Saints, we have to wonder about a few things. Not with Cincinnati. We know this Bengals team, and know they are good.
Cincinnati has a third-place schedule, but it shakes out nicely for them. The best part is that they draw both the NFC and AFC South divisions in the yearly rotation. Both have teams that aren’t quite up to snuff and prove to be easier opponents. I have the Bengals starting the year hot, going 4-1 after facing the Buccaneers, Texans, Steelers, Jaguars, and Dolphins to open the season.
Seattle Seahawks Under 10.5 Wins (+115)
When you win the Super Bowl, you get a hard schedule the next season, and everyone has it out for the Seahawks because they are the champs. I’m taking nothing away from an incredible season, where they seemingly caught lightning in a bottle and rode the bolt to a title. But with winning big comes the downsides. The Seahawks lost a lot of key pieces in free agency.
Sam Darnold has done a 180 on his career, no two ways about it. This just feels like the season that finally comes back into check a little bit. Not only do they play a first-place schedule, but they’ve drawn the very tough AFC West, with three big-time teams. The NFC East could have four contenders this year, and outside of Arizona, its own division is no joke. This team is for real, and they’ll be good. Just not 11 wins good with this schedule.
Dallas Cowboys Under 9.5 Wins (-135)
The Dallas Cowboys are another team that is good, but their schedule is brutal. They only won seven games last year, even with a fully healthy Dak Prescott. Can they increase that by three wins this year? It’s going to be tough. Looking through their schedule, they got almost no breaks. The Cardinals and Titans will be welcome sights when those weeks come up. Outside of those two games and maybe the Indianapolis Colts, there’s no other “they should really win this game” game on their schedule.
All three NFC East opponents will prove to be tough this season. They get the NFC West, that’s where Arizona comes in. But they bring the Rams, 49ers, and Super Bowl Champion Seahawks with them. The AFC South is easier when it comes to Tennessee and Indianapolis, but Jacksonville and Houston will prove to be tough. I wouldn’t be shocked if they can manage nine wins, but 10 is a tall task with a schedule this brutal.
