The football season starts this week and we are here to provide you with NFL season predictions and betting tips for 2024. The Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs have the honour of kicking off the new season on September 5. The Chiefs took home the Vince Lombardi Trophy last year and Patrick Mahomes is hunting for his fourth Super Bowl ring. However, a host of worthy opponents are looking to stop this Andy Reid-led dynasty.
A new NFL season means every franchise had the opportunity to strengthen through trades or the latest NFL draft. This leaves many wondering, which franchises have taken a step in the right direction? Check out our latest NFL predictions below to help you make successful football bets this season.
AFC East Predictions
Prediction: Miami Dolphins AFC East Champions (+205)
Beginning with the most competitive division in the league, the AFC East is going to be even more exciting in 2024. The Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, and New England Patriots will battle it out in the regular season. Those first three teams are right up there in the NFL betting markets to win the Super Bowl this season.
The Buffalo Bills are gunning for their fifth-straight AFC East title while the Jets have Aaron Rodgers back after his Achilles injury in their season opener last year. However, the Miami Dolphins just edge it for us. Rodgers is coming off a big injury at 43-years-old and there is no telling he still has it. Buffalo said goodbye to receivers Steffon Diggs and Gabe Davis, plus defencemen Jordan Poyer, Micah Hyde, and Tre’Davious White in the offseason. The Dolphins led the division until week 18 last season, and they can go one better in 2024.
🚨 TYREEK TD ALERT! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/QvOXL6Dzum
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) January 14, 2024
AFC North Predictions
Prediction: Baltimore Ravens AFC North Champions (+140)
The AFC North also looks tight with the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals tough to separate and the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers not far behind. Cleveland had their best season since the expansion to 17 games with an 11-6 record last season. The Steelers improved their offensive line significantly in the draft, as did the Bengals, with the addition of highly rated Georgia prospect Amarius Mims.
However, the Steelers’ receiving depth is light. Mims’s injury issues are well documented and the Bengals O-line has to do more to protect Joe Burrow this season. The Browns will be without Nick Chubb for at least the first month. Reigning MVP Lamar Jackson played the best football of his career last season, and Baltimore strengthened their secondary in the draft with great picks in Nate Wiggins and TJ Tampa. They also have one of the best running backs of all time in Derrick Henry, who signed from the Tennessee Titans in the offseason. Six years on from his declaration that Baltimore would get a Super Bowl out of him, Jackson hopes to make good on his promise in 2024.
AFC South Predictions
Prediction: Houston Texans AFC South Champions (+105)
The Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Indianapolis Colts, and Tennessee Titans compete in the AFC North. Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson showed flashes of brilliance before his season-ending injury in week four last year. The Jaguars bolstered their receiving ranks in the draft with Brian Thomas Jr from LSU. Tennessee will have to play without Derrick Henry as Tony Pollard and second-year RB Tyjae Spears lead their backfield. However, the Texans led a spectacular turnaround last season when they finished 10-7 after going 3-13-1 the previous campaign and are looking to kick on this year.
The consensus among fans is that the Houston Texans mean business in 2024. Their finish last season was incredible considering their dire 2022 campaign. CJ Stroud had an excellent rookie season and is now behind only Patrick Mahomes in the NFL markets to win the MVP award in 2024. The signing of Stefon Diggs gives Houston one of the best receiving corps in the league and Joe Mixon bolsters their backfield. The Texans can make it back-to-back division titles in 2024.
AFC West Predictions
Prediction: Kansas City Chiefs AFC West Champions (-263)
There are some new challenges for Pat Mahomes and Co. in the AFC West. Jim Harbaugh will lead the LA Chargers in his first season as head coach since 2014. He has a history of turning programs around and could do so in 2024. The Las Vegas Raiders have named Gardner Minshew their starting quarterback as they hunt for their first title in over two decades. The Denver Broncos have named rookie QB Bo Nix as their starter for week one as the former SEC Freshman of the Year looks to usher in a new era at Empower Field.
None of these teams can touch the Chiefs in quality. Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce return to Arrowhead for their seventh season together. Their partnership at tight end and QB rivals may even eclipse Gronk and Tom Brady’s. As a franchise, the Kansas City Chiefs have been nearly unstoppable since Mahomes became a starter in 2018. They have made it to at least the AFC title game every season since then and we expect much of the same in 2024.
NFC East Predictions
Prediction: Philadelphia Eagles NFC East Champions (-128)
It has been 20 years since we last saw a back-to-back winner in the NFC East when the Philadelphia Eagles made it four in a row in 2004. Every other division has had back-to-back winners at least once in the last five years. The Dallas Cowboys are bidding to break that duck following their win last season. Dak Prescott looks to make a go of it after one of the best seasons of his career in 2023. The Washington Commanders have a new coach and new QB in no. 2 pick Jayden Daniels following their dire 4-13 finish last year. The New York Giants will be without Saquon Barkley and question marks still surround Daniel Jones’s position as starter.
A Jalen – Dallas TD for your viewing pleasure@IBX | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/vl6xN76Y8s
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) August 3, 2024
The Philadelphia Eagles are our choice to take home the NFC East title. They started with an excellent 10-1 record before falling off and crashing out in the Wild Card rounds last season. Saquon Barkley has arrived to take some of the pressure off Jalen Hurts in the running game. They have an outstanding offensive line and Barkley can shine. The Cowboys losing Pollard and Tyron Smith is a big hit to take and Philly can take advantage.
NFC North Predictions
Prediction: Chicago Bears NFC North Predictions (+135)
The NFC North is another tight division with some new-look sides competing to knock the Detroit Lions off their pedestal following last year’s triumph. Detroit has a great offensive roster and addressed their pass-defence weaknesses in the offseason. The Green Bay Packers had an impressive season with Jordan Love at quarterback who had gigantic shoes to fill. He can ride that momentum in his second year. The Minnesota Vikings could be in for a tough season with Sam Darnold starting at QB following Kirk Cousins’ move to Atlanta and JJ McCarthy’s injury.
The Chicago Bears took Caleb Williams as the first overall pick in the draft to head in an exciting new direction on offence. Rookies always need time, but he looks like the real deal. Add a receiving corps of Consensus All-American Rome Odunze in his rookie season, veteran and six-time pro bowler Keenan Allen, and DJ Moore coming off his best season in the NFL and this Bears team has to be feared.
NFC South Predictions
Prediction: Atlanta Falcons NFC South Champions (-137)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are gunning for their fourth NFC South title in a row following their triumph last season. The Bucs resigned Baker Mayfield and star receiver Mike Evans to keep the tandem firing. Mayfield has done a good job of taking over from the best quarterback of all time since Brady retired.
The New Orleans Saints missed out on the playoffs for the third-straight season last year and there is not a lot of confidence that Derek Carr can improve on their 9-8 finish. Bryce Young struggled in his rookie season as the Carolina Panther’s starting quarterback, but there is hope that new coach Dave Canales can get the best out of the former No. 1 draft pick.
The Atlanta Falcons have welcomed Kirk Cousins as their starting quarterback in 2024 and their fortunes have taken a sharp turn for the good. The veteran is a four-time pro bowler, ranks fifth all-time in completion percentage with at least 1,500 pass attempts, and is eighth in the NFL’s all-time regular season career passer rating. New head coach Raheem Morris can get the most out of one of the best quarterbacks in the league.
Kirk Cousins is officially a 17‼️ pic.twitter.com/fGe8ZNYJD2
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) April 21, 2024
NFC West Predictions
Prediction: San Francisco 49ers NFC West Champions (-200)
The NFC West should be one of the least contended divisions in the league. The San Francisco 49ers have dominated with a record of 11-1 over their opponents. The LA Rams, Seattle Seahawks, and Arizona Cardinals have not been able to compete in the last two years. The Rams will be their main competition in 2024.
Matthew Stafford has a star receiving corps at his disposal with Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua both looking strong last season. Geno Smith enters his third season as the starter in Seattle, but they still have glaring weaknesses in their offensive line. Although a fresh Kyler Murray is great for the Cardinals, their defence was shocking last season and they have done little to plug those holes.
The Niners have made the Super Bowl twice in five years and are the best team in the NFC West by some distance. Brock Purdy may have proven to be the best Mr Irrelevant of all time with his performance in the Super Bowl last season. Despite their overtime loss, there are far more positives to take from that performance. San Francisco can push on this season and go one better with Brandon Aiyuk, Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle and Deebo Samuel starring for one of the best offences in the league.
Your 2023 Offensive Player of the Year is @49ers RB Christian McCaffrey, as voted on by NFL on FOX fans! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/dDLzFwNXHE
— NFL on FOX Podcast (@NFLonFOXPod) February 7, 2024
NFL 2024 Betting Tips
Super Bowl
The obvious choice for the Super Bowl this year is the Kansas City Chiefs. Andy Reid is at the very least close to the creation of a dynasty already if it hasn’t already begun. They have won three Vince Lombardi Trophies in five years and are favourites for doing so again, worth +550 with our online sportsbook.
There may be some value in backing the Baltimore Ravens at +950 for anyone betting on the NFL. The Ravens’ had one of the best NFL defences we have ever seen last year. They led the league in sacks, takeaways, and points, the first team to do so in the Super Bowl era. Their decision to take to the air against the Chiefs infamously ended their season early, but Derrick Henry at running back gives them some much-needed firepower in the backfield. This could be reigning MVP Lamar Jackson’s year.
Offensive Rookie of the Year
Quarterback Caleb Williams arrived in Chicago as the number one overall draft pick and will immediately take the reins at Soldier Field following Justin Fields’ departure. The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner has dynamic playmaking ability and has excellent receivers at his disposal. He is the heavy favourite to win offensive Rookie of the Year at +130 and we are backing the former USC man to make good on the level of expectation for him.
Offensive Player of the Year
Mike McDaniel is doing an incredible job in Miami and we expect his Dolphins team to win the AFC East and push beyond that in the playoffs. Tua Tagovailoa has improved year by year and his receiving corps have developed along with him. None more so than Tyreek Hill. The former Chiefs wide receiver was incredible for two-thirds of the season before injuries derailed the Dolphins’ last stretch in 2023.
He still matched his highest receptions, set a new best for receiving yards (1,799), and scored 13 touchdowns. Hill is the focal point of the Miami offence and looks set for another huge year. We like a bet on the Cheetah to win the offensive player of the year, worth +650 with our online sportsbook.
