Online sportsbooks recently released more futures betting markets for the 2021 NFL season. The Philadelphia Eagles started their offseason by ousting the only coach to ever win a Super Bowl for the franchise and trading disgruntled quarterback Carson Wentz.
Even though they won’t readily admit it, the Eagles appear to be in rebuilding mode. Early futures odds for the Eagles reflect low expectations.
Philadelphia Eagles 2021/22 futures betting
Right after Super Bowl LV, William Hill released the odds for Super Bowl 56 with the Kansas City Chiefs (+500) and the Green Bay Packers (+850) at the top of the board. The Eagles were +4000.
In mid-April, sports betting apps released more betting markets. Here’s a look at the Eagles’ odds as of April 16 at DraftKings:
- Super Bowl: +7000
- NFC Championship: +3300
- NFC East: +500
- Win totals: Over 6.5 (-134)/Under 6.5 (+110)
- Will the Eagles make the playoffs: Yes (+275)/No (-360)
Will the Eagles be one of the worst teams in 2021?
The Eagles hired Nick Sirianni, a former Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator, as their new head coach. The Eagles reportedly tried to trade up to select BYU quarterback Zach Wilson in the NFL Draft. This was after Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie said that the Birds should prioritize making Hurts successful in 2021. Hey, if an NFL front office isn’t a model of honesty, who can you trust nowadays?
A “rookie” quarterback (Hurts only started three games last year) and a rookie coach are usually a recipe for a losing season. But how much worse can it get for the Eagles after a 4-11-1 season?
Only four teams have worse Super Bowl odds than the Eagles. The Bengals (+8000), Jets (+8000), Lions (+15000), and Texans (+15000).
PA sports betting apps also give the Eagles the longest odds (+500) to win the NFC East. The Dallas Cowboys (+110) are the favorite.
Teams with lowest win total over/under for 2021-2022 season
- 4.5: Texans
- 5: Lions
- 6.5: Eagles, Jets, Bengals, Jaguars
- 7: Falcons, Bears, Giants
How will the extra game impact betting markets?
The NFL will have a 17-game regular season in 2021. Obviously, that means another game to bet on and the increased handle and revenue that comes with it.
Johnny Avello, head of sportsbook and gaming operations at DraftKings, told PlayPennsylvania:
“When you put up 9 or 9.5 that’s a really good season, but it now no longer is. That’s an average season. The bookmakers have to change the over/under wins totals and we’ve been doing the same structure for many years.
“Now the season goes a little longer. Does it change the futures? Maybe a little. One more game also means one extra game for a team to get to the playoffs, a player to get hurt…”
The NFL’s preseason will shrink from four games to three. According to industry experts at Fox Bet, it’s estimated that an NFL regular season game gets 20x-30x more money wagered on it than a preseason game.
Fox Bet content integration specialist Jacob Blangsted-Barnor told Fox Sports:
“We love it. You’ve got an extra week of games to bet. It’s great for us. You’re also gaining some really fun games. Seahawks vs. Steelers, Chiefs vs. Packers. Those will be big games for us.”
Blangsted-Barnor also weighed in at Fox Sports on the added game in terms of over/under win total:
“We look at the percentage chance that a team wins that extra game. Let’s say that the Chiefs have a 58% chance to beat the Packers. We would add .58 of a win to the Kansas City win total. [FOX Bet would round .58 down to .5 wins for betting purposes.] So if the Chiefs’ total is 12.5, we would bump them up to 13.”
2021 NFL Draft betting
Betting on the NFL Draft is not available in Pennsylvania. However, you can wager on the NFL Draft on mobile sports betting apps in New Jersey.
2021 NFL Draft markets at DraftKings include:
- No. 1 overall pick (The favorite: Trevor Lawrence, -10000)
- 2nd overall pick (The favorite: Zach Wilson, -5000)
- 3rd overall pick (The favorite: Justin Fields -125. Last week, Mac Jones -305 was the favorite)
- Exact playing position of team’s first drafted player (every NFL team available)
- Team to draft Trey Lance (The favorite: Denver Broncos +300, San Francisco 49ers +300)
- Team to draft Justin Fields (The favorite: San Francisco 49ers -121)
- Draft position specials
- 1st Round totals
- Player Top 5 odds
- Player Top 10 odds
Who will the Eagles draft in 2021?
The Eagles’ woeful record landed them the No. 6 pick in the draft. Eagles general manager Howie Roseman dealt the No. 6 pick to the Miami Dolphins. The Eagles received the No. 12 pick, No. 123 pick (fourth-round pick) and a 2022 first-round pick. Miami received the No. 6 pick and the No. 156 overall pick (fifth round).
Philadelphia Eagles 2021 NFL draft picks
Round 2: No. 37
Round 3: No. 70, No. 84 (from Colts)
Round 4: No. 123 (from Dolphins)
Round 5: No. 150
Round 6: No. 189, No. 224, No. 225
Round 7: No. 234, No. 240 (from 49ers)
Who do online sportsbooks think the Eagles might select at No. 12?
Exact playing position odds of Philadelphia Eagles’ first drafted player:
- Wide receiver +130
- Cornerback +175
- Offensive Lineman +600
- Defensive Lineman +1000
- Linebacker +1100
- Quarterback +1600
- Tight End +2500
- Safety +5000
- Running back +6600
- Kicker/punter/long snapper +50000
Playing position of Philadelphia Eagles first drafted player
- Offense (-139)/Defense (+112)
There isn’t a 12th overall pick odds market. But we can look at player draft position markets to try to get an idea of who the Birds will pick (if Howie doesn’t make another trade).
- DeVonta Smith: Over 11.5 (-112)/Under 11.5 (-112)
- Jaycee Horn: Over 13.5 (-112)/Under 13.5 (-112)
- Micah Parsons: Over 11.5 (-125)/Under 11.5 (+101)
- Jaylen Waddle: Over 11.5 (-125)/Under 11.5 (+101)
- Patrick Surtain: Over 10.5 (-112)/Under 10.5 (-112)
Lead image credit: AP Photo/Rich Schultz
