For the first time in 43 years, the NFL is undergoing a schedule adjustment. The league is adding an extra regular-season game for the 2021 campaign. Each of the 32 NFL teams will now play 17 regular-season games, up to one from the previous total. How will this impact betting on the NFL? Perhaps the best method to gauge this factor is to look back at 1978 when the NFL increased the schedule from 14 to 16 games.
Betting Predictions for a 17-Game NFL Regular-Season
- The NFL is increasing its regular-season schedule from 16 to 17 games per team in 2021
- It’s the first change in regular-season scheduling since the NFL went from 14 to 16 games in 1978
- The Kansas City Chiefs are the 6.00 favourites to win the Super Bowl
Perhaps the best news about the NFL increasing its slate of regular-season games from 16 to 17 for each team in 2021 is that it is creating more opportunities to wager on the NFL. The NFL is far and away from the most popular sport to bet on in North America, so the more games, the merrier bettors will be.
When it comes to one more game on the slate, this development figures to change everything in terms of how to wager on NFL games. Another game impacts significantly how to play such bets as NFL player props and team win totals. One more game also means one more week during the season when key injuries can occur.
| Team | 10Bet |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City Chiefs | 6.00 | 4.4 | 5.50 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 7.00 | 6.00 | 6.50 |
| Buffalo Bills | 11.00 | 11.00 | 11.00 |
| Green Bay Packers | 14.00 | 12.00 | 14.00 |
| Baltimore Ravens | 15.00 | 12.00 | 12.00 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 15.00 | 12.00 | 13.00 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 15.00 | 13.00 | 14.00 |
All a bettor needs to do is to look back on how the NFL landscape changed in 1978 when the league schedule increased from 14 to 16 games. That season, the New England Patriots were AFC East champions. It was the first NFL division title in the team’s history. In the NFC, the Atlanta Falcons earned a Wild Card. That was the first postseason appearance in franchise history.
Looking For Value
The change in schedule will make depth a much more vital component this season. The ability to overcome key injuries could mean the difference between a division title or a wild card, or even whether a team reaches postseason play.
Take the Dallas Cowboys, for example. They lost quarterback Dak Prescott to a season-ending injury early in 2020 and plummeted to the depths of the NFL standings. With a healthy Prescott and a bounce-back season from former NFL rushing champ Ezekiel Elliott, the Cowboys offer good value at 2.30 to win a weak NFC East Division.
The NFC West might be the NFL’s most hotly-contested division this season. The Seattle Seahawks have NFL MVP contender Russell Wilson under center. The Los Angeles Rams acquired veteran QB Matthew Stafford from the Detroit Lions. However, the team to beat figures to be the San Francisco 49ers. The Niners went to the Super Bowl in 2019. Last season, they were gutted by injuries. At 2.80. that’s a great price to get on San Fran to be NFC West champs.
Record Pace
Records are made to be broken, or so the saying goes. More games on the slate certainly increase the odds of a record being set. In fact, in 1978 the Patriots saw four different backs gain at least 500 yards rushing. That set an NFL mark that remains on the books today.
Of all the current NFL standards, the single-season rushing mark of 2,150 yards, set by Eric Dickerson in 1984, could be the one that’s in the most jeopardy. Derrick Henry of the Tennessee Titans has won the last two NFL rushing titles. He came up just shy of the mark last season.
Henry finished with 2,027 yards on the ground. That averages out to 126.7 yards per game. Over 17 games, that pace works out to 2,154 yards.
Where to Bet On The NFL?
There are a number of leading online betting sites that will provide bettors with the chance to place a wager on the NFL, whether it be a moneyline or point spread wager, a future book bet, a parlay wager, or a player or team prop wager. The best bet you can make is to shop around in advance and seek out the right deal before joining one of these sportsbooks. Check out Sports Interaction and Bet99 as examples.
The signup bonus offers that are in place at all of these recommended sites will prove advantageous to the bettor. And since you’ll get a good deal wherever you go, why not check out several sites and find the ideal fit for your needs?
Do you want a risk-free first bet as a signup bonus? Perhaps you find a no deposit bonus to be enticing. Or maybe you simply like the feel of cold, hard cash in your account and you want to go for a matching first deposit bonus. Whatever option you choose, you’re already a winner.
Remember that new players and returning customers are eligible for better bonuses when they deposit using Bitcoin. As well, take advantage of the NFL betting advice offered at these sites to help newcomers acclimatize to sports betting.
See below the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the right one for you:
