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NFL Division Exact Finishing Position Odds and Best Bets

by Mike Allen - 8/8/2024

NFL division exact finishing order odds and best bets Cooper Kupp Los Angeles Rams

For me, August has always been one of, if not the, fastest month of the year. Growing up, we always wished for an Indian Summer, an endless season.

The more I think about that, though, I realize we would get tired of the heat, and more importantly, the NFL regular season, playoffs, and the Super Bowl would never come.

I don't want to live on that earth. Thankfully, for most of us, the weather is starting to cool off, and we already have one preseason game in the books. Week 1 of the regular season is now just four weeks away.

Another thing to be thankful for are futures bets like the ones I will share with you today. I am in love with some of these. I recently wrote an article picking NFL division winners. We found a few spots, but I found much more value in betting the exact finishing position.

There are several divisions with competitive battles for the top spot or even the second spot. I did you a favor and left those out today. Below are our best bets and even a couple of bonus value bets at the bottom.

Doc’s Sports offers NFL expert picks for every game on our NFL predictions page.

NFL Division Exact Finishing Position

Best Bets

Los Angeles Chargers

1st: +325

The LA Chargers are in a much more advantageous position to start the 2024 season with head coach Jim Harbaugh than last year with the hopeless, hapless Brandon Staley at the helm.

I can’t get behind them to beat out Kansas City, though.

2nd: +110

Just look at the division. The Broncos may be the worst team in the NFL, and the Las Vegas Raiders have a projected win total in most sportsbooks of 6.5 to the Chargers 8.5.

This pick is an easy one to make. 

Pick: 2nd Place

3rd: +220

4th: +850

Los Angeles Rams

1st: +325

Staying in LA and sticking to the same formula is what I want to do here.

2nd: +140

We have even better odds on the Rams, who I have rated as a better team than the Chargers. I was already down on the Seattle Seahawks this year. So, when I saw this, I had to jump.

When he is playing well, Matt Stafford is as good of a quarterback as we have in this league, not named Patrick Mahomes. Between Puka Nacua's busting tackles and Cooper Kupp's route running, Stafford should light up opposing defenses again this year.

I do think the Arizona Cardinals will overachieve this season. They played everyone tough in the first halves of games in 2023. However, it's not enough for me to come off this best bet on the Rams to finish 2nd in the NFC West.

Pick: 2nd Place

3rd: +200

4th: +600

Houston Texans

1st: -115

I am seeing a lot of experts out there giving the Houston Texans 14 wins this year. It is certainly possible with C.J. Stroud making his return, albeit filled with pressure, to the gridiron for his second season in the NFL as a starter at quarterback.

They seemed to make all the right moves in the offseason. It’s a shame we can’t get plus money, but I’m not scared of (-115) here.

The AFC South is historically mediocre, with a lot of parity. That era is over. The shot callers, from the box to the sidelines to the field of play, all know what they are doing and are in sync. 2024 will be an exciting year for Texans fans.

Pick: 1st Place

2nd: +190

3rd: +495

4th: +1800

Value Bets

Minnesota Vikings

1st: +1000

2nd: +600

3rd: +290

Well, it looks to be a fight in a phone booth for first place in the NFC North between the Packers and the Lions. We will stay away from the #1 and #2 spots.

The Vikings are heavily favored to finish at the cellar, but the line is off. Are they the worst team in the division? It appears to be that way. The Bears added more talent in the offseason.

Caleb Williams looks like a beast, but he played against the worst defenses in college football. He could also get hurt or potentially play well in 2024, and Minnesota still beat out the Bears for 3rd place.

For (+290), I’ll take a shot.

Pick: 3rd Place

4th: -180

Pittsburgh Steelers

1st: +600

2nd: +425

3rd: +260

You guessed it, the same formula. The AFC North Division may be the best in the league this year. I don't want to try to pick between the Bengals and the Ravens right now.

Instead, let’s do that with the Browns and the Steelers. I suppose Cleveland quarterback Deshaun Watson could return to some of his best form, but he looked like crap last year, a shell of himself.

Russell Wilson has rebounded, and I don't see him negatively affecting the locker room. Mike Tomlin has a strong grip. Justin Fields is also there. That's two good quarterbacks to the Browns' none.

The two defenses cancel out. Give me the better coach, tradition, and quarterback(s) to slide into 3rd place in the AFC North.

Pick: 3rd Place

4th: -105

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