2019 Denver Broncos Odds to win the Super Bowl with Expert Betting Predictions

The Denver Broncos have played only three seasons since winning their last Super Bowl. But, man, have those been lousy years. They stumbled in the transition away from Peyton Manning the first year and then just fell into the gutter the last two years. Now there is another coaching change, another approach, another quarterback - two, actually - and, they would hope, some more success. But it won't come easy. They have some holes to deal with still, and they are in a very top-heavy division that won't do them any favors.

Denver Broncos Coaching

Vance Joseph was fired after a dismal 11-21 record over two years. It was time - probably a year beyond time, really. Vic Fangio is the new boss, taking his first head-coaching job after almost 20 years as a defensive assistant. Fangio's defensive coordinator is Ed Donatell, who coached DBs for the Bears under Fangio. This is his third time running an NFL defense. Rich Scangarello was the QB coach for the 49ers the last two years, and he'll be running an NFL offense for the first time here. Both coordinators kept some staff from last year and brought in some new faces. One notable addition is Mike Munchak, the former Titans head coach, who is coaching the offensive line after five years in the same role in Pittsburgh.

Denver Broncos Quarterback Situation

The team has tried something new each year, and that trend continues again. Joe Flacco was brought in - likely more as a stopgap than as a long-term solution. And he will act as a mentor for second-round pick Drew Lock, who is the latest guy tasked with being the QB of the future at a franchise which has killed the futures of a lot of young guys in recent years. Flacco will likely start the year in charge and attempt to hold off the young guy - something he knows all too well after last year in Baltimore. If those two can work together positively, then it is a decent situation. The team also picked up Boise State QB Brett Rypien as an undrafted free agent, and Kevin Hogan, who was on the practice roster last year, is still around as well.

How The Denver Broncos Improved

They made a good coaching hire. They have tried to force quarterbacks into situations that don't suit them, so if the staff breaks that trend then they will be ahead already. They could be really dangerous at tight end after adding Noah Fant from Iowa in the first round. If Jake Butt, who has torn two ACLs since his last year at Michigan in 2016, can come back healthy and stay that way, the position could be a massive strength. Kareem Jackson is coming off a strong season at corner for the Broncos and was a nice offseason addition.

How The Denver Broncos Got Worse

The offensive line was an issue last year, and it is a long way from certain that they have done enough to address that. They added tackle Ja'Wuan James from Miami, but it feels like they overpaid him. And they drafted tackle Dalton Risner from Kansas State in the second round. Still, there are real questions here.

Denver Broncos Schedule Analysis

Fangio faces an ugly introduction to coaching in this league. He opens at Oakland, which is fairly manageable, but then faces eight straight games before the bye week against teams that intend to make the playoffs - Chicago, at Green Bay, Jacksonville, at the Chargers, Tennessee, Kansas City, at Indianapolis and against Cleveland. Chances are high that the team will have a rough record through nine games. In the back seven, things are only a little easier - they still play at Minnesota, Houston and Kansas City, and host the Chargers.

2019-20 Denver Broncos Betting Odds and Trends

The Broncos are at +5000 to win the Super Bowl, which has them tied with three other teams, including their conference rivals from Oakland, and behind 20 other teams. They are one of three teams at +2800 to win the AFC, which places them behind 10 other teams, including the Raiders. They are ahead of the Raiders in the division, though - they are the third choice at +1400, compared to the Raiders at +1800. The season win total is set at 7, with neither side drawing unbalanced action. The team is at +400 to make the playoffs, compared to -500 to miss them. Joe Flacco is a long shot to win the MVP with his new team at +8000, and he's a long shot in terms of leading the QB statistical categories as well - +20000 to lead in passer rating, +12500 in both touchdowns and passing yards, and +3300 in interceptions. Running back Phillip Lindsay is at +3300 to lead the league in rushing yards and +2500 to lead in touchdowns. Courtland Sutton is at +7500 to lead the league in receiving yards and +10000 in touchdowns. First-round pick Noah Fant, a TE, and second-rounder Drew Lock, the QB, are both at +3300 to be offensive rookie of the year.

2019-20 Denver Broncos Predictions and NFL Picks

They made a good hire, they made some decent moves, and it feels like they are going in the right direction. But it's a long road, and against this schedule they are going to find some struggles. It's going to be a pretty long season. That season win total of 7 feels ambitious, and I'd lean to the "under".

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