2017 NFC East Predictions and Picks
By Loot, NFL Handicapper, Lootmeister.com
The NFC East really took form last season, with the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants taking the lead. The Cowboys started so fast though, losing their first game before not losing again until week 14 en route to a 13-3 season. They really saw things come together, namely the rookie QB/RB combo of Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott. They look for more success this season and a bigger postseason run. Right on their heels are the New York Giants, who broke a run of recent mediocrity with a big 11-5 season. They saw a lot of moves on the defensive side of the ball take hold and now have a future in which they can be excited. And the Giants were responsible for two of the Cowboys' losses last season, which could be critical if the division race is close.
The two other teams in this divisional race are far from afterthoughts. The Philadelphia Eagles are only +350, with the Redskins being less than 6-to-1 to win the NFC East. The Eagles won 7 games last season. They were streaky and working in a rookie QB and first-year coach. They look to be a team on the rise. The division champion in 2015, the Redskins, fell back some in 2016, but might not be quite ready to recede to the back of the pack. Of all the divisions in the NFL, the NFC East stands out as being one of the more competitive from an odds-standpoint. The oddsmakers seem to think that all teams in the division have a reasonable shot at winning it. And they're probably right.
Let's take a look at the odds to win the 2017 NFC East division, followed by team profiles and our pick to win.
Odds to Win the NFC East Division in 2017
Dallas Cowboys +125
New York Giants +265
Philadelphia Eagles +350
Washington Redskins +590
A Word About the Odds: No teams in the NFC East are better than even-money to win the division. Hence, each NFC East team's odds are represented as underdogs using a (+) sign. With an underdog listed with a plus-sign, the number you see is how much you would win with a $100 bet. A wager of $100 would earn you $125 for Dallas, $265 for the Giants, $350 for the Eagles, and $590 for the Redskins. And naturally, you don't have to bet $100. You could bet any amount and the odds would just break down to the amount you decided to bet.
Dallas Cowboys (+125): The defending division champions were pretty unstoppable last season, recovering from a week one loss to go on an 11-game winning streak. The performances of rookies QB Dak Prescott and RB Ezekiel Elliott were tremendous and a big part of the Dallas recipe for success. Perhaps as a result, the defense was able to hold up well, despite being decimated by injuries and suspensions. While it wouldn't register as a surprise if Dallas had another really good regular season, there are some signs of trouble. They lost a little juice from their offensive line, which has been a key part of their success, in addition to some losses on "D." Still, some moves made in free agency and the draft could help lessen the sting of the losses they did incur. They saw everything go right last season and could catch less breaks, but they still stand out as the rightful frontrunners in this division.
New York Giants (+265): The Giants got things on the right track last season with a big 11-5 record, including the season-sweep of division champions the Dallas Cowboys. In Ben McAdoo's first season as head coach, we saw a more-complete team less reliant on Eli Manning's big arm. It was a better-rounded team last season, bolstered by a defense that was revamped in the offseason. This past offeseason, they added some key pieces to go along with dynamic receiver Odell Beckham and rookie Sterling Shepard, adding free agent receiver Brandon Marshall and rookie tight end Evan Engram. Some help on the offensive line could help make the offense better. If the defense continues to improve, we could be seeing one of the better Giants teams we've seen recently. They certainly look to be a team on the rise.
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Philadelphia Eagles (+350): The Eagles were a strange study last season, looking terrific to start the season, before flattening out. After a 3-0 start, an untimely bye-week seemed to take the wind out of their sails. Philly went on a 2-9 run, losing touch with the rest of the division. Two straight wins to end the season over division frontrunners Dallas and New York were a good sign. With a head coach and quarterback in Carson Wentz in their rookie seasons, things could stabilize this season. Wentz didn't have a lot to work with, an issue that was addressed in free agency with the signings of LeGarrette Blount and Alshon Jeffery, in addition to some promising draft choices who could contribute. With a lot of other offseason moves, the Eagles could get a boost this season and at +350, they are getting a lot of respect from an odds perspective. There is a good reason for that and those betting on the NFC East just might have to deal with Philly in a big way this season.
Washington Redskins (+590): After winning the division the season prior, the Redskins were 8-7-1 in 2016, left in the dust by the Giants and Cowboys. A big part of their success over the past few seasons has been their high-flying aerial attack, commandeered by QB Kirk Cousins. But losing his top two receivers in DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon leaves a gaping void. They could get some players to fill those gaps, but it's asking a lot of players either coming back from injury or seeing their first NFL action. They also lost both of their ends and all the losses are responsible for Washington ending up as the final choice in the division this season. Of all the teams in the conference, the Redskins stand out as one of the more-difficult teams to peg. This is one that could go a variety of different ways.
Lootmeister's Pick to Win the 2017 NFC East: Dallas Cowboys. Bet a game for FREE by taking advantage of a massive 100% sign-up bonus on your first deposit of $100 to $500 at GTBets!
