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Sports Illustrated presents expert picks, predictions, and betting insights for the NFL.

July 16, 2026 in Post

Analyzing the evaluation by the betting market of which player the New York Jets will choose with the No. 2 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Assessing the probabilities of Ty Simpson being selected as a first round draft pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Evaluating the initial odds for the NFL Week 1 matchup in Australia featuring the San Francisco 49ers against the Los Angeles Rams.

Toughest game to call: Week 11 vs. Packers.

The model then analyzes every matchup of the regular season and gives each team a predicted win percentage across today’s best bets its games. The defeat not only delivers a massive blow to San Francisco’s division title hopes — it extends the Niners’ head-to-head losing streak to five games. The Rams could absolutely get revenge for their 2024 playoff loss to the Eagles in Week 3 and/or surprise Baltimore three weeks later — but it was hard to pick against the home squads in both of those matchups.

  • Assessing the initial betting odds for the NFL Week 1 game in Australia between the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams.
  • After their transatlantic trip, the Vikings get a bye — then hit a three-game skid.
  • The Giants have a chance to accumulate a few wins here, as they will host the Chargers (who face the challenging early East Coast start) before visiting the Saints, who are in the process of rebuilding.

NHL futures betting

NFL Win Total Projections for Every Team Ahead of Thursday’s Schedule Release

My situation here was challenging — particularly because the game is scheduled for December, a time when the Packers typically perform at their best, and it will take place in Green Bay. This one proved quite difficult for me, but I am leaning toward Washington. Jayden Daniels had one of the finest rookie seasons among NFL quarterbacks since Cam Newton’s debut. At Commanders, at Cowboys, vs. Chiefs is a tough way to start things off.

Steelers Super Bowl Odds Make Massive Jump After Aaron Rodgers Signing

We’ve each gone through the entire schedule (team by team), week by week, separately projecting who will win during opening weekend, on Thanksgiving Day, in each season finale and every game in between. A stacked NFC playoff bracket includes six teams with 11 or more wins, while the likes of Bijan Robinson and Drake London finally appear in the NFL postseason. After three teams finished with eight wins in 2025, the NFC South standings are a little more straightforward this time around. There is much more positivity surrounding the top teams in the NFC (with seven projected to win at least 9.5 games), compared to just three in the AFC. It’s important to note that the regular-season simulations include projected ties, so expected win-loss records may not add up to exactly 17 games for all teams. I think the Cardinals’ offense will be more consistent this season — so I was surprised when I ultimately had them losing five of their final seven games, just as they did last year.

NHL parlay tips

High point: Week 1 vs. Giants.

While the Steelers were perennial contenders under Mike Tomlin (and Mike McCarthy has a glowing record when his quarterback stays healthy), this is a non-zero possibility. The Baltimore Ravens rally to reclaim the AFC North title, but the standout result is the Pittsburgh Steelers finishing at the bottom of the table with only five wins. The similarly stacked NFC North also promises to be an intriguing battle for dominance, as just 0.2 wins separate the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, and Detroit Lions. We also get data on how often that team earns which seed and the number of simulations in which they are selecting at different points in the 2027 NFL Draft. Taken from PFSN’s Football Playoff Meter, the FPM simulates the season 100,000 times and provides average win-loss records. The 2026 NFL schedule release was the final piece of the puzzle towards projecting the upcoming season.

The combination of four road games within the first six weeks and the high-powered offense of the Bucs takes a toll on Kyle Shanahan’s team. As a result, Sean McVay can rest his starters in preparation for Wild Card Weekend. At this moment, this matchup feels completely unpredictable, so I’m favoring the quarterback who has triumphed at AT&T Stadium without defeat in high school, college, or the NFL (Kyler Murray improves to 9-0 there following this Week 9 victory).

NFL Running Back Power Rankings Based on Odds: Bijan Robinson Will be Best RB in 2026

It is remarkable that three-quarters of the NFC West are expected to secure at least 10 wins, which also clarifies why the Arizona Cardinals are positioned at the bottom of the rankings. This situation (along with their relatively favorable schedule for 2026), has resulted in them having the highest anticipated win total among AFC teams not favored to win their division. Although we already knew the 17 opponents for each team, we can now forecast how the season might progress based on challenging sequences, bye weeks, and the timing of particular matchups. Predicting the top 10 selections in the 2026 NFL Draft by utilizing the most recent betting odds. Forecasting the top 10 choices in the 2026 NFL Draft by employing the betting odds.

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