Post-Week 8 Odds to Make the NFL Playoffs

• The NFL regular season is halfway home – who’s making the playoffs?
• A solid second half could help the Colts to a Wild Card
  
• Cam Newton’s star season is pacing the Panthers 

Hard to believe, but this NFL season is already halfway home.

It appears teams like the Steelers have righted the ship, but we’re not sure yet if the defending champs will be getting a chance to defend.

While envisioning a potential Rams-Chiefs title game is great, right now the real fun is figuring out what teams will lay claim to one of those coveted playoff spots.

Thankfully, books are just as interested. Like Kenny Powers, we’re your agent to help you make the right bet. It’s time to do our job.

Odds to Make the NFL Playoffs in the AFC

Colts Could Surprise in the Second Half

There is usually nothing that should spark confidence in a 3-5 team, especially one with a no-name defense and highly managed quarterback – one who started the year probably topping out at 40 yards for his max throw. And this was supposed to be a transitional year to set up big things.

This is why the Colts are coming folks!! It's about to be our time https://t.co/e2NsBbz12D

— Sean 🐜 AR5 (@ShawnWard33) October 31, 2018

Yet somehow, here are the Colts, who at +400 are the best value bet to make the playoffs in the AFC.

They are through the meaty part of their schedule, which included the Eagles, Patriots, and Bengals, and it’s pretty downhill from here. They have one team over .500 the rest of the way in the Texans, with winnable games against the Jags twice (3-5), Titans twice (3-4), Dolphins (4-4), Cowboys (3-4), and Giants (1-7).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eblok06-vJI

Led by a rejuvenated Andrew Luck, they are scoring 28.9 points a game (6th) and their defense, led by standout rookie linebacker Darius Leonard, is third in the NFL in takeaways and a respectable 10th in sacks. An ability to score and play some timely D? That’s a pretty good formula to a wild card.

Jaguars the Odd Team Out in the AFC?

There is value in both them making or missing the playoffs. First, let’s run the division winner game to lock up four playoff spots: the Patriots, Steelers, Texans, and Chiefs. That leaves two spots among 5-3 Cincinnati, 5-2 Los Angeles and the mashup that is the South, which includes the Jags, Titans, and the aforementioned Colts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pBILcl34uY

The AFC Conference finalist a year ago has been playing without Leonard Fournette most of the year, and that’s turned quarterback Blake Bortles back to a turnover machine that can’t be trusted.

If Fournette is back for the second half, Bortles goes back to game managing, and that once-vaunted defense can play with a lead. Those are all big ifs. There isn’t exactly a great plan B in place for pivot, either.

.@Jaguars sign former Steelers QB Landry Jones: https://t.co/3LWj5rURRf pic.twitter.com/ivz94Kw1CZ

— NFL (@NFL) October 31, 2018

They have two games against winning teams down the stretch in the Steelers and Washington, and getting the Bills always helps. Much will be determined by the results with their four division games remaining. Can you envision Jacksonville going 7-1 the rest of the way? Behind Blake Freaking Bortles? Me neither. That +1000 will be a great payout.

Odds to Make the NFL Playoffs in the NFC

Panthers Poised to Climb Out of NFC South

Don’t look now, but the Panthers are finally looking like the dominant bunch that rolled to a 15-1 season en route to a Super Bowl appearance. It’s only taken a few years. They’ve re-established that power run identity, ranking second in the NFL at nearly 140 yards per game.

The whole defense forgot about Cam

(via @Panthers) pic.twitter.com/Txx0diaFaa

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 28, 2018

Cam Newton is again the NFL’s lethal red zone threat, boasting a league-best passer rating there and going a ridonkulous 17-for-24 for 115 yards and nine passing scores with no interceptions, while also running in four scores. I can live with the -250 to make the playoffs.

Will Rodgers and the Pack Make the Playoffs?

Looking at the numbers, it seems ludicrous that they’re underdogs at +185 to get in. Green Bay still has the Cardinals, Falcons and Jets on their schedule.

Green Bay still has the Cardinals, Falcons and Jets on their schedule.

But if you also believe that 10 wins ensures a playoff berth, that would mean the Pack has to go 4-2 against the remaining slate that includes road games in New England, Seattle, and Minnesota.

This is a team that also lost some talent in Ty Montgomery and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix at the trade deadline.

We got a SHOOTOUT 🍿 Aaron Rodgers TD pass Marquez Valdes-Scantling 🤲🏾 #GBvsLAR pic.twitter.com/nHRLPo574y

— VERSACEBOYENT (@versaceboyent2) October 28, 2018

But it’s hard to bet against Aaron Rodgers – he’s the ultimate trump card in the NFL. Until proven otherwise, I’m in on him carrying the Pack places they might not deserve to go.

Is that a bridge too far? The North offers some other more tenable wagers. Take the Vikings to make the playoffs at -120, or the Bears to miss at -145.