NFC East Odds: Will Cowboys Win Again?
In the last three years, the NFC East division has enjoyed a new first place team each season. In 2015, there’s a decent chance it could happen again. The Washington Redskins stole the division in 2012, the Philadelphia Eagles won it in 2013 and the New York Giants could take it in 2015 en route to a playoff return.
That, or the jumping around ends this year and the ‘Boys just take the top spot in back to back seasons. The odds certainly support it, as Dallas heads into 2015 (+140) as the clear favorite to win the NFC East.
The one team we almost for sure know isn’t going to make a serious run, of course, is the Washington Redskins (+1400). Robert Griffin III hasn’t looked good in preseason play and many have already called for him to be benched, while Washington’s defense was abysmal a year ago and could very well be a sore spot again in 2015. The Redskins’ odds to win the division are certainly tempting for NFL betting enthusiasts, but they’re the least likely for good reason.
That leaves, within reason, the Giants, Eagles and Cowboys as realistic picks to win the NFC East. Philadelphia has endured a very long off-season full of question marks and few answers, but it’s definitely not impossible to imagine additions such as Sam Bradford, DeMarco Murray, Byron Maxwell and Kiko Alonso taking a solid team and putting it over the top. But the Eagles (+150) aren’t far behind Dallas when it comes to NFC East odds, making the next team in line – the Giants – the team to really consider.
New York (+350) made defensive adjustments from coaching to safety, get a healthy Victor Cruz back, and if we’re to pay attention to trends at all, seem to be next in line to take the division back.
But sometimes trend and logic aren’t what make the most sense. This year, what truly makes the most sense is Dallas repeating as the NFC East champions. Tony Romo is healthy, Dez Bryant is locked up to a long-term deal, that elite offensive line is still there and a so-so defense added stud pass rusher Greg Hardy and returns inside linebacker Sean Lee. If the Cowboys can figure out a way to effectively replace DeMarco Murray with Darren McFadden and Joseph Randle, they just might live up to the hype for the second year in a row.
The room for error is razor thin in the NFC East this year, which makes Dallas the easy choice to bet on if you’re picking one of the top three contenders in this division. If you just want someone to cheer on that could win you major bank if they pulled off a miracle, then go ahead and roll the dice with the ‘Skins.
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