:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69836169/1335283355.0.jpg)
Am I a gambling sharp? No, but I love making some wagers on the Eagles every fall. When done responsibly, it adds extra juice every Sunday. If the Eagles win and some of their stars play well, it means more money in my pockets. It’s a win-win (until you lose...).
SportsBettingDime.com has released a collection of opening odds and over/under prop bets for the Eagles this season.
Here are my takes on each one listed:
Over/Under 6.5 wins: OVER
I’m banking on the Eagles getting to nine or 10 wins. Their early schedule is brutal, but if they can hang tough at 2-4 or 3-3 through the first six weeks of the season following tough matchups with San Francisco, Kansas City and Tampa Bay, they’re going to be in a great spot to go on a late run.
Poll
Eagles wins: 6.5
Odds to win the division (+450): SMASH
I’ve gone on record that the Birds are going to win the division. I stand by it. If they were in, say, the NFC West or AFC North, they wouldn’t be in consideration, but the weak NFC East is in their favor.
Poll
Will the Eagles win the NFC East?
Odds to make the playoffs (+300): PASS
If the Eagles make the postseason, I’d have to assume it’s because they won a middling NFC East. Just take the better odds at +450 ($10 to win $45) to win the division rather than just making the playoffs in general as a divisional winner or Wild Card team at +300 ($10 to win $30).
Poll
Will the Eagles make the playoffs?
Odds to win the Super Bowl (+12500): SMASH
Throw five bucks on this for the hell of it. I do it every year. I’ve gambled during the last five NFL seasons and it’s already hit once!!!
Poll
Will the Eagles win the Super Bowl?
Over/Under 1099.5 rushing yards for Miles Sanders: UNDER
I still think Miles Sanders becomes the Eagles’ first 1,000-yard rusher since LeSean McCoy in 2014, but he’ll just narrowly reach that mark. I expect Kenny Gainwell to come on late in the season and steal some touches, plus Jalen Hurts will be a factor in the running game.
Poll
Miles Sanders rushing yards: 1099.5
Over/Under 716.5 rushing yards for Jalen Hurts: OVER
Speaking of Hurts... he’s going to tear it up on the ground. In his four starts as an Eagle in 2020, Hurts averaged 68 rushing yards per game and that’s taking into account that he got “benched” in the season finale. Projecting that over a 17-game season would give him 1,156 rushing yards. Even if Hurts runs less in 2021 and is at about 45 rushing yards per game, that would still have him hitting the over.
Poll
Jalen Hurts rushing yards: 716.5
Over/Under 855.5 receiving yards for Jalen Reagor: UNDER
This is just too much of a reach for Reagor. I’m not saying that Reagor will definitely have a disappointing season. He should improve from his rookie campaign and be a factor in the Eagles’ offense, but there are a lot of mouths to feed and he’s just not that caliber of a player. DeVonta Smith will get the majority of the wide receiver targets. Quez Watkins may rival Reagor in numbers. It looks like Hurts will make use of both Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert too. Setting expectations too high for Reagor like this is a poor decision.
Poll
Jalen Reagor receiving yards: 855.5
Over/Under 989.5 receiving yards for DeVonta Smith: OVER
I don’t think he goes over this by a lot, but I’m expecting him to be in that 1,000-1,150 receiving yards range. He’s unquestionably the Eagles’ best receiver and potentially the team’s best pass-catcher overall. He would be the first Eagles rookie to reach the 1,000 receiving yards plateau.
Poll
DeVonta Smith receiving yards: 989.5
Over/Under 27.5 total passing and rushing touchdowns for Jalen Hurts: OVER
I say slightly over. How about six or seven rushing touchdowns and then 22 or 23 touchdown passes? It remains to be seen how new head coach Nick Sirianni will approach red zone situations. Will Miles Sanders and other running backs get the scoring opportunities? Will he utilize roll-out passes? Hurts keepers? I’m being a tad conversation here.
Poll
Jalen Hurts combined touchdowns: 27.5
Over/Under 3622.5 passing yards for Jalen Hurts: UNDER
The Eagles have had just one 4,000-yard passer in franchise history. Carson Wentz narrowly got there with 4,039 yards in 2019. Having a 17-game season can change things, but I expect the Birds to run more than they have in the past, especially because of how talented Hurts is in that regard. Maybe he’s around 3,500 yards.
Poll
Jalen Hurts passing yards: 3622.5
Over/Under 2.5 interceptions for Darius Slay: UNDER
Interceptions are hard to predict, but I’m going under. After leading the league with eight interceptions and making the All-Pro team in 2017, Slay’s INT numbers have increasingly fallen off. He only had three in 2018, two in 2019 and just one for the Eagles in 2020. We don’t exactly know how new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon will utilize him, but betting the under is much safer here.
Poll
Darius Slay interceptions: 2.5
Over/Under 8.0 sacks for Brandon Graham: PUSH
Is this a coward take? Probably, but Brandon Graham reached exactly eight sacks in 2020, his first Pro Bowl season. The Eagles will likely give Josh Sweat more snaps this season. Milton Williams will get some run at defensive end. Those dudes will cut into BG’s numbers, but he’ll still be a great player.
Loading comments...