12/1/2020 Update: The NFL reshuffled this week’s schedule, and Washington and Baltimore both have new game times, which are reflected below.
Although the NFL futures market now considers the Washington Football Team a bonafide division contender, any further success is still a bit of a longshot.
This past week, Washington busted up the rival Dallas Cowboys in a 41-16 Thanksgiving Day rout. With its first back-to-back wins of 2020, the WFT now has a share of the NFC East lead with a 4-7 record.
The New York Giants, who defeated the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday for their third straight victory, are also 4-7 in the division. And with its 23-20 win over Washington in Week 9, New York has the edge in the division tiebreaker.
However, with five games remaining for each squad, the NFC East remains wide open. After all, the Philadelphia Eagles (3-6-1) and Cowboys (3-8) are also very much in the mix. In fact, according to current odds, Philly remains the favorite to win the division.
So, as the Washington Football Team prepares for Monday’s NFL Week 13 matchup with the mighty Pittsburgh Steelers, NFL futures bettors are seeing the WFT’s futures odds tightening up considerably.
Washington Is +250 to Win NFC East
Heading into NFL Week 13, here’s a look at the NFC East futures odds, courtesy of DraftKings, one of the largest legal US sportsbooks:
| Record | To win NFC East | To win NFC | To win Super Bowl | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | 3-6-1 | +150 | +4000 | +8000 |
| New York | 4-7 | +250 | +5000 | +10000 |
| Washington | 4-7 | +250 | +5000 | +10000 |
| Dallas | 3-8 | +700 | +7500 | +15000 |
The WFT opened the season as approximately 8-1 (+800) longshots to win the division. They now sit at a season-best +250.
In fact, the team climbed as high as +1450 before the first game of the season. However, after Washington’s Week 1 upset of Philadelphia – and the division’s overall futility in 2020 – the NFL futures markets for the four NFC East teams have been in flux.
However, none of the East Division teams are considered much of a threat to win the entire NFC. At +5000 (50-1) odds for Washington to win the NFC, a winning $100 bet would net the bettor a cool profit of $5,000. (In other words, it’s considered very, very unlikely.)
But if we’re thinking big, why not consider the ultra-longshot of a Super Bowl championship for Washington? At 100-1 odds (+10000), that winning $100 bet on the WFT to hoist the Lombardi Trophy would net the bettor five digits – $10,000.
The WFT’s 2020-2021 NFL Championship odds obviously pale in comparison to those of the NFL’s current favorites. The Kansas City Chiefs (+275), New Orleans Saints (+550) and Steelers (+600) lead that NFL futures market.
WFT Hits Road for Pittsburgh Steelers
Washington’s futures odds could shrink even further if the team can pull off an upset this coming week.
Washington hits the road for a clash with Pittsburgh (10-0). Although originally slated for this Sunday, the game instead will take place the following day – on Monday, Dec. 7, at 5 p.m. on Fox (more on that situation below).
Even with the delay, Pittsburgh will be competing with a short week of rest. After all, the Steelers were slated to take on the Baltimore Ravens this past week before a trio of reschedulings ultimately moved the game to Wednesday of this week. That’ll give Pittsburgh just four full days between games.
Washington opened as 11-point underdogs against Pittsburgh. However, possibly due in part to Pittsburgh’s reschedulings, bettors had pushed the line down to just 10 points by Monday afternoon as early money favored the WFT. Oddsmakers hadn’t yet posted a total by Monday afternoon.
Currently, the odds of Pittsburgh finishing the NFL regular season 16-0 sit at +400.
Few folks would give Ron Rivera‘s Washington squad much of a chance to be the ones to knock off the NFL’s lone remaining unbeaten team. However, it would sure give Washington and running back Antonio Gibson, who’s fresh off a 115-yard/3-touchdown performance against Dallas, some momentum as the team heads into a critical point of the late season.
Other Week 13 Games of Note to Virginia
Here’s what NFL Week 13 offers for Virginia football fans’ other favorite teams:
Cleveland Browns at Tennessee Titans (-5)
After thumping the Indianapolis Colts, 45-26, to take over the NFL South lead on Sunday, the Tennessee Titans (8-3) host the surging Cleveland Browns (8-3). Tennessee opened as 3.5-point favorites for Sunday’s game (1 p.m., CBS), and the line quickly swelled to 5 to 5.5, depending on the sportsbook. The total is a healthy 54, thanks largely to both teams’ top-rated running games.
Tennessee’s Derrick Henry ranks first in the NFL in rushing (1,257 yards). However, Cleveland has two rushers in the top 10: No. 6 Nick Chubb (719 yards) and No. 9 Kareem Hunt (706 yards).
Dallas Cowboys at Baltimore Ravens (n/a)
The Ravens (6-4) were set to host the Cowboys (3-8) on Thursday Night Football this week. However, the Ravens’ recent COVID-19 outbreak forced a series of changes. This past weekend’s game against Pittsburgh was ultimately pushed back to Wednesday of this week. As a result, the Ravens instead will meet the Cowboys next week, on Tuesday, Dec. 8, at 8 p.m. on Fox. Lines and odds for the game aren’t yet widely available.
Carolina Panthers Bye Week
The Carolina Panthers (4-8) enter their bye week off a heartbreaking 28-27 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. It marked the team’s sixth defeat in seven games. It also moved them to last place in the NFC South. Carolina returns Sunday, Dec. 13, and hosts the Denver Broncos (4-7).
