The 2021 Washington Football Team will be the underdogs heading into a Week 1 home matchup against the Los Anegles Chargers on Sept. 12.
The NFL today unveiled the 2021 regular-season schedule, including the opening-week games in early September. Virginia online sportsbooks then began posting odds for the slate of games.
The WFT won the NFC East in 2020 with a 7-9 record.
However, despite finishing third in the AFC East, the Chargers are very small favorites as they head east for the WFT opener at FedExField (1 p.m., CBS).
2021 Washington Football Team opening odds
The 2020 NFL season was one of a kind due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It resulted in a host of players opting out of the season. Additionally, across the league, stadiums sat mostly empty due to social-distancing measures and local ordinances.
Things should return to somewhat normal in 2021, though. WFT officials said that when the team returns to FedExField, which is in Maryland, it plans to allow full-capacity crowds.
So, what can those fans expect in the Washington Football Team’s Week 1 game?
According to the opening lines posted by Virginia sports betting operators, the game could be a close, low-scoring one.
At DraftKings VA, for example, Washington is a 1.5-point underdog (at –115 odds). On the moneyline, WFT is -104, and the Chargers are -117.
The total for the game, meanwhile, is 45 (with -110 odds for the over or the under). It’s one of the smallest over-unders among all the NFL Week 1 games, where the Denver Broncos vs. New York Giants (42.5 points) have the lowest total.
WFT are still Super Bowl long shots
Earlier this month, the WFT selected University of Kentucky linebacker Jamin Davis with its first pick of the 2021 NFL draft. Overall, the team got commendable marks for its draft performance.
However, the incoming class of Washington Football Teamers hasn’t done much to improve the team’s 2021 Super Bowl odds. WFT backers can get the team at +6600 (66-1) odds to win an NFL championship and +3000 for an NFC title.
As for the NFC East, Washington has the second-shortest odds (+300) to win the division, behind the Dallas Cowboys (+115).
Most major media outlets and NFL handicappers predict Washington will go 8-8 this season. Head coach Ron Rivera will have to get veteran quarterback and offseason addition Ryan Fitzpatrick up to speed quickly. The team is still searching for its QB of the future, so this year’s success (or lack thereof) will rest largely on Fitzpatrick’s shoulder pads.
Other NFL Week 1 opening lines
Here are the opening-week odds for other local NFL teams of note:
Baltimore Ravens
- Game time: Monday, Sept. 13 (8:15 p.m, ESPN)
- Opponent: At Las Vegas Raiders
- Line: Ravens -6
- Total: 51.5
- Super Bowl odds: +1500
- 2020 season: 11-5 (2nd in AFC North)
Tennessee Titans
- Game time: Sunday, Sept. 12 (1 p.m., CBS)
- Opponent: Vs. Arizona Cardinals
- Line: Titans -2.5
- Total: 51.5
- Super Bowl odds: +4000
- 2020 season: 11-5 (1st in AFC South)
Carolina Panthers
- Game time: Sunday, Sept. 12 (1 p.m., CBS)
- Opponent: Vs. New York Jets
- Line: Panthers -4 or 4.5
- Total: 43 or 43.5
- Super Bowl odds: +7000
- 2020 season: 5-11 (3rd in NFC South)
