NFL Odds: Patriots, Panthers Are Underdogs and 49ers Are Favored in Every Game in '24
Tyler Conway@@jtylerconway
Featured Columnist IVMay 16, 2024
Oddsmakers are expecting long NFL seasons in New England and Carolina.
The Patriots and Panthers are listed as underdogs in each of their 17 games next season at DraftKings Sportsbook. By contrast, the San Francisco 49ers are favored in all 17 games.
It's not hard to see why the sportsbooks are down on either team.
The Patriots are heading into their first season this century without Bill Belichick as coach, but they're still dealing with the misfirings of Belichick as a general manager. They have one of the NFL's worst skill-position groups and a shaky offensive line in front of rookie quarterback Drake Maye, who may be sitting in favor of Jacoby Brissett simply for his long-term health.
Patriots fans will undoubtedly clamor for Maye early and often, but Carolina may be the best evidence in the NFL for not putting a rookie quarterback in harm's way.
The Panthers saddled Bryce Young with a dreadful core last season and watched their top overall pick flounder as a result. Young threw for 2,877 yards and 11 touchdowns against 10 interceptions while completing just 59.8 percent of his passes.
His best receiver was a 33-year-old Adam Thielen, who was cut by the Minnesota Vikings before landing in Carolina. His top running back, Chuba Hubbard, averaged 3.8 yards per carry while prized offseason signing Miles Sanders got benched for ineffectiveness.
Carolina finished with the NFL's worst record but handed the pick over to the Chicago Bears as a result of their trade to land Young in the first place. All of which left the Panthers without much hope of landing Young a surefire star at a skill position or elite blindside protection.
The 49ers, meanwhile, remain a juggernaut on both sides of the ball, thanks in large part to Brock Purdy's team-friendly rookie deal.
While Purdy will get paid like a franchise quarterback soon enough, he'll have the benefit of Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel and George Kittle returning as his supporting cast alongside first-round pick Ricky Pearsall.
