2022 NFL Betting Preview, Odds and Tips

By Charlie Mullan  | 

Aug 31st, 2022 01:58 PM  |  4 mins

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Patriots Look Good To Make The Playoffs

While there are no sure things in sport, especially in the NFL, we feel pretty confident that the New England Patriots will make the playoffs. This is Mac Jones' second season working with head coach Bill Belichick, who is a man you rarely back against when it comes to doing well.

The Patriots made the playoffs last season despite the Buffalo Bills winning the AFC East for a second successive season. With three teams now being awarded wild card berths, New England should retun to the postseason, especially with Belichick running things at Gillette Stadium.

Belichick is very guarded when it comes to praising his players. When he had Tom Brady making plays for him, the coach rarely praised Brady, who left New England with six Super Bowl rings, before winning another with the Buccaneers in February 2021.

So when Belichick praised Jones for his performances in pre-season, we can expect a big season from the second-year quarterback, who led New England to the playoffs in his rookie season. If Jones can stay fit, the Patriots look good value at 6/4 with Betfred to make the playoffs.

Mahomes Out To Prove He's Still A Threat

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was the face of the league, the rising start with the world at his feet and in his arm. He was seen as the man to challenge Tom Brady's record of Super Bowl wins. The score currently stands at 7-1 to Brady, after a couple of disappointing seasons for Mahomes.

Getting to the AFC Championship game in each of the last four seasons, would be cause for celebration for any other team, but after winning Super Bowl LIV, the standard was raised in Kansas City. Defeat in the next year's title game was followed by a loss to the Bengals last season.

In the last few seasons, Mahomes has seen a number of new young quarterbacks challenge him, including Justin Herbert, Josh Allen and Joe Burrow, who all have hopes of leading their team to Super Bowl glory themselves.

Mahomes has a point to prove this season, even though he threw 37 touchdown passes last season. He may have lost one of his favourite targets in Tyreek Hill, but he still has Travis Kelce to catch his passes and take them to the endzone.

The Chiefs have recruited Juju Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling who can expect to receive their fair share of passes coming their way. Odds of 9/1 from 10Bet look very good for Mahomes to throw more touchdown passes than anyone else this season.

Harbaugh Hoping For Better Fortunes For Ravens

You have to feel for John Harbaugh, who saw his plans of reaching last season's Super Bowl scuppered in pre-season when he lost not one, not two, but three running backs. Gus Edwards, J.K. Dobbins and Justice Hillmissed the entire seasons as well as star cornerback Marcus Peters.

That increased the pressure on quarterback Lamar Jackson, but with quality players watching on, injured on the sidelines, it was always going to be a struggle for the Ravens to achieve anything. The fact Baltimore won seven games is a great achievement, but it wasn't enough to prevent them from finishing bottom of the AFC North.

There are a number of factors considered when deciding who should be named coach of the year. Rarely, does it go to a coach who is expected to have a good season based on reaching the playoffs the season before. The other consideration is to improve a team from the previous campaign.

Harbaugh will hope that if his key players can stay fit and healthy, they can lift themselves off the bottom of their division and battle it out with the Bengals for top spot. A playoff place should be within their grasp and if Jackson has the offense clicking, they could be a threat in the postseason.

Taking all this into consideration, Unibet's odds of 25/1 for Harbaugh to be named coach of the year are too good to resist. And if you have a free bet waiting to use from your favourite bookmaker, then why not try it on this bet or either of the other two.