Going into the 2022 season, the Buffalo Bills are the favorites to win the Super Bowl in NY sports betting.
The Bills were just a play away from reaching the AFC Championship Game for the second consecutive season before losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in overtime. But going into this year, their roster is significantly improved and they look ready to take the next step.
Oddsmakers involved in New York NFL betting agree.
DraftKings Sportsbook New York has the Bills as the sole favorite to win the Super Bowl at +600.
Buffalo is followed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+700) and the Chiefs and Green Bay Packers (both +1000).
DraftKings, the No. 2 sportsbook in handle in the Empire State, has the Chiefs at a +300 favorite to win the AFC over the Chiefs (+600) and a prohibitive favorite to take the AFC East at -225 over the Miami Dolphins (+450), New England Patriots (+500) and the New York Jets (+2200).
The state’s top operator, Fan Duel Sportsbook New York, has the Bills listed as a +650 favorite to win the Super Bowl.
Take a look at the top 10 in FanDuel’s odds:
Earlier this week, EmpireStakes.com analyzed the New York Giants’ roster.
And here is analysis of the New York Jets’ roster.
Keep in mind, as you gear up for football, analysis pieces such as these will appear frequently at EmpireStakes.com, as well as the best NY betting promos.
A CLOSER LOOK AT BUFFALO ROSTER
Just how good is the Bills’ roster compared to the rest of the league?
In a recent ESPN article, writer Ben Linsey ranked all 32 rosters using data from Pro Football Focus heading into the season. Not surprisingly, he ranked the Bills at No. 1, with recently acquired Von Miller being the X-factor for the team this season. Here is a snippet of what he had to say about the two-time Super Bowl champion pass rusher:
“The version of Von Miller that helped fuel a Super Bowl run for the Los Angeles Rams last season is still one of the best pass-rushers in the NFL . . . The Bills will be hoping that Miller can maintain that level of play and avoid injuries in his age-33 season because he can be a game-changer for their defense if he does.”
Last season, the Bills had the top-ranked defense in the NFL in both yards and points. That was without Miller rushing the passer. If he can be even close to the same player we saw in the playoffs, the Bills again could be the No. 1 defense in the league.
OFFENSE IS FORMIDABLE, TOO
What gives the Bills the best roster in the NFL is the combination of their offense and defense. Not only did they have the best defense statistically last season, they also had the No. 3-ranked offense in the NFL.
You can’t bet on awards in the state of New York, but note that DraftKings lists quarterback Josh Allen as the current favorite to win the MVP this season at +700, ahead of Tampa’s Tom Brady (+800) and KC’s Patrick Mahomes (+900).
The Bills aided Allen by loading up on playmakers this offseason, bringing in veteran wideouts Jamison Crowder and Tavon Austin and tight end O.J. Howard.
Where the offense could be even better this season is on the ground. The Bills spent their second-round pick on Georgia running back James Cook, who averaged 6.5 yards per carry during his college career. Cook has excellent speed and is a dynamic receiver who caught 59 passes over the last three years at Georgia. He should have a big role as a rookie and could make their passing offense that much more explosive.
The Bills have several blue-chip players and a legitimate franchise quarterback on their roster. They don't really have any holes and they have several second- and third-year players just waiting for more opportunities. When you weigh the quarterback position and their incredible depth on the defensive line and secondary, this is the best roster in the NFL. And if Allen can make another leap as a passer and be a bit more consistent, this team should be the consensus favorite to win it all this year.
