2014 Buffalo Predictions
It has been nearly 15 years since the Buffalo Bills have made it into the playoffs and they have posted a grand total of one winning season during this drought.
While second-year head coach Doug Marrone and the Bills’ front office have been active this offseason trying turn things around, it remains to be seen whether it will be enough to actually change this team’s fortunes in 2014.
2013 Record: 6-10
ATS: 8-8
Bills Odds to win the AFC East: +850
Bills Odds to win the AFC Conference: +3800
Bills Odds to win Super Bowl XLIX: +7500
Let’s take a look at the NFL Betting numbers
Buffalo rolled the dice in the 2013 NFL Draft by selecting quarterback EJ Manuel in the first round. The former Florida State signal caller only started 10 games last season due to injury and finished the year with 1,972 passing yards while completing 58.8 percent of his throws.
The Bills are expecting bigger and better things this season as long as he can stay healthy.
Manuel will have a huge new target to help bolster a passing game that was ranked 28th in the NFL last season with the addition of Clemson wide receiver Sammy Watkins. He was the Bills’ top pick in this year’s draft as the fourth overall selection off the board.
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His addition should also help to bring some balance to an offense that relied heavily on a rushing attack that averaged 144.2 yards per game. The offensive line received an upgrade with the signing of tackle Chris Williams as a free agent.
The Bills’ defense was one of the best in the league at stopping the pass, but it was gouged for an average of 128.9 rushing yards a game, which was ranked 28th overall.
This unit also had its issues keeping opponents out of the end zone by allowing an average of 24.2 points, which was ranked 20th in the NFL.
Buffalo added a pair of linebackers in Brandon Spikes from New England and Keith Rivers from the New York Giants through free agency as well as former Baltimore cornerback Corey Graham to try and improve these numbers in 2014.
It also selected linebacker Preston Brown and cornerback Ross Cockrell in the later rounds of the draft to add some additional depth to this side of the ball.
Bills Betting Outlook
It is hard to see Buffalo taking that quantum leap over New England in the AFC East this season, but the franchise appears to be heading in the right direction assuming that Manuel continues to develop as a legitimate franchise quarterback in this league.
I am not sold on that happening as quickly as some football experts have predicted, but he does have the skills and the weapons around him to do a better job at putting points on the board this year.
The Bills’ projected win total for the 2014 season has them running in place at 6.5 wins with the moneyline favoring the OVER at -170.
I am going in the other direction with a play on the UNDER at +140 as they do run in place with another 6-10 record which results in another year out of the playoffs.
With training camps next up for the NFL betting offseason Cappers Picks NFL Football handicappers have been hard at work putting out the team by team Football Predictions and NFL Season Previews for those of us who can’t wait.
Bet on the Super Bowl XLIX winner, plus 2014/15 Conference and Divisional winners today.
