Last week, the NFL released its complete 272-game regular season schedule, kicking off September 5 with the Kansas City Chiefs against the Baltimore Ravens.
The Super Bowl champion Chiefs are once again a favorite to still be standing at the end of the year. But the San Francisco 49ers can do them one better. The 49ers lost Super Bowl LVIII to the Chiefs in February, but they are favored to win all 17 of their regular season games this year. That includes a rematch against the Chiefs in Week 7.
The 49ers are the only team that is the favorite in every opening line this season. And in an interesting note – San Francisco is facing four teams coming off bye weeks, which makes the schedule harder for the defending NFC champions. One of those games is their rematch at home against the Chiefs, who are notoriously good coming off the bye week.
The very next week, the 49ers will play the Dallas Cowboys, also coming off a bye. In Week 11, they play the Seattle Seahawks, coming off a bye. In Week 13, they have to go to the Buffalo Bills coming off a bye, a week after the Niners play Green Bay at Lambeau Field.
The 49ers are paying +800 to win at least 15 games this season, and you can get +6000 if they win all 17 games. An interesting note – the Chiefs have shorter odds at +4000, even though they are the underdog in their game at San Francisco, and at the Buffalo Bills in Week 11.
When betting on which NFL team will be the last to lose, the 49ers are +750 favorites.
Worst Teams According to Oddsmakers
The Carolina Panthers had the worst record in the NFL in 2023, but missed out on the first overall draft pick because they traded it away to the Chicago Bears the year before. According to oddsmakers, they are going to be right in the thick of things in the race for the top pick in 2025.
Carolina is the underdog in all 17 games in 2024, and the bet on which team finishes with the fewest wins has the Panthers at +450. That is tied with the New England Patriots, who also pay +450. The Patriots are also underdogs in all 17 of the regular season games. The race to the bottom of the standings and to the top of the draft board should be interesting.
The closest odds for New England in any single game is +2 at home against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 13.
The closest odds for Carolina is +1 at home against the New York Giants in Week 10, and +1 against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 16.
Tied for third on the odds board for fewest wins in 2024 are the Tennessee Titans and Denver Broncos, each paying +650. The Titans are favored against the Patriots in Week 9, and are underdogs in their 16 other games. The Broncos are favorites at home against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 5, and at home against the Panthers in Week 8. They are underdogs in their other 15 games.
Based on expected 2024 win totals, the Patriots have the second-hardest schedule. The Titans have the sixth-hardest, and the Broncos have the eighth-hardest. On the other end of the spectrum, the Panthers have the 10th-easiest schedule. The 49ers strength of schedule ranks 15th-hardest.
With over 25 years of experience as a distinguished sports writer for renowned platforms such as Fox Sports and ESPN, Kyle Garlett is a sports betting specialist who has been at the forefront of documenting the global surge in sports betting and online gaming. Based in Denver, Colorado, Kyle hosts an NFL betting YouTube show and podcast. Kyle also has two sports books published by HarperCollins.
Kyle graduated the Azusa Pacific University in 1996 with a B.A. Degree in Communication and Journalism.
