Online sportsbook Bovada.lv released its initial 2016 season win totals Wednesday, something that at very least gets people talking.
If it gets people wagering -- legally, of course -- that’s just bonus. Regular season win totals for all 32 teams are eventually posted across various online sportsbooks and at Las Vegas casinos, and interested players either choose “over” or “under” for their favorite teams, or ones they love to root against.
Even for folks who don’t bet, the season win totals offer an idea of how teams are perceived by people who do the wagering thing for a living. At least from what Bovada released Wednesday, five teams -- the Patriots, Seahawks, Steelers, Packers and Panthers -- are regarded as a cut above the rest. All five had win totals of 10.5 upon initial release.
The Browns had the lowest over/under win total at 4.5. The Titans and 49ers are listed at 5.5.
Every win total comes with “juice,” the percentage a bettor pays to the house on any sports bet. The Packers over 10.5 wins, for example, comes at a price of -165, meaning a bettor would have to lay $165 to win $100. If you take the Packers under, you’d be wagering $100 to win $135 thanks to the +135 price.
A standard bet on, say, Steelers -3 vs. the Ravens in October comes with 10 percent juice on each side. Steelers -3 would be $110/100, and the same on the other side for Ravens plus the points. Almost every season win total comes with a half attached, because a tie is like kissing your sister -- and a season total bet that ends in a tie results in a refund.
The season win totals will be different at different outlets, and they’ll move if one side gets heavy action. For now, though, below are Bovada’s win totals for each team with juice it’s over 20 percent...
Panthers 10.5 (over -130)
Packers 10.5 (over -165)
Patriots 10.5 (over -150)
Steelers 10.5
Seahawks 10.5
Cardinals 9.5 (over -160)
Bengals 9.5 (over -140)
Cowboys 9.5
Colts 9.5
Chiefs 9.5 (over -130)
Vikings 9.5 (over -130)
Broncos 9
Ravens 8.5
Texans 8.5 (over -135)
Raiders 8.5
Bills 8
Jets 8
Giants 8 (over -160)
Falcons 7.5
Bears 7.5
Jaguars 7.5 (over -150)
Rams 7.5
Buccaneers 7.5
Redskins 7.5
Lions 7.5 (over -130)
Dolphins 7
Saints 7
Eagles 7
Chargers 7
49ers 5.5
Titans 5.5 (over -160)
Browns 4.5 (over -130)
