The quarterback situation is far from settled, a Pro Bowl cornerback is making offseason headlines for all the wrong reasons and the once laid-back Von Miller contract talks are headed for the all-important homestretch.
And those are the just the latest developments in what’s been an eventful – and, overall, somewhat shaky – offseason for the Denver Broncos, your defending Super Bowl champs.
But how is all of this being viewed out west in Vegas and by online oddsmakers as we approach mid-June and the final round of OTAs? Glad you asked.
Here’s a look at where the Orange & Blue stand in the NFL offseason odds with training camp a little more than a month away:
Weekly point spreads
The Week 1 NFL lines have been out for a while now, but CG Technology (formerly Cantor Gaming) recently posted point spreads on every NFL contest in Weeks 1-16. Week 17 obviously is a different animal with various teams either resting or going all out depending on their place in the playoff picture.
Starting with the SB50 rematch in the season opener, the Broncos are favored in 12 of their first 15 games, trailing only the Packers (14), Panthers (13), Patriots (13) and Steelers (13) for the most in the league.
Week 3 at Cincinnati (Bengals -3), Week 15 vs. New England (Patriots -1) and Week 16 at Kansas City (Chiefs -1.5) are the three contests where the early line didn’t come out in favor of the Orange & Blue.
Season win totals
These have been out for a month or two now, but some recent numbers from Nevada’s South Point sports book have the Broncos at nine wins.
#NFL #SeasonWins from @SouthpointLV pic.twitter.com/Qgdu0HZLsA
— Gaming Today (@GamingTodayNews) June 6, 2016
That’s the 11th-highest total on the board, trailing the Packers (11 wins), Panthers (10.5), Patriots (10.5), Steelers (10.5), Seahawks (10.5), Cardinals (10), Bengals (10), Cowboys (9.5), Chiefs (9.5) and Vikings (9.5). The Texans and Colts are also set at nine victories with two more AFC rivals, the Ravens and Raiders, right behind at 8.5.
Division-title odds
Will the Broncos extend their AFC West dominance and win a sixth straight title?
Currently, that’s very much in question at the Westgate Las Vegas Superbook, where Denver and Kansas City are in a dead heat, listed as division co-favorites at 9-5 (win $9 for every $5 wagered). And then there are the Raiders who are hot on the trail at 9-4.
The Chargers, predictably, bring up the rear at 9-1.
#NFL Divisions from @Westgate_LV @LVSuperBook pic.twitter.com/cK7rCPnO0m
— Gaming Today (@GamingTodayNews) June 6, 2016
The Panthers (2-7 to win the NFC South) and Patriots (4-11 in the AFC East) currently stand as the most high-priced division favorites.
Super Bowl LI odds
The ultimate question in Broncos Country is whether there’s a Super Bowl repeat in the cards.
And those confident enough to put some cash on the matter can currently get 18-1 odds from online sports book Bovada.
Those are the seventh-best odds on the board, trailing the familiar cast of the Patriots (7-1), Seahawks (8-1), Packers (10-1), Steelers (10-1), Panthers (11-1) and Cards (12-1). The Bengals are also sitting at 18-1.
So, in all, the oddsmakers understandably lukewarm on the Broncos right now, and history is on their side with no team have hoisted Lombardi Trophies in consecutive seasons since the 2003-04 Patriots.
But, hey, that only means better odds for the die-hard Broncos backers who are eager to back up their convictions with their wallets.
Best of luck.
