NFL: Here’s Who Vegas Is Picking to Win the Most Games in 2016

NFL: Here's Who Vegas Is Picking to Win the Most Games in 2016
Von Miller of the Denver Broncos | Patrick Smith/Getty Images

With the 2016 NFL Draft now in the books, it’s time to turn our attention to the regular season and the games that count. Less than a year after they were victorious in Super Bowl 50, the oddsmakers in Las Vegas see the Denver Broncos having a significant drop off in their regular-season win total.

The “wise guys” set an over/under of 9.0 regular season wins for the Broncos in 2016, which surprisingly is just the 12th-highest total in the league. They do have a major question mark at the most important position on the field, quarterback, but they still have the vast majority of their historically great 2015 defense still in tact, which leads us to believe the sportsbooks are underestimating the defending Super Bowl champions.

In addition to the Broncos, there were a handful of other teams — the Arizona Cardinals, Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Indianapolis Colts, Kansas City Chiefs, and Minnesota Vikings — that just missed the cut for our list with an over/under win total of 9.5. So, with that being said, here is a look at the five teams that Vegas is picking to win the most regular season games in 2016.

Carolina Panthers

Over/Under:  10.5 wins

The defending NFC champions haven’t exactly had a productive offseason. All-Pro cornerback Josh Norman is now a Washington Redskin, and they did little to address their offensive line issues — but they still have the benefit of playing in the less-than-stellar NFC South.

On top of that, three of their non-divisional games will come against the San Diego Chargers, Oakland Raiders, and San Francisco 49ers, who combined to win 16 regular season games in 2015. And of course, it doesn’t hurt that they still have Cam Newton and Luke Kuechly leading the way.

Green Bay Packers

NFL: Here's Who Vegas Is Picking to Win the Most Games in 2016
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers | Mike McGinnis/Getty Images

Over/Under:  10.5 wins

We already know that the NFL awarded the Packers one of the most favorable schedules in the league for 2016. And when you couple that with their solid offseason, you have the makings of a team that will be one of the top contenders for the No. 1 seed in the NFC Playoffs. If they can stay healthy — more specifically if quarterback Aaron Rodgers and their offensive line can stay healthy — we believe that the Packers will easily eclipse 10.5 wins.

New England Patriots

Over/Under:  10.5 wins

They may be without quarterback Tom Brady for the first four games of the season, but that didn’t stop the Vegas oddsmakers from projecting a double-digit regular season win total for the Patriots in 2016. They will undoubtedly benefit from playing in the perennially weak AFC East, and when Brady returns to their lineup in Week 5, they will likely have the most complete roster in the league. All said, we see the Patriots as a 12- or 13-win team in 2016.

Pittsburgh Steelers

NFL: Here's Who Vegas Is Picking to Win the Most Games in 2016
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers | Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

Over/Under:  10.5 wins

The Steelers also have one of the league’s most favorable schedules for the 2016 season, and the more we look at it, we truly believe they will be legitimate Super Bowl contenders this year. They will have tough divisional games against the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals. The Kansas City Chiefs, New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys, and New England Patriots will also present major challenges for Mike Tomlin’s squad.

After that, though, the Steelers should come away victorious in every other game that they play. Like so many other teams, the Steelers’ success in 2016 will likely be determined by whether or not they can stay healthy for the majority of the season.

Seattle Seahawks

Over/Under:  10.5 wins

The Seahawks are easily one of the top contenders to win Super Bowl LI, but they will have their work cut out for them during the regular season. They will have two games against the Arizona Cardinals, as well as road games against the New York Jets, New England Patriots, and Green Bay Packers, and a home game against the Carolina Panthers.

Still, we would be absolutely shocked if the Seahawks don’t end up winning at least 11 or 12 regular season games when it’s all said and done.

Odds courtesy of Sportsbook.ag.