NFL Expert Picks, Predictions, Against The Spread Sports Illustrated

Breaking down how the betting market is evaluating which player will be selected with the No. 2 pick by the New York Jets in the 2026 NFL Draft. Breaking down the odds for whether or not Ty Simpson will be a first round draft pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Breaking down the opening odds for the NFL Week 1 game in Australia between the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams.

Toughest game to call: Week 11 vs. Packers.

The model then analyzes every matchup of the regular season and gives each team a football betting predictions predicted win percentage across its games. The defeat not only delivers a massive blow to San Francisco’s division title hopes — it extends the Niners’ head-to-head losing streak to five games. The Rams could absolutely get revenge for their 2024 playoff loss to the Eagles in Week 3 and/or surprise Baltimore three weeks later, but it was hard to pick against the home squads in both of those matchups.

• Breaking down the opening odds for the NFL Week 1 game in Australia between the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams.
• After their transatlantic trip, the Vikings get a bye — then hit a three-game skid.
• The Giants have a window to potentially stack a couple of wins together here, when they host the Chargers (who must endure the dreaded early East Coast start time), then visit the rebuilding Saints.

NFL Win Total Projections for Every Team Ahead of Thursday’s Schedule Release

I had a difficult time here, because the game will take place in December, when the Packers usually play their best, and it will be in Green Bay. I really had a tough time with this one, but am leaning Washington. Jayden Daniels had one of the best rookie seasons by an NFL quarterback since Cam Newton. At Commanders — at Cowboys, vs. Chiefs is a tough way to start things off.

Steelers Super Bowl Odds Make Massive Jump After Aaron Rodgers Signing

Each team has independently analyzed the complete schedule (assessing who is likely to win during the opening weekend), on Thanksgiving Day, at the conclusion of each season, and in all the games in between. The NFC playoff bracket is highly competitive (featuring six teams with 11 or more victories), while players like Bijan Robinson and Drake London are finally making their appearances in the NFL playoffs. The standings in the NFC South are clearer this time — as three teams achieved eight wins in 2025. Surrounding the leading teams in the NFC, there is significantly more optimism, with projections indicating that seven teams will secure at least 9.5 victories, in contrast to just three in the AFC. It is essential to understand that the simulations for the regular season account for potential ties, meaning that the predicted win-loss records may not total exactly 17 games for all franchises. I expected the Cardinals’ offense to show greater consistency this season, yet I was taken aback when I ultimately projected them to lose five out of their last seven games, mirroring last year’s performance.

High point: Week 1 vs. Giants.

While the Steelers were perennial contenders under Mike Tomlin — and Mike McCarthy has a glowing record when his quarterback stays healthy, this is a non-zero possibility. The Baltimore Ravens rally to reclaim the AFC North title — but the standout result is the Pittsburgh Steelers finishing at the bottom of the table with only five wins. The similarly stacked NFC North also promises to be an intriguing battle for dominance, as just 0.2 wins separate the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, and Detroit Lions. We also get data on how often that team earns which seed and the number of simulations in which they are selecting at different points in the 2027 NFL Draft. Taken from PFSN’s Football Playoff Meter, the FPM simulates the season 100,000 times and provides average win-loss records. The 2026 NFL schedule release was the final piece of the puzzle towards projecting the upcoming season.

But four road trips over the first six weeks and the Bucs’ high-octane offense combine to take their toll on Kyle Shanahan’s crew. In turn, Sean McVay is able to rest his starters in advance of Wild Card Weekend. This one feels like a true toss-up right now, so I’m giving the edge to the quarterback who’s never lost at AT&T Stadium — in high school, college or the pros (Kyler Murray improves to 9-0 there after this Week 9 dub.)

According to betting odds, Bijan Robinson is expected to emerge as the top running back in the NFL by 2026.

An astonishing three-quarters of the NFC West are expected to achieve at least 10 wins, which also explains why the Arizona Cardinals are ranked at the bottom. Along with their relatively easy schedule for 2026, this has resulted in them having the highest anticipated win total among all AFC teams not predicted to clinch their division. Although we already knew the 17 opponents for each team (we can now start to forecast how the season might unfold), taking into account challenging stretches, bye weeks, and the scheduling of specific matchups. The latest betting odds are being utilized to forecast the top 10 selections in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. The betting odds are employed to anticipate the top 10 choices in the 2026 NFL Draft.