NFL Betting: Coach of the Year Odds

Trying to pick the NFL Coach of the Year is usually an exercise in trying to pick which team will be the biggest surprising success in the upcoming season.

Typically the winner of the award is a coach who takes a team well beyond where it’s expected to go. For example, how many people predicted the Baltimore Ravens would have the best record in the NFL last season? If you did, you also probably would have predicted John Harbaugh winning the Coach of the Year.

The same could be said for Matt Nagy in 2018 and Sean McVay in 2017. Both took teams to places few expected, and they were rewarded for it with Coach of the Year accolades.

That makes this year’s NFL Coach of the Year favorite at Bovada Sportsbook very interesting. That favorite would be Bill Belichick at +650. He’s a big favorite too, considering Bruce Arians is second on the odds at +1200.

Belichick big favorite to win fourth coach award

Belichick has won the award three times previously, but although he is often called the best coach in the NFL, it’s been a long time since he last won it. To be precise, it’s been a decade. He last earned the honor in 2010, and also won it in 2007 and 2003.

If Belichick can lead the New England Patriots to continuing success without Tom Brady, he could be an easy pick for the award. If the Patriots do win without Brady, Belichick will likely get all the credit and have a good shot at his fourth Coach of the Year.

Arians has won the award twice, with the Arizona Cardinals in 2014 and the Indianapolis Colts in 2012. He looks to have another shot at winning this year if he can get the Buccaneers back to the playoffs. He led Tampa Bay to a 7-9 record last season, but it’s Super Bowl or bust for the Bucs now that they have Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski.

Arians second, Shanahan third on oddsboard

Following Arians on the odds are Kyle Shanahan at +1600, and Kevin Stefanski, Kliff Kingsbury, Sean McDermott and Brian Flores, all at +1800.

If Shanahan can lead the San Francisco 49ers to another NFC West title, he might have a shot at Coach of the Year, but since it’s expected, it may take him out of the running.

Stefanski takes on the Cleveland Browns’ top job. If he can be the one to finally right the ship in Cleveland, he could be an award favorite.

Cards’ progress could put Kingsbury in contention

The Arizona Cardinals haven’t had a winning season since 2015. If Kingsbury can get them over the .500 mark and into the playoffs in what is an extremely tough NFC West, he could enter the conversation for Coach of the Year.

McDermott leads the Buffalo Bills, while Flores is in charge of the Miami Dolphins. Buffalo has some real expectations this season for the first time in a long time. The Dolphins have nowhere to go but up, but they’ll have to make a major leap for Flores to get award consideration.