The NFL regular season will start next week. Currently, there are a ton of betting markets open that will close once the Kansas City Chiefs and the Detroit Lions square off on September 7th, 2023. These markets are the futures and ante-post markets, which do not always stay open during live games. One market that NFL fans often have fun with in futures betting is the one pertaining to the worst team in the NFL (Worst Record NFL 2023-24). I’ve been mostly harping on the Indianapolis Colts in the market and it’s time to take one last look. They remain at 11 to 1 to have the worst record in the NFL (bet365).
Worst Record NFL 2023: Coaching problems, player problems
The problem I’ve had with the Colts has mainly been three-fold. They have a debutant as an NFL head coach, Shane Steichen. That, right there, means that they are a big question mark. There have been loads of debuting coaches in the NFL that have crashed their teams — even when they did well as offensive or defensive coordinators before taking a head coaching job.
Additionally, the Colts made the decision to promote their QB4 to QB1 during the preseason. That is a major clue that they are not playing for the current season. Anthony Richardson is not a better QB than Gardner Minshew right now, even if the former has a higher ceiling. It’s this ceiling that the Colts are interested in trying to get to. It could cost them a lot of wins this season, even if Richardson’s learning curve is normal.
Then there is the Jonathan Taylor situation. He has been in the trade rumors for several weeks now. The situation has not yet been rectified. What’s known is that he will miss the first four weeks of the season. He is the best player in Indianapolis. As a top-tier running back in the NFL, he could have been a major help to a rookie QB. Maybe the situation will work out for the last 13 games still — but maybe it won’t.
Betting Recommendation: I’m Sticking With the Colts and Panthers
There are other teams that are certainly in the debate for the worst record in the NFL this season. At the head of the pack, you find the Arizona Cardinals. They are just +210 with Joshua Dobbs coming to town. Kyler Murray is still injured and his name is mentioned in trade rumors. But as long as he is with the Cardinals, one simple possibility remains: he might play for them. If Murray heals and plays a 10-game season, there should be a few wins there for Arizona. You don’t need all that many to avoid the bottom of the NFL.
The Colts are currently 11 to 1 to have the worst regular season record in the NFL during the 2023/24 season. According to previous articles on this matter, they have been at those odds for a little while now. With their thoughts on the future, with a rookie QB, with a debutant as a head coach, and with their best player on the PUP list, 11 to 1 looks like it could shorten.
My last recommendation on this market, for the preseason, is to go with Indianapolis. The Carolina Panthers, at 18 to 1, are also worth a dabble.
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