NFL AFC betting preview: Odds and best bets for 2023 season

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As the 2023 NFL season approaches, the AFC is as congested as it's ever been in modern NFL history.

The Kansas City Chiefs are the top dogs and defending Super Bowl champions, but a host of other teams, seemingly all with MVP-level quarterbacks and top draft picks, are lining up to challenge them for the title of the best team in the conference.

Here, we share our favorite bets, long shots and dark horse picks, and teams to fade heading into the new campaign. Let’s dive into the picks:

NFL AFC 2023 preview: A look at the top teams in the AFC this upcoming NFL season

The Chiefs are the rightful favorites at the top of the board, having been to the AFC Championship Game in five consecutive seasons and the Super Bowl in three of those five.

Close behind are the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals, followed by several other powerful squads.

KC has also made its punters look silly more times than not, and although they are actually poor against the spread week-to-week, they have been as solid of a futures pick as any team in the league over the past half decade.

But will they replicate that success again this season? That’s the million-dollar question.

Bet on AFC division title races and other best bets here:

Kansas City Chiefs best bets: To win the AFC: (+350 or better)

We’re sorry to say that the mystery and intrigue of a potential challenger to the Chiefs’ throne are not enough to sway us away from picking the defending champions to win the AFC once again.

Patrick Mahomes is simply, at this point in his career, the best player in NFL history and has one of the sharpest offensive minds ever (Andy Reid) calling plays.

The Chiefs gave rookies the third-most snaps on defense of any team last year and still walked away with the Lombardi Trophy. They should only be better on that side of the ball with the experience they gained.

KC lost tackle Orlando Brown Jr. to the Bengals and is reliant upon Travis Kelce to stay healthy, but they have the highest floor and the highest ceiling of any team in the conference.

Jacksonville Jaguars long shot props: To earn the AFC’s No. 1 seed (+1000 or better)

The Jaguars showed tons of improvement on both sides of the ball during the second half of last season, which saw them win seven of their final nine games, including a 27-0 comeback against the Los Angeles Chargers in the playoffs.

Jacksonville has the requisite qualities of a top team in the modern NFL, including an MVP-level QB, an intelligent head coach, and playmakers on both sides of the ball.

The Jags also play in the most “winnable” division, the AFC South, and get all of their tough games at home.

If they can go 5-1 or 6-0 against the division, they may only need six or seven wins against non-rivals to secure the AFC’s best record.

New York Jets playoff props: To miss the playoffs (+110 or better)

There’s a ton of hype coming out of the Jets’ camp following the arrival of four-time MVP and Super Bowl-winning QB Aaron Rodgers, but Rodgers was only 26th in QBR last season and will be working with young wide receivers and a suboptimal offensive line.

The Jets’ defense allowed the second-fewest points in 2022, but faces a tough road getting back into the top 10 given their difficult schedule -- which includes games against the Bills, Cowboys, Patriots, Chiefs, Broncos, Eagles, Giants and Chargers to start the season.

The Jets have not made the playoffs since 2010 and are also fighting with the Bills, Pats and Dolphins for a spot atop the division, a fight we believe they will ultimately lose.

For information on the best NFL betting sites, visit FrontPageBets.com.

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Grant is a Virginia-based writer for Catena Media who graduated from Virginia Tech in 2021 with a degree in sports media & analytics. He has contributed to well-known publications such as Forbes, appeared on the VSiN TV network. You can keep up with Grant's work here or by checking out his YouTube channel "The Sitch With Grant Mitchell.”