For some teams, the NFL schedule release provided clear-cut advantages. For others, it added a layer of difficulty.
It provides the latest wrinkle for evaluating NFL odds across various futures markets ahead of the upcoming season.
Two AFC powers clearly benefit from the 2026 schedule. A third takes a massive hit as it prepares to face a difficult schedule.
Then there’s an NFC division favorite that faces an uphill climb. Let’s dive into the biggest betting winners and losers of the 2026 NFL schedule release.
Betting Winners of the 2026 NFL Schedule Release
Cincinnati Bengals
Years of pent-up scheduling disadvantages finally turned in the Bengals’ favor.
The logical starting point is Cincinnati’s matchups against the Ravens. Their first meeting comes Week 7 in Baltimore. The Bengals have a Week 6 bye, whereas Baltimore plays at Cleveland.
The two leading AFC North contenders meet next in Week 17. It’s a short-week road game for the Ravens. Cincinnati then gets a mini-bye before playing Cleveland at home in Week 18.
While the Bengals face a divisional contest against Pittsburgh off the Steelers’ bye week, they enjoy one additional advantage.
Including those two matchups with Baltimore, the Bengals play only three games against teams possessing double-digit win totals.
Their third and final qualifier comes in Week 14 against the Chiefs at home. For Kansas City, it’s the third straight road game after games against the Bills and Rams.
Read More: Bengals Over Under Wins
Talk about a gift for a team that plays the league’s second-easiest NFL strength of schedule. All of this further bolsters my opinion of Cincy’s futures profile.
Buffalo Bills
Somehow, the Bills earned a number of difficult games in advantageous spots.
Week 2 puts the Lions in a short-week road spot at Buffalo. It follows Buffalo’s return from Houston in Week 1. The Bills then enjoy a mini bye before playing the Chargers in Week 3.
Both Buffalo and the Rams get an extra day of prep for their Week 4 MNF showcase in LA. After a -1 rest edge against the Raiders in Week 6, the Bills receive some favorable spots.
One of their hardest unique games – vs. Baltimore in Week 8 – follows Buffalo’s Week 7 bye.
New head coach Joe Brady’s team also gets the Chiefs on Thanksgiving at home. It places the Chiefs into a short-week road spot.
Buffalo plays four of its last six on the road. In Week 13, it begins with a mini-bye against the Patriots! A trip to Denver on Christmas Day provides Buffalo a +1 rest advantage.
Read More: Bills Over Under Wins
All of those factors should help Buffalo recapture the AFC East as an odds-on favorite.
Betting Losers of the 2026 NFL Schedule Release
Los Angeles Chargers
I was already skeptical of the Chargers as a team that has relied on defense to succeed over the last two years.
After seeing the schedule release, I’m even more bearish on Jim Harbaugh’s squad.
Los Angeles faces four games against teams coming off a bye week. Their opponents? Las Vegas, Kansas City, Houston and New England.
I mentioned up top they face a -3 rest edge against the Bills in Week 3.
The Chargers also face a trip to Baltimore at a rest disadvantage on MNF – Baltimore plays the prior Thursday to LA’s Sunday game.
LA does enjoy a bye week before facing a brutal test against the Rams. They also get a mini-bye week before facing the Dolphins in Miami.
Read More: Chargers Over Under Wins
But the number of games at a disadvantage is going to be hard to overcome. If the defensive schedule plays as hard as advertised, LA could struggle this season.
Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia matches the Chargers with four games against teams coming off a bye week.
Like Los Angeles, two of those Eagles games come against divisional opponents. In Week 8, they play at Washington. The very next week, they play at home against the Giants.
A third divisional game puts the Eagles at a disadvantage.
On Thanksgiving, Nick Sirianni takes the Eagles to Dallas for a short-week road game. It’s the third straight home game for the Cowboys!
Plus, Philadelphia gets the Rams in Week 4 off a road MNF game in Chicago. In Week 6, they play the Panthers – off a bye – following a Week 5 London game.
The Eagles do benefit from three straight at home (Weeks 14-16). However, the first comes against the Colts off a bye week.
Read More: Eagles Over Under Wins
It could open up the NFC East for a challenger to end Philadelphia’s division-winning streak at two.
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