Most Profitable NFL Teams To Bet on in 2021

min read
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow celebrates with fans after the AFC championship
(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Colton Pool @CPoolReporter Aug 31, 2022, 12:40 PM
  • The Bengals were among the NFL’s best bets in 2021 with moneyline and ATS.
  • The Panthers were at the bottom for profitability with moneyline and ATS.

No matter what NFL betting lines may look like, some teams just find a way to provide profit for those who bet on them.

Here’s a look at the most profitable NFL teams from 2021, postseason included, against the spread and with moneylines. 

The money values represent what a bettor would make or lose if one put down $100 on that team in every game.

Most Profitable NFL Teams To Bet On

What was the most profitable NFL team to bet on last season against the spread?

In 2021, the Dallas Cowboys were the most profitable team against the spread at $717. The next most profitable NFL teams against the spread were the Cincinnati Bengals, Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers.

What was the most profitable NFL team to bet last season on moneylines?

In 2021, the Tennessee Titans were the most profitable team to bet the moneyline on last season at $870. The next most profitable NFL teams regarding moneylines were the Las Vegas Raiders, Cincinnati Bengals, Arizona Cardinals and New Orleans Saints.

Least Profitable NFL Teams To Bet On

What was the least profitable NFL team to bet on last season against the spread?

In 2021, the Jacksonville Jaguars were the least profitable team against the spread at -$749. The next least profitable NFL teams against the spread were the Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, New York Jets and New York Giants.

What was the least profitable NFL team to bet last season on moneylines?

In 2021, the Carolina Panthers were the least profitable team to bet the moneyline on last season at -$614. The next least profitable NFL teams relating to moneylines were the New York Giants, New York Jets, Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions.

Most Profitable NFL Teams Against the Spread

TeamRecordROIMoney
Cowboys13-5-039.8%+$717
Bengals14-7-028.1%+$591
Packers12-6-026.3%+$473
Lions11-6-023.4%+$397
49ers12-8-015.5%+$309
Colts10-7-013.3%+$225
Bills10-7-211.8%+$224
Patriots10-8-010.6%+$191
Cardinals10-8-07.9%+$142
Titans10-8-06.9%+$123
Dolphins9-7-16.7%+$114
Seahawks9-8-03.2%+$55
Buccaneers10-9-02.6%+$49
Vikings9-8-01.1%+$19
Saints9-8-00.6%+$10
Chiefs10-10-0-5.0%-$101
Broncos8-9-0-8.1%-$138
Chargers8-9-0-9.0%-$153
Eagles8-9-1-8.8%-$157
Ravens8-9-0-9.3%-$158
Rams10-11-0-8.3%-$174
Texans8-9-0-10.6%-$181
Raiders8-10-0-14.3%-$258
Commanders7-9-1-15.3%-$260
Steelers8-10-0-14.8%-$266
Browns7-10-0-19.6%-$332
Falcons6-10-1-27.2%-$462
Giants6-11-0-31.8%-$540
Jets6-11-0-32.4%-$550
Bears6-11-0-32.6%-$554
Panthers5-12-0-40.4%-$686
Jaguars5-12-0-44.1%-$749

Most Profitable NFL Teams When Betting Moneylines

TeamsRecordROIMoney
Titans12-6-048.4%+$870
Raiders10-8-042.5%+$765
Bengals13-8-032.3%+$678
Cardinals11-7-027.0%+$486
Saints9-8-021.4%+$364
Packers13-5-019.4%+$350
Rams16-5-016.0%+$336
Steelers9-8-117.0%+$306
49ers12-8-010.9%+$218
Dolphins9-8-012.7%+$216
Jaguars3-14-07.8%+$133
Cowboys12-6-04.9%+$89
Colts9-8-00.8%+$13
Chargers9-8-00.0%+$0
Chiefs14-6-0-3.4%-$68
Texans4-13-0-4.9%-$83
Commanders7-10-0-6.0%-$103
Buccaneers14-5-0-6.1%-$116
Patriots10-8-0-11.7%-$210
Bills12-7-0-13.7%-$259
Falcons7-10-0-15.4%-$261
Eagles9-9-0-15.2%-$273
Vikings8-9-0-17.3%-$295
Broncos7-10-0-17.9%-$304
Ravens8-9-0-19.3%-$329
Bears6-11-0-22.3%-$378
Seahawks7-10-0-22.9%-$390
Lions3-13-1-23.9%-$407
Browns8-9-0-26.3%-$448
Jets4-13-0-29.0%-$493
Giants4-13-0-35.9%-$611
Panthers5-12-0-36.1%-$614

Most Profitable NFL Teams Expectations

The Bengals were among the top three most profitable teams, both with moneylines and ATS. The Titans, Cardinals, Packers and 49ers were all in the top 10 for both.

The Panthers were among the top two least profitable teams for both moneylines and ATS. The Giants and Jets were bottom five for both, and the Browns and Bears were bottom 10.

So what’s the common thread for all these teams?

One theory: Teams can bring positive or negative value based on expectations. The Bengals were not forecasted to make the postseason run they went on and therefore were profitable. The Browns and Bears were both playoff teams in 2020 and finished with losing records in 2021.

But that doesn’t explain the other franchises previously mentioned. The Packers were anticipated to remain a powerhouse, while the Panthers, Giants and Jets weren’t widely regarded as playoff contenders.

Most Profitable NFL Teams Style of Play

Styles of play also don’t exactly correlate. The Bengals, Titans, Cardinals, Packers and 49ers all were balanced offensively, but only San Francisco was top 10 in both offensive and defensive DVOA, via Football Outsiders.

Most Profitable NFL Teams Playoff Success

The simplest answer may be team success. The Bengals, Titans, Cardinals, Packers and 49ers all made the playoffs last year, while the Panthers, Giants, Jets, Browns and Bears didn’t.

A team doesn’t need to have a winning record to be profitable. The Saints, Steelers and Dolphins were all barely above .500 and yet were top 10 in moneyline profitability, while the Lions were 11-6 against the spread and were 3-13-1 in the standings.

But in terms of moneyline and ATS, teams with legitimate playoff aspirations may be the ones worth betting on, no matter the context.

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About the Author

Colton Pool

Read More @CPoolReporter

Colton Pool is a Web Content Writer for BetMGM living in Bozeman, Montana, focusing on the NFL and NBA. Previously, he covered Montana State football at the Bozeman Daily Chronicle and worked at newspapers in his home state of North Dakota. He graduated from North Dakota State in 2015.

Colton Pool is a Web Content Writer for BetMGM living in Bozeman, Montana, focusing on the NFL and NBA. Previously, he covered Montana State football at the Bozeman Daily Chronicle and worked at newspapers in his home state of North Dakota. He graduated from North Dakota State in 2015.