After moving on from Carson Wentz and Taylor Heinicke, the Washington Commanders appear to be confident in quarterback Sam Howell heading into 2023.
The 2022 fifth-round pick led Washington to a 26-6 victory over the rival Cowboys in Week 18 last season, throwing for 169 yards and a score and rushing for another in his first NFL start.
How well will Howell fare in his first full season as the starter?
Let’s answer that question and more as we take a closer look at the latest Commanders betting odds for the 2023 NFL season.
Commanders Futures Betting Odds
Note: These NFL betting odds are current as of Monday, July 3, and provided by DraftKings Sportsbook.
- Win Super Bowl: +6500
- Win NFC Championship: +4000
- Win NFC East: +1200
- Make Playoffs: Yes (+300) / No (-370)
- Regular-Season Win Total: Over 6.5 (+100) / Under 6.5 (-120)
Commanders Super Bowl 58 Odds
Commanders: Win Super Bowl (+6500)
The Commanders have 65-1 odds to win Super Bowl 58, which makes sense for a team transitioning to an inexperienced quarterback.
There should be some bumps in the road for Washington this coming season, especially since it plays in arguably the toughest division in football.
Ron Rivera’s squad rallied from a slow start to post a .500 record (8-8-1) last year and still finished last in the NFC East.
In all likelihood, the Commanders will take a step back before working their way back into playoff and Super Bowl contention.
Commanders NFC Championship Odds
Commanders: Win NFC Championship (+4000)
Washington has one of the NFL’s longest active playoff win droughts, so it’s not surprising to see the Commanders sit near the bottom in the NFC Championship odds.
The franchise last enjoyed a playoff victory in Jan. 2006 and has only reached the postseason four times since.
While there is plenty to like about the coaching staff, which added former Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy this offseason, there are a lot of young players on this roster that will need to make significant contributions.
The Commanders could show potential in certain games, but they don’t have the experience, especially at quarterback, to compete with the top teams in the conference.
Commanders NFC East Winner Odds
Commanders: Win NFC East (+1200)
The Commanders occupy the basement in the preseason NFC East odds, with a significant gap separating them from the division’s front-runners, Philadelphia (-125) and Dallas (+190).
Although Washington has won the division as recently as 2020, it hasn’t finished with a winning record since 2015.
After the Eagles and Cowboys won 26 combined games last season, it’s clear it will take a top team to take home the NFC East title.
While Washington’s defense was one of the top units last season in terms of yards allowed (304.6 — third) and points allowed (20.2 — seventh), even with Chase Young missing significant time, there are enough concerns about the offense to stay away from this prop.
Commanders Make Playoffs Odds
Commanders: Miss Playoffs (-370)
The Commanders have 3-1 odds of making the NFL playoffs this season, implying a 25% chance of success.
That could be a worthwhile wager if you believe in Washington’s upside.
The NFC East sent three teams into the playoffs last season and could do so again in 2023 as the rest of the conference remains relatively weak.
A lot will depend on how Howell transitions into the QB1 role. If he consistently flashes the game-changing ability he showed against Dallas last season, I could see the Commanders surprising some people.
Still, a playoff berth is a significant ask given Howell’s lack of experience and Washington’s daunting schedule.
Commanders Regular-Season Win Total Odds
Commanders: Under 6.5 Wins (-120)
The Commanders’ 2023 win total is set at 6.5 games, a modest target considering this team won eight games a season ago.
However, Washington has one of the toughest schedules in football this season, with games against the AFC East and NFC West adding to an already difficult divisional slate.
Rivera’s team has exceeded this number in all three seasons during his tenure, but it is currently only favored at DraftKings Sportsbook in two of its 17 games.
In the end, there are more ways this prop goes Under than Over.