There’s a new quarterback in town.
And a Pro Bowler/Super Bowl winner at that in Russell Wilson.
There’s also a new head coach in Nathaniel Hackett.
And don’t forget about new ownership and a completely reconfigured organizational outlook.
There’s certainly no shortage to of reasons to be bullish on the Denver Broncos’ prospects for the 2022 season.
And if you’re hoping to cash in on that optimism by placing some pre-training camp Broncos future wagers, we’re here to help.
Here are seven of the most popular Broncos future bets on the boards. And the most favorable odds for each found among PlayColorado’s top eight-rated Colorado sportsbook apps.
Here goes, kicking off with …
Regular season wins
Best odds: Over 9.5 (-135) at FanDuel Colorado Sportsbook
The Broncos haven’t reached double-digit victories since their Super Bowl-winning season of 2015. And over the last six campaigns, they’ve averaged only 6.5 wins.
But even playing in arguably the league’s toughest division, there’s ample oddsmaker optimism.
At most Colorado online sportsbooks, they’re one of 10 or so teams with a double-digit win total. So getting the extra half-game at FanDuel could be huge.
Still, are 10 wins too much to ask of this Broncos bunch that’s unfortunately known little but losing?
Consider in Peyton Manning’s first season (2012) in the Mile High City, the Orange and Blue finished 13-3. And they didn’t win fewer than 12 games in any of his three ensuing seasons.
Also don’t forget that there’s now an extra opportunity — a 17th regular-season game — to add to the victory total.
Broncos to make playoffs
Best payout: -139 at BetRivers Colorado Sportsbook
As with its last double-digit win season, Denver’s last postseason appearance came in 2015.
Believe it or not, only the hapless New York Jets own a longer postseason drought (2010) in the league.
But with the NFL entering its third season with seven playoff qualifiers per conference, the Broncos’ 2022 chances appear decent.
Especially as one of the six AFC squads with an aforementioned double-digit preseason win total.
And not to mention the fact that Wilson’s Seahawks teams made the playoffs in eight of his 10 seasons in Seattle.
To win AFC West
Best payout: +325 at Caesars Colorado Sportsbook
The Lombardi Trophy-hoisting Broncos of 2015 won their fifth straight AFC West title that season.
But they’ve finished higher than third only once in any of the six seasons since.
During that span, the Kansas City Chiefs have ruled the AFC West. And they’re also the consensus sportsbook favorites to run their division title streak to seven.
In the meantime, the Broncos have dropped 13 straight games to K.C.
That streak likely is going to have to end for Denver to reclaim the West throne.
To win AFC
Best payout: +850 at DraftKings Colorado Sportsbook, Caesars, BetMGM Colorado Sportsbook, BetRivers, Betfred Colorado Sportsbook and FanDuel
Only the New England Patriots (11) have more AFC titles than the Broncos’ eight.
But only two of Denver’s conference crowns have come in the last 23 seasons.
Still, it’s a whole new outlook in 2022.
Colorado NFL bettors will quickly discover that only the Buffalo Bills, Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers own better AFC title odds than the Broncos at most sportsbooks.
Wilson, though, hasn’t played in the Big Game since 2014, his third season.
And Hackett has yet to coach in a Super Bowl in his 13 NFL campaigns.
That’s a lot to overcome for the new-look Broncos.
But that 8.5-to-1 payout sure is tempting.
To win Super Bowl
Best payout: +1700 at BetRivers and FanDuel
Wilson is trying to follow the footsteps of Tom Brady and Matthew Stafford.
Those two veteran quarterbacks switched teams the last two offseasons and immediately led their new squads to Super Bowl titles.
However, Brady’s 2020 Bucs are only one of five teams — joining the 1999 Rams, 1982 Washington, 1981 49ers and the 1968 Jets — who have won the Super Bowl after missing the postseason the previous five years.
The ’22 Broncos have designs on becoming the sixth team in that select club.
Wilson to win NFL MVP
Best payout: +1700 at Caesars
Wilson is a nine-time Pro Bowl selection.
But, infamously, he’s never garnered a single NFL MVP vote.
Of course, NFL MVP voters only can vote for one candidate per season.
But the point is that while Wilson has almost universally been regarded as an elite QB, he’s never quite put together that one, shining ELITE season.
That very well could change if he guides an organization, mired in its worst funk in 50 years, deep into the playoffs.
In his first year in the Mile High saddle as well.
Then Wilson would join the ranks of Bronco NFL MVPs John Elway (1987), Terrell Davis (1998) and Manning (2013).
Hackett to win coach of the year
Best payout: +1600 at DraftKings, BetMGM, BetRivers, Betfred and FanDuel
If there’s a dramatic Denver turnaround in 2022, Hackett is sure to garner his share of the credit as well.
A 42-year-old first-time head coach with his key coordinators all performing their duties for the first time? That’s a sure-fire coach of the year template if such a thing exists.
It would certainly be Red Miller-esque.
Miller was a 50-year-old first-time head coach when he guided the Broncos to their first postseason appearance — and first Super Bowl — in 1977.
That earned him Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year honors.
He remains the only Broncos coach to win the award.
