Football
Much is expected of the Eagles in 2025. Talk of a dynasty and winning a consecutive Super Bowl is first and foremost on everyone’s mind. For those in the gambling realm, it’s second. What comes first is putting their money where their knowledge lies.
So, in talking to Steve Maltepes, known as “The Philly Godfather,” one of the country’s elite sports betting authorities and a native of the Philadelphia area, his heart still lies with the Eagles, but his money will be placed on the Buffalo Bills at plus-700 to win the Super Bowl.
“The Bills are going to be favored in every game they play this season, they have the least amount of travel of any team in the NFL this year, basically staying on the East Coast the whole season,” Maltepes said, “and the Eagles are still the best team in the NFC, and the best team in the NFC East, and will be favored in every game they play, except the game against Kansas City. The Packers, with Micah Parsons, will now be a strong factor, and could be favored later in the season, and the Packers overall in the NFC. Last year, the Eagles won six games by six points or less, and now they have a first-place schedule with a target in their backs.”
Maltepes still like the Eagles to be the first repeat winner of the NFC East since 2004, minus—130, since the Eagles won four-consecutive NFC East titles under Andy Reid, and they have a 56-percent probability of doing it. He maintains the Eagles still have the best offensive line in football, though what should be a concern is a defense that lost starting defensive tackle Milton Williams, defensive end Josh Sweat, cornerback Darius Slay, safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, and cornerback Isaiah Rodgers, and depth pieces in Brandon Graham and Oren Burks. Gardner-Johnson had six of the Eagle’s 13 interceptions last season, which accounted for 46-percent of the Eagles’ interceptions. Sweat, Williams, Gardner-Johnson, Rodgers, Burks and Graham combined to account for 46-percent of the Eagles’ sack rate and 23-percent of their tackle production last season.
That’s a lot to compensate for.
The Eagles’ defense will have to undergo some growing pains. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio pieced the defense together last season and will be counted on to do the same this year.
“It’s hard to repeat as Super Bowl champions and NFC East champions, but the good side is the Eagles are playing against a lot of weak defenses this year,” Maltepes said. “Look at Dallas, look at Chicago, look at Washington. The Eagles are the cream of the division and I expect them to win the division again. The over/under is 11.5 wins, and that will be a hard number to reach. The Eagles play nine teams expected to make the playoffs (Chiefs, Rams, Broncos, Commanders, Lions, Chargers, Packers, Bears and Bills) this year. Two of the Eagles’ first four games are on the road, the Rams come in looking for revenge over the playoff loss last season, with Tampa Bay and Kansas City on the road, and Denver improved as the season went on last year.”
Take the under 11.5 for total wins for the Eagles this season, Maltepes suggests, and stresses the Commanders with Jayden Daniels are for real. Daniels masks a lot of Washington’s deficiencies.
In the NFC, he likes the Lions at plus-1,000 in the NFC, and the Bears as a good long shot at 42-to-1.
Eagles season props
Jalen Hurts over 8.5 INTs
Jalen Hurts over 3,155 passing yards minus-110
Eagles to score one offensive touchdown in every game minus-160
Buffalo Bills to win AFC East minus-240
Los Angeles Ram to make the playoffs minus-160
Los Angeles Chargers to make the playoffs minus-130
Chicago Bears to make the playoffs plus-180
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