Epstein advised against betting Detroit at the current +155 to win the NFC North. She expects the market to move after a brutal three-game opening stretch at Green Bay, versus Chicago, and on Monday night in Baltimore. With the Lions projected to face the league’s third-hardest schedule, she believes a 1-2 start is realistic; if that happens, sportsbooks should adjust division odds upward, giving bettors a much juicier price. Her plan is to monitor those first three weeks and only buy into the division future once the number drifts, instead of locking in a short preseason price.

Ariel Epstein said the Lions are worth a futures ticket at 11-to-1 to win the Super Bowl. She pointed out that Detroit finished 2024 with the league’s most efficient offense while running on the third-highest rate and ranking ninth in yards per carry, and their entire backfield returns. Defensively, she expects a leap because Aiden Hutchinson is healthy after missing 12 games last year, Alex Anzalone is now under a re-worked deal, and the run defense already held opponents to the fifth-fewest rushing yards per game. The long-standing liability—the secondary—has been overhauled: Kirby Joseph and Brian Branch form what Epstein called a potential best-in-the-NFL safety duo, free-agent DJ Reed lines up opposite first-rounder Terrion Arnold, and the coaching continuity remains with former assistant John Morton taking over as OC. Epstein emphasized that if the secondary cuts down on explosive plays (Detroit was bottom-10 in that category), the roster is balanced enough to navigate the NFC, which she sees as wide open outside of Philadelphia, making the 11-to-1 number a strong payout for bettors willing to lock in preseason exposure.

Ariel Epstein labeled the Dallas Cowboys a live long-shot at +550 to win the NFC East. She argued the market overreacts to Washington’s one-year surge and discounts Philadelphia fatigue, while ignoring a veteran Cowboys roster that posted three straight 12-win seasons before last year’s injury-marred dip. The return of shutdown corner Trevon Diggs, plus a healthy Dak Prescott leading a still-potent offense, gives Dallas legitimate upside. Combined with expected Eagles regression on both sides of the ball, Epstein views +550 as a strong value bet for the division crown.

Ariel Epstein warned that the Eagles defense could regress early in 2025 despite Vic Fangio’s oversight. Philadelphia lost Josh Sweat, Darius Slay, Brandon Graham, C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Milton Williams—4,070 defensive snaps—while patching those holes with youngsters Jihaad Campbell plus veterans Josh Uche, Aziz Ojulari and Adoree Jackson. Epstein still projects a top-10 finish, but the turnover in personnel makes her anticipate a slower start, encouraging bettors to attack game-total overs and DFS stacks against the Eagles in September before the new pieces settle in.

Ariel Epstein advised taking the over on Jalen Hurts’ 3,200.5 season-long passing-yard prop. Hurts logged only 2,903 yards last year, yet Epstein expects new coordinator Kevin Batulow to front-load the passing attack to preserve Saquon Barkley. Hurts already flashes elite deep-ball chemistry; Batulow’s mandate is to improve his intermediate efficiency while maintaining the same overall scheme familiarity under Nick Sirianni. With a 300-yard cushion versus last season, a friendlier early-season pass rate, and the goal of keeping Barkley fresh, Epstein believes Hurts can eclipse 3,200 yards and reward over bettors.

Ariel Epstein recommended betting under 1,500.5 rushing yards on Saquon Barkley. Barkley erupted for 2,005 yards last season after moving from the league’s worst offensive line to what Epstein called the best, but she expects natural regression and workload management. New offensive coordinator Kevin Batulow—Jalen Hurts’ fifth play-caller in six seasons—wants to lean on the pass early to keep Barkley healthy and avoid the injury-related absences that have plagued him in the past. Because the current line still requires Barkley to be the ninth player in league history to reach 1,500 yards multiple times, Epstein views the under as the smarter season-long wager.