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After the conclusion of the NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions observed minimal alterations to their 2022 futures odds, indicating little change for the forthcoming season.
Surprisingly, head coach Dan Campbell has been rapidly climbing the rankings in the Coach of the Year market.
Once considered a long shot to win, Campbell has now emerged as one of the premier coaches in the league.
Is it possible for the Lions’ second-year leader to secure the victory and bring joy to Michigan sports bettors?
Campbell most bet on for COY
According to ProFootballTalk’s Tuesday morning report, Dan Campbell is currently leading in both the number of wagers placed and the total amount of money bet on him in the Coach of the Year market at Caesars Sportsbook MI.
Campbell is receiving nearly three times the number of bets for COY and twice the amount of handle compared to any other coach in the market.
Caesars has adjusted Campbell’s odds from 60-1 to 25-1 within the past week, owing to a significant increase in the number of bets placed on him.
Campbell trending upward at other sportsbooks
Other sportsbooks are also experiencing a significant surge in Campbell wagers, not just Caesars.
Campbell is receiving the majority of wagers, 35%, to win Coach of the Year at BetMGM Michigan. The nearest competitor, Frank Reich of the Indianapolis Colts, trails behind with only 12% of the wagers.
MGM has assigned Campbell odds of +2000 to win the AP Coach of the Year award. He is grouped with Reich, John Harbaugh, and Matt Lafleur, who all share odds of 20-1. Additionally, six coaches are considered co-favorites with odds of +1400.
Campbell is currently dominating the COY market at PointsBet Sportsbook MI, with 28.1% of the bet count and 33.8% of the handle. Doug Pederson, the new coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars, trails behind Campbell by approximately 10% in both markets.
Campbell’s odds of winning the COY market have been raised to +3000 by PointsBet, while Brandon Staley of the Los Angeles Chargers remains their top choice with odds of +1300.
Campbell’s odds in the COY markets are also worth mentioning in other sportsbooks.
- DraftKings Sportsbook MI: +2000
- FanDuel Sportsbook MI: +2000
- BetRivers Sportsbook MI: +1500
What would it take for Campbell to win?
In his inaugural season as head coach, Dan Campbell led the Detroit Lions to a record of 3 wins, 13 losses, and 1 tie.
The AP NFL Coach of the Year Award has been presented since 1957, and only one coach has achieved the distinction despite having a losing record. Jimmy Johnson made history in 1990 by winning the award as the coach of the Dallas Cowboys, despite their 7-9 record. The previous season, Dallas had a dismal 1-15 record.
From that point onward, every champion has secured a minimum of 10 victories in their corresponding season.
With the introduction of a 17-game season, Campbell would need to achieve a 10-7 record to reach the coveted double digit mark. This would undoubtedly signify a significant and remarkable improvement.
If Campbell were to win, he would be in the esteemed company of George Wilson (1957) and Wayne Fontes (1991) as the sole Detroit Lions coaches to claim this honor. Wilson guided the Lions to a victorious NFL Championship in 1957, while Fontes led the team to their most recent playoff triumph in 1991. It would certainly be a prestigious group to be a part of.
Lions’ odds staying put
Despite the affection sports bettors have for Dan Campbell, the Detroit Lions’ position in the odds basement remains unchanged.
Books are consistently placing Detroit in the category of unlikely contenders for both the Super Bowl and NFC Championship. Additionally, they are considered the least likely team to win the NFC North.
The regular season win total remains unchanged at 6.5. BetMGM maintains the odds of +500 for making the playoffs.
Considering that seven teams now make it from each conference, it becomes difficult to envision Dan Campbell winning Coach of the Year if the Lions fail to reach the postseason.
Although he is considered a “player’s coach” and is favored by the media for his noteworthy quotes, the Lions must ultimately secure victories in football games for him to satisfy numerous bettors.
