Worse met worst for the Denver Broncos before the 2020 season even began. Tackle Ju’Wan Johnson announced he was opting out of the season over health and safety concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic (now will miss 2021 with a torn Achilles) and one day before the season was to begin, Von Miller was lost to an ACL tear. Star receiver Courtland Sutton was lost to injury in Week 2 and the Broncos fell to a flat 5-11. With their disastrous season firmly behind them (which included a game with zero active quarterbacks on their roster), Denver is looking to the future.
It’s clear Drew Lock is the guy for at least another season, but there’s plenty of pieces that need to be upgraded. Without Miller, the Broncos were unable to create turnovers and finished the season last in turnover differential. As some of their key pieces continue to age (Miller included), the Broncos are looking to make the playoffs now. Denver did make a push in free agency by signing a new cornerback tandem in Ronald Darby and Kyle Fuller– as well as drafting Patrick Surtain II in the top 10– to complement an already-strong secondary. With that position sured up, the Broncos have plenty of flexibility with their top-10 draft pick.
Denver Broncos Week 1 odds
The Denver Broncos open their 2021 season on the road against the New York Giants. The highlight for Denver is the return of Von Miller (lost 2020 due to ACL tear) and Courtland Sutton (missed 15 games due to the same injury), both of which are players poised to succeed against the Giants. Miller faces a Giants offensive line that ranked last in pass blocking per PFF and allowed the second-highest pressure rate in the NFL a season ago. Sutton (6′ 4″) will likely see plenty of James Bradberry (6′ 1″) this game, giving him a physical advantage on the outside.
The Broncos also bolstered their already-strong secondary this offseason, adding Ronald Darby and Kyle Fuller in free agency, as well as drafted Patrick Surtain II, Caden Stearns, and Jamar Johnson. The Giants added star receiver Kenny Golloday in free agency and drafted Florida speedster Kadarius Toney, both of which will have work to do in their New York debut. Bryce Callahan has played the most snaps out of the slot corner position for Denver and is also PFF’s highest-graded Broncos defensive back; he will likely be matched up against Toney often.
This game’s over/under is worth a watch, that’s currently slated at . The Giants finished a league-worst 3-13 against the over last year while the Broncos ranked 28th in points scored per game in 2020.
Best Broncos betting site(s)
Denver Broncos 2021 schedule and betting odds
| Week | Date | Opponent | Kickoff Time | Opening Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Sunday, Sept. 12 | at New York Giants | 4:25 p.m. ET | Broncos -1.5 |
| Week 2 | Sunday, Sept. 19 | at Jacksonville Jaguars | 1 p.m. ET | OTB |
| Week 3 | Sunday, Sept. 26 | vs. New York Jets | 4:05 p.m. ET | OTB |
| Week 4 | Sunday, Oct. 3 | vs. Baltimore Ravens | 4:25 p.m. ET | OTB |
| Week 5 | Sunday, Oct. 10 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | 1 p.m. ET | OTB |
| Week 6 | Sunday, Oct. 17 | vs. Las Vegas Raiders | 4:25 p.m. ET | OTB |
| Week 7 | Thursday, Oct. 21 | at Cleveland Browns | 8:20 p.m. ET | OTB |
| Week 8 | Sunday, Oct. 31 | vs. Washington Football Team | 4:25 p.m. ET | OTB |
| Week 9 | Sunday, Nov. 7 | at Dallas Cowboys | 1 p.m. ET | OTB |
| Week 10 | Sunday, Nov. 14 | vs. Philadelphia Eagles | 4:25 p.m. ET | OTB |
| Week 11 | BYE | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Week 12 | Sunday, Nov. 28 | vs. LA Chargers | 4:05 p.m. ET | OTB |
| Week 13 | Sunday, Dec. 5 | at Kansas City Chiefs | 1 p.m. ET | OTB |
| Week 14 | Sunday, Dec. 12 | vs. Detroit Lions | 4:05 p.m. ET | OTB |
| Week 15 | Sunday, Dec. 19 | vs. Cincinnati Bengals | 4:05 p.m. ET | OTB |
| Week 16 | Sunday, Dec. 26 | at Las Vegas Raiders | 4:25 p.m. ET | OTB |
| Week 17 | Sunday, Jan. 2 | at LA Chargers | 4:05 p.m. ET | OTB |
| Week 18 | Sunday, Jan. 9 | vs. Kansas City Chiefs | 4:25 p.m. ET | OTB |
Broncos prop bets
Prop bets are based on individual performance, typically surrounding players. Noah Fant was a popular target for prop betting this past season as the young tight end continued to emerge. In the Broncos’ Week 1 matchup against the Tennessee Titans, Fant had a projected receiving total of 35.5 yards. That game, he hauled in a team-leading 81 yards, giving those who bet the over on his receiving prop the win.
Search below for Denver Broncos team or player props currently being offered at sportsbooks. You can also look around at other teams and players using this tool. Happy shopping!
Broncos futures odds
Futures are long-term bets that can range from an offseason to a full season (or beyond). Team win totals, award winners, and player performance are common futures. For example:
2020 Odds to win NFL DROY
- Micah Parsons +450
- Jaelen Phillips +700
- Jamin Davis +800
- Patrick Surtain II +1400
If a bettor wanted to lay a bet down on Patrick Surtain II to win Defensive Rookie of the Year, they could do so with favorable odds. A $10 bet on Surtain would result in a $150 payout– $140 in winnings plus the initial $10 bet back.
Broncos Super Bowl LVI odds
The Denver Broncos opened with odds to win Super Bowl LVI.
Broncos AFC West odds
After a last-place finish in 2020, the Denver Broncos are currently to capture the 2021 AFC West crown.
Broncos win totals
7.5 wins
The Broncos added a haul defensively in free agency, highlighted by Kyle Fuller and Ronald Darby. Until there’s a change at quarterback for Denver, though, Vegas won’t be awarding them more wins.
How to bet on the Denver Broncos
Moneyline
The moneyline is the simplest of bets, decided by the straight-up winner and loser of each game. Consider the following example:
- Broncos +310
- Packers -185
The Broncos are considered heavy underdogs in this matchup (indicated by +310), paying out $410 total for a $100 bet ($310 in winnings). The Packers are the underdog in this matchup, requiring a $185 bet to win $100 (plus the initial bet back). How much either team wins or loses by does not matter in moneyline betting, the payout remains the same.
Point spread
Betting on the point spread is determinant on how many points a team wins or loses by. Take the following example:
- Broncos +6.5 (-110)
- Buccaneers -6.5 (-110)
In this example, Tampa Bay is favored by 6.5 points, indicated by “-6.5.” If the Bucs win the game 27-20, the Bucs (-6.5) win the bet and would have a total payout of $19.09 on a $10 bet ($9.09 in profit). If the Broncos keep the game within seven and lose 23-17, the Broncos (+6.5) would win, and the payout would be the same as listed above.
Point total (over/under)
The point total refers to the over/under line set by books. This number projects the total number of points scored in a game and, like prop betting, is bet whether one thinks the score will go over or under the set point total. For example, the Broncos’ Week 11 matchup with the Dolphins had a projected point total of 43.5 points. Denver won that game 20-13, resulting in just 33 points. Those who bet under the point total that game would have cashed out.
The Broncos often struggled offensively in 2020, giving their games a lower projected point total. Typical Broncos games say over/unders between 42 and 46 points, sometimes dipping as low as 39 points. Moving forward to 2021 should see a similar trend in projected point totals barring an unforeseen emergence of Drew Lock.
In-play and live betting
Sometimes, the most thrilling and rewarding bets are bets made while games are being played. These are referred to as live bets or in-play bets. Odds are ever-changing during games, which would prove to be fruitful for sharp and prepared bettors. For example, if the Broncos (-205) were heavily favored against the Falcons (+140) before kickoff, a payout on a $10 bet on the Broncos to win would win just $4.88.
However, say the Broncos fell to a big 17-3 deficit in the first half despite controlling the overall game (due to a costly turnover or special teams gaffe). Odds may swing in favor of the Falcons, who may be a -110 favorite at halftime. Taking the Broncos to come back and win the game could present plus-odds (say, +130). Should a bettor take Denver (+130) at halftime and the Broncos pull off the comeback, winners would win $13 instead of $4.88 (plus the initial $10 bet).
This could also be an effective way to “hedge” your bet; say a bettor took the Falcons (+140) in that game, but Denver jumps out to a 16-0 first quarter lead and is controlling the overall feel of the game, bettors could hedge by throwing some money down on Denver (-255) to return some of the inevitably-lost bet.
Parlays and teasers
You can always string bets together in the form of parlays or teasers. Usually during busy Sundays, bettors can parlay several teams to win or cover against the spread and if all bets are successful, the payouts are multiplied. Teasers function similarly, except they allow bettors to move each point spread to a more favorable line in exchange for diminished odds.
Broncos 2020 recap
Record: 5-11
Record ATS: 9-7
Over/under record: 8-8
A strong defense wasn’t enough to overcome an offense that, at times, looked completely incompetent. It wasn’t always Denver’s fault– at one point, they had no active quarterbacks on their roster due to COVID-19 contact tracing and they had to promote a practice squad receiver to play the position. However, even when Lock was behind center, he proved to be mistake prone and occasionally incapable of moving the football.
The Broncos were able to keep themselves in games compared to what oddsmakers projected often thanks to their sturdy defense and methodical way of moving the ball. Their first two games saw Denver covering the spread (against Tennessee and Pittsburgh) and they were even able to upset the Dolphins outright.
Broncos 2021 offseason moves
Key trades:
Key re-signings: S Justin Simmons (four years, $65 million), DT Shelby Harris (three years, $27 million), Tim Patrick (one year, $3.4 million), LB A.J. Johnson (second-round tender)
Key free agent losses:
Key free agent signings: CB Ronald Darby (three years, $30 million), Kyle Fuller (one year, $9.5 million)
Key draft picks: CB Patrick Surtain II, RB Javonte Williams, LB Baron Browning, S Caden Stearns, S Jamar Johnson, WR Seth Williams