Dolphins and Tua Major Odds Shift
Scott Morris | September 28, 2022
It looks like the controversial 2019 “Tank for Tua” season may have actually not been a bonehead idea. Other than the fact that it is gaining some unwanted attention by the NFL front office, the plan seems to be working. Tua Tagovailoa is playing lights out football and his Miami Dolphins are undefeated (3-0), one of only two teams in the NFL who can claim this. The other team is the Philadelphia Eagles.
Miami just came off an exciting win over arguably the best team in the league, the Buffalo Bills. Still, everything had to go just right in order to beat them. Mainly, the Bills were without four starters in their secondary. Also, Miami was able to use the sun and heat to their advantage. How did they do this? When the stadium cap was put on seven years ago, it created a shaded area for Dolphins (home) sideline and the opponent sideline ended up directly in the sun. Brilliant! True home field advantage.
Miami Dolphins Odds Improve Dramatically
As one of only two undefeated teams in the league, it should only make sense that the Dolphins odds would improve. They started the season at +4000 odds at the very best sportsbooks online. In the three short weeks since the first kickoff their odds have shrunk to just +1600 at most books.
Can Miami beat the Bengals in Cincinnati? The betting public sure seems to think so.
They face the AFC defending champs tomorrow night. That game should tell you a lot about who they are. Oddsmakers have the Bengals as 4 point favorites. As you can imagine, sportsbooks are getting pounded with Miami action. Thus far 87% of the $ has been on Miami.
Miami is also third from the top to win the AFC. Interestingly enough, the Bills are still in first position despite being beat. The Bills are +275 to win the AFC. The Chiefs are next at +400 and the Dolphins are third at +750. The Bengals stock dropped after the lackluster start to their season and are +1400 to win the AFC and just +2800 to win the Super Bowl at BetOnline.ag
Tua Stock is Rising
The young gunslinger from Alabama started the season as a longshot to win MVP. He was +13750 odds to win the award. He now sits at +1400
The folks over at SportsBettingDime put together this great graph. You can click or tap it to enlarge
These are the top five players to win MVP
Tua has thrown for 67% completion 925 yards, 8 TDs and only 2 INTs. If this pace continues he will eclipse 5000 yards passing, throw for 45 TDs and only 11 picks for the season. Certainly those are MVP caliber numbers.
Does Miami have what it takes to win it all? The short answer is yes. They have a good defense. This fact was on display this past Sunday when they held the powerhouse Bills to just 17 points (2 points was from the now-infamous butt punt safety). They have special teams that are good. And they have tremendous playmakers in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. The offensive line is even above average for the first time in over a decade. It seems as if its all coming together for Miami. They may actually end up being “this year’s Cincinnati Bengals”. Tomorrow night will make the big picture more clear.
