Lions’ Dan Campbell Odds to Win NFL Coach of the Year

Dan Campbell was a relatively unknown commodity when the Detroit Lions hired him to be the team’s head coach a couple of years ago. He guided the Lions to a 3-13-1 record in his first season, the second-worst record in the league. But heading into the 2022 NFL season, he is the betting favorite at BetMGM Michigan to win Coach of the Year. Dan Campbell COY odds are among the favorites on other betting boards, too.

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He is not the favorite at several other Michigan sportsbooks. However, his odds are in the top 10 of several other betting boards.

Dan Campbell Odds for Coach of the Year

Coach of the Year is not an award that tends to go to the head coach of one of the more successful teams in the league. The winners often seem to be from teams that make a dramatic turnaround, which is why first-year head coaches are well-represented at the top of betting boards.

Ten teams have new head coaches this season.

Coaches that guide their team over significant obstacles also have a good chance of winning. Take last year’s winner, Tennessee’s Mike Vrabel. After losing Derrick Henry in mid-season, many expected the Titans to fade. While they struggled at times, Vrabel kept the team competitive, and the Titans were the No. 1 seed in the AFC heading into the playoffs.

Campbell is going into his second season as Detroit’s head coach, but turning a perennial loser like the Lions into a winning team would make him part of the conversation.

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Hard Knocks Has Given Dan Campbell’s COY Odds A Boost

The Lions showed a lot of potential under Campbell last season, but enough to warrant all of the attention Campbell and the Lions have been getting? Probably not. But being the featured team on the HBO series Hard Knocks appears to have boosted the public perception of the Lions.

When odds opened for Coach of the Year, BetMGM had Campbell at +3000, Caesars Michigan had him at +2500, and DraftKings Michigan at +2000. Campbell is now the betting favorite at BetMGM Michigan, where he has received more than 30% of the wagers and is among the favorites on other betting boards.

His demeanor, attitude, and how he talks to his players have made him popular with NFL fans. But can he win?

Dan Campbell: hands-on coach 🤣

New #HardKnocks tonight 10 pm ET on @hbomax pic.twitter.com/DrF8P23J2L

— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) August 23, 2022

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Betting Analysis

Popularity does not win games, and the head coach of a team with a losing record will not win any award at the end of the season. With 10 new head coaches, the competition will be tough. Campbell will likely need to guide the Lions to a winning record (9-8) to win Coach of the Year honors.

A playoff berth would help, but to go from 3-13-1 to 9-8 would be incredible. Last season, eight games were decided by a touchdown or less, including two wins and six of their last nine. Should that upward trajectory can continue this year, then– yes. The Lions could tack on 6+ wins in 2022.

Does that mean you should bet on Campbell? Not necessarily. Quite a few things must go Detroit’s way for the Lions to win games and for Campbell to win COY. He may be the kind of guy we all root for and want to win, but he has his work cut out for him with the Lions.

Putting a few dollars on him at +1700 would not be a terrible idea, but only if you got enough sleep the night before to warrant skipping your morning latte.

AP Photo/Zach Bolinger