Washington Commanders Betting Favorites In Just Two 2023 Games

The new Fanatics Sportsbook at Fedex Field might share a home with the Washington Commanders, but it won’t be listing them as favorites very often this year. 

Early Virginia sports betting odds for the Commanders have them favored in just two games for the 2023 season, including Week 1’s home opener versus the Arizona Cardinals. 

The team picked up the venerable offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy in the offseason and will enter the season with 2022 fifth-round pick Sam Howell set to compete with veteran Jacoby Brissett for the starting quarterback job. Despite being preseason underdogs, the Commanders will look to improve on their 8-8-1 finish from 2022 and make a push for the playoffs in the ultra-competitive NFC East.

When the season begins, the Commanders will likely be under a new owner for the first time since 1999. New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia 76ers part owner Josh Harris agreed to terms with previous owner Dan Snyder last month to purchase the Commanders for $6 billion. However, it still needs to be submitted to the NFL.

Fanatics Sportsbook will keep FedEx Field busy all year

There are currently 15 Virginia online sports betting apps available to players. The Fanatics Sportsbook at FedEx Field opened in January as the first sportsbook inside an NFL stadium. It features 5,000 square feet of space, eight betting windows, 21 kiosks, 38 TV monitors, two LED video walls, and a full-service restaurant. 

Per NFL rules, the sportsbook will not accept wagers on Commanders’ home game days. However, fans will still have access to the sportsbook on those days to eat, drink and watch games. 

Open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to midnight, the sportsbook provides a venue for Prince George’s County’s nearly 1 million residents throughout the year. It figures to become a lively environment come football season, especially when the Commanders are on the road.

Fanatics Sportsbook has accepted more than $1.7 million in wagers through April, including $377K in April. This ranked seventh among Maryland’s 10 retail sportsbooks, something it will look to improve on this fall.

Will Commanders respond to new owner?

Dan Snyder’s 24-year tenure as owner of the Washington Commanders will finally come to an end before the beginning of the 2023 NFL season. His history was highlighted by no Super Bowl appearances, questionable decisions, sexual misconduct allegations and fraud.

Though his $6 billion deal is not official yet, Snyder’s remaining days have been numbered since 2021 and are now in short supply. The league, its owners and Commanders fans will all welcome the change.

But what will it mean for the Commanders moving forward?

Despite recent upgrades, such as this upcoming season’s new video boards and audio systems, FedEx Field remains one of the NFL’s older and less appealing stadiums. It’s not exactly a shining beacon for the team representing our nation’s capital.

Snyder could not secure a deal for a new stadium, another strike against his record. Harris is already talking about building a new $1.5 billion stadium in Virginia.

Despite Snyder’s shortcomings, the team hasn’t been awful on the field since Ron Rivera became its head coach in 2020. New ownership will have deep pockets and acquire a storied franchise in a city starved for football success. 

Harris and the Commandeers face a tough road ahead. All three of their division rivals are coming off playoff seasons in 2022. But if they play their cards right, they will quickly inject life back into the organization.

Fanatics could be coming to Virginia soon

Known for years as the leader in sporting apparel, Fanatics joined the sports betting market in January with its entry into Maryland. Now, it could be expanding its footprint massively in a short timeframe.

Fanatics announced it purchased PointsBet’s US assets for $150 million earlier this week. The deal could give Fanatics access to 15 states, including PointsBet Sportsbook VA.

Unlike many other mobile sportsbook operators, Fanatics took its time entering the market. CEO Michael Rubin said the company was taking a longer-term approach to becoming the top sportsbook in the US in the next 10 years.

This looks to be the next step on its path.