Miami Dolphins NFL 2025 Season: Odds, Predictions and Sentiment

You should always take the NFL preseason power rankings list with skepticism. The guides, which gauge sentiment around each team, can be helpful, but there are always surprises once September rolls around. The story of teams perceived as bad turning out good is as old as the NFL. Unfortunately, the reverse is also true. 

What about the Miami Dolphins? In most preseason power rankings, the Dolphins are languishing toward the bottom of those lists. They aren’t perceived to be the worst team in the NFL by any stretch (apologies to the Cleveland Browns), but there is a fear that a season of mediocrity looms. 

Of course, that narrative can change, and there is hope that Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill (if he remains with the organization) can provide a platform for success. There are early signs in preseason that Jaylen Waddle can have the breakout season that his college and rookie NFL career promised. Questions remain about Miami’s defense, though.

Below, we wanted to discuss some of the prognoses for the Dolphins as the team prepares for its opening game of the season in Indianapolis on September 7, looking at the Dolphins’ odds, season win-total predictions, and what the experts say. 

The Dolphins’ NFL Odds

The Dolphins are +9000 to win the Super Bowl, making them an accurate long shot. Yet, the more interesting Dolphins NFL betting market for fans is the one for making the Playoffs. The Dolphins are +220 to be in postseason business in January, and -275 not to be in the Playoffs. If you want to view that in probability terms, they have approximately a 30% chance of making the Playoffs. It means they are more likely not to be there, but it should not be ruled out. 

The Dolphins’ Win Totals 

The Dolphins went 8-9 last season. Not terrible, but not enough to sneak into the Playoffs. They finished pretty strong, going 6-3 through the second half of the season, but the damage was done in September and October. Mike McDaniel’s first order of business will be improving on that record. The Dolphins’ projection of 8.5 wins makes a lot of sense—questions over Hill’s future feel central to beating that total. 

The Dolphins’ Strength of Schedule

The good news for McDaniel is that the road to 9 wins is theoretically easier than last season, although by an acceptable margin. The Dolphins’ strength of schedule (the combined strength of opponents based on the previous season’s results) is .474, down from .488 last season. It’s the 21st overall in the NFL in terms of opponent strength. There are some brutally tough matchups, including the double-header against the Buffalo Bills and a visit from the Ravens to the Hard Rock Stadium in late October. But there are plenty of games McDaniel will view as winnable, too. 

What the Experts Are Saying 

There is a sense of uncertainty going into the new season. Experts are keen on the Dolphins’ offense, with names like Jayson Waddle and De’Von Achane mentioned as possible plus points. The primary concern is defense, with Bradley Chubb, Chopp Robinson, and Jaelan Phillips facing crucial seasons if the Dolphins are to be competitive. Hill, as mentioned, may be itching for a trade. And finally, there’s Tagovailoa, who has looked ok in preseason thus far, but for whom questions remain over whether he is the player to lead the Dolphins back into the elite end of the league. There are lots of ifs and buts, yet there are always opportunities in sports to make naysayers look foolish. 

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