Despite Thursday’s result, it might be a new day for the Washington football franchise, thanks to longtime pariah Daniel Snyder selling the team to a new ownership group led by Josh Harris.
The sale has raised the collective mood of the fan base and those backing the team at Virginia sportsbooks. But that good will can’t overcome the lack of playoff expectations for the “Big Three” pro sports teams that call the Nation’s Capital home.
The Commanders haven’t tasted the NFL’s postseason since 2020, and the Wizards haven’t qualified in the NBA since 2020-21. But the Capitals have seen quite a bit of success since Ted Leonsis bought the franchise from the late Abe Pollin in 1999 — reaching the playoffs 15 times and winning the franchise’s first and only Stanley Cup title in 2018.
Utilizing Virginia sports betting apps, BetVirginia.com found the odds of each NFL, NBA and NHL team making the playoffs as of Oct. 5. After combining the percentage chance of each team for a city, we were able to arrive at fanbases that were least likely to see the postseason this sports calendar. Only cities with a team in each league were included.
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Fanbases Least Likely to See Postseason
| City | NFL | NBA | NHL | Combined % |
| Chicago | Bears (+2500, 3.8%) | Bulls (+150, 40%) | Hawks (+800, 11.1%) | 54.9% |
| Washington, DC | Commanders (+285, 26%) | Wizards (+1100, 8.3%) | Capitals (+250, 28.6%) | 62.9% |
| New York | Jets (+850, 10.5%) | Nets (+145, 40.8%) | Islanders (+100, 50%) | 101.3% |
| Phoenix | Cardinals (+1500, 6.3%) | Suns (-3000, 96.8%) | Coyotes (+500, 16.7%) | 119.8% |
| Detroit | Lions (-475, 82.6%) | Pistons (+950, 9.5%) | Red Wings (+230, 30.3%) | 122.4% |
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D.C. Teams Face Dismal Postseason Odds
Overall, D.C.’s three main sports teams face a 62.9% combined chance of making the postseason, with the Capitals (28.6%) and Commanders (26%) leading the way for the city, while the Wizards rank dead last at 8.3%.
That 62.9% figure is the second lowest in the nation, behind Chicago’s 54.9% total. The Commanders Super Bowl odds are bleak at +15000, ranked among the seven worst teams in the NFL.
The Wizards have the NBA’s worst title odds at +50000, with +25000 odds of winning the league’s Eastern Conference, illustrating how far the city’s major pro sports teams have fallen of late, no matter who is in charge of Washington’s NFL franchise.
On the bright side, BetMGM Virginia pegs the Capitals’ year-end point total over/under at 85.5, which is 5.5 points better than a year ago.
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