Rough going for Betting Favorites
Rams Lose Opener, Lose Myles Garrett
It was a double whammy for the Los Angeles Rams, the strong favorite in Super Bowl odds, in Week 1. They went to Australia and were handled by the division rival San Francisco 49ers. Then, days later, it was revealed that star defensive lineman Myles Garrett would be lost to knee surgery and would be placed on IR.
The Rams are listed at +600 on Super Bowl lines. Their number is as heavy as fellow Angelenos the Dodgers in MLB World Series betting futures. The Rams will be without Garrett until Week 6 … at the earliest. That’s a damaging loss, and it means people who Super Bowl bet might want to keep an eye on this marketplace because LA’s odds could rise.
Where Have Other NFC West Powers Landed?
The Seattle Seahawks lost a key player, too, as quarterback Sam Darnold went out in the win against the New England Patriots. Drew Lock stepped in for the team that is +1100 in Super Bowl odds. The team that throttled the Rams, the 49ers, are +1500.
Either one of those teams is worth a long look because both are built for a strong playoff run. If the Rams can’t navigate the time without Garrett, both San Francisco and Seattle’s odds could drop.
In case anyone is wondering, the fourth team in the NFC West, the Arizona Cardinals, sit at a tidy +60000.
AFC Betting Picture Far More Balanced
The Buffalo Bills are +1000 in Super Bowl lines. They had a tough opener against the Houston Texans, who are +1800 in the market. There is far more equality when it comes to the AFC, with it being a wide-open conference.
The Baltimore Ravens are +1100. The Kansas City Chiefs are +1600. Meanwhile, the Denver Broncos are +1800. Looking for value? There is plenty of it in the AFC, and bettors can spread their wagers across multiple teams and still be in for a nice profit should an AFC team win Super Bowl LXI on Valentine’s Day.
Other NFC Contenders Provide Interest
So one isn’t sold on an NFC West team winning it all? What other teams are in the picture when it comes to Super Bowl lines. In the NFC North, the Detroit Lions need to bounce back from a rough 2025. They are +1800.
The defending champion Chicago Bears are +2500, and the Green Bay Packers are +2000. Let’s presume the market feels that it will be difficult for Chicago to repeat its great success from last year. Call it the Washington Commanders syndrome from 2025, when the hunter becomes the hunted.
In the NFC East, the Philadelphia Eagles are +1700 on Super Bowl odds. The Dallas Cowboys are +2200, and that will be a number that should delight fans of America’s Team. The Commanders and Giants are both +6500. That tells you don’t expect them to be in the playoff picture.
Unfortunately, the NFC South continues to be the center of mediocrity. The team with the lowest Super Bowl bet odds in that division is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at +5000. The other three teams are all long shots, with the New Orleans Saints somehow ahead of the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers at +9000.
