The NFL crowned a new Super Bowl champion in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and now the offseason free agency period has begun. The teams will now look to bolster rosters for the 2021 season from the free agent pool and the upcoming NFL Draft in April. Which teams have the fewest holes to fill? We get some idea by looking the top sportsbooks odds for Super Bowl LVI, scheduled for February 6, 2022 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
Favorites:
Kansas City Chiefs (+550): Despite getting completely outplayed by the Buccaneers this past Super Bowl, the Chiefs have the most explosive team in the NFL. A completely healthy Patrick Mahomes and offensive line make the Chiefs the runaway favorites.
Green Bay Packers (+900): The Packers advanced deep into the playoffs without any game-changing weapons on the outside. Aaron Rodgers is likely to return and he should have more potent targets as the Packers’ front office addresses the needs in the draft.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+900): At the age of 43, Tom Brady closed the lid on the case as to who is the greatest quarterback of all-time. If the Buccaneers’ defense remains elite, Brady has enough weapons around him to get back to the big game.
Los Angeles Rams (+1200): The trade of Jared Goff to the Detroit Lions for Matthew Stafford is a brilliant move by the Rams. He is a better fit in Sean McVay’s offense and has a slew of weapons around him. In addition, the Rams defense is one of the best with the likes of Jalen Ramsey and Aaron Donald.
Baltimore Ravens (+1200): We all know what Lamar Jackson can do with his legs. Now it’s time for the Ravens passing attack to become equally as effective. This lack of consistency on offense has led to rather early playoff exits by the Ravens. The feeling is that will all change this season.
Buffalo Bills (+1200): One of the surprise teams in the NFL last season, the Bills appear to be for real with the increasing growth of Josh Allen. He has the chance to be among the best dual threat quarterbacks in the NFL and it helps to have the likes of Stefon Diggs to throw to.
Contenders:
San Francisco 49ers (+1400): Don’t let last season’s poor record fool you. The 49ers were decimated by injuries, losing Nick Bosa, Jimmy Garoppolo, George Kittle, Dee Ford, Raheem Mostert, Solomon Thomas, and Richard Sherman all for significant periods of time. A healthy time equals contention for this team.
New Orleans Saints (+1700): For the Saints to reach the top, they will have to do so without Drew Bress, who retired as one of the greatest quarterbacks in league history. Now Taysom Hill or Jameis Winston will take the helm to lead a solid team which should be good enough to contend.
Seattle Seahawks (+2200): The Seahawks offense struggled from Russell Wilson on down. It was a strange season for Wilson, who went from near lock for MVP to just another quarterback by season’s end. The feeling is that there will be a bounce back both from Wilson and the Seahawks as a whole.
Indianapolis Colts (+2200): When Phillip Rivers announced his retirement, the Colts were on a list of teams desperate for a quarterback. The Carson Wentz trade should solidify the position. Forget the blip on the radar poor season last year in Philadelphia, Wentz is reunited with Frank Reich and expect a possible candidate for Comeback Player of the Year.
Cleveland Browns (+2200): The Browns feature one of the best rushing attacks in the NFL. Add in the momentum of their first playoff win in 27 years and the return of Odell Beckham and the Browns should be in the mix come season’s end.
Note for potential betters when considering the NFL point spread:
Suppose the Cowboys are on the road against the Packers and the line is –7.5 for the Packers. That means that if you bet on the Packers to cover the spread, they will have to win by at least 8 for you to cash in. If you bet on the Cowboys, the underdog at +7.5, that means if they lose by less than 8 points, you cover the spread and win your bet. If a line is a whole number, there is a chance the bet pushes, which means a tie. In that case, neither the bettor nor the Sportsbook wins any money. Basically, the money wagered is returned to the bettor.
