Way-too-early best bets for Super Bowl 58
The countdown to a new season is officially on, and you could argue that there are a lot of Super Bowl contenders. Each fanbase believe that their teams will find success this season. However, like all sports you do have the cream of the crop.
Teams such as the Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles, and Cincinnati Bengals, should be considered some of the favourites going into the year, and then you have teams like the San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, and Los Angeles Charges, who could be considered contenders. This article will break down the betting options for potential Super Bowl winners.
Best bet
The Kansas City Chiefs come in at 6/1 as they are the favourite to lift the Lombardi trophy in the eyes of the bookmakers, having been the dominant team in the NFL for many years now.
They are the current Super Bowl champions and have the 2022 Most Valuable Player playing for them Patrick Mahomes. There were many questions being asked about the Chiefs’ ability to win last season, due to them losing their star receiver Tyreek Hill. Yet, Mahomes and his team put all those doubters to bed by going all the way.
There is a real possibility that Kansas could be able to repeat as a lot of their team will be the same as last year. Furthermore, if Mahomes and Andy Reid perform to their best it’s hard to argue they won’t get their third.
What is the value option?
The Bengals come in at 9/1 but you could say that they should be considered on the same level as the Chiefs. Since the arrival of star quarterback Joe Burrow in the 2020 draft, the Bengals have become a top team in the league. They made it to the AFC Championship game where they lost a tight contest to the Chiefs.
However, the Bengals were leading towards the end of the game, and if it wasn’t for a late flag, you could argue that they would have gone back to the Super Bowl for a second year in a row. Their defence is solid with players like Logan Wilson, Sam Hubbard, and Chidobe Awuzie, they have shown they can stop opposing offenses. In terms of offence, they have an abundance of playmakers such as, Joe Mixon, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins.
However, the man behind centre is their standout player. As previously stated, the Bengals form turned right around when Burrow joined the franchise. Burrow has cemented himself as an elite quarterback in the league. He has an incredible clutch ability to get the job done in crucial moments. This means that you can never count out a team like the Bengals.
Now, for a longshot
The New Orleans Saints come in at 25/1, and while they haven’t been the same since the departure of legendary quarterback Drew Brees, and head coach Sean Payton.
Last season they had a record of 7-10, and struggled to get they offense going. They have brought in former Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr, this should be an upgrade from previous quarterbacks such as Jameis Winston and Andy Dalton. In terms of the running game, they have Alvin Kamara and Jamaal Williams who should be able to have good production on the ground. Players like, Michael Thomas and Chris Olave will be able to trouble any opposition.
Their defence has always been good, headed up by the likes of Cam Jordan, Demario Davis, and now Tyrann Mathieu. It’s important to note that the NFC South isn’t looking particularly competitive at the moment, with none of the four teams going over .500 last year. Furthermore, it is likely that last year’s division winners the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will take a step backward due to the retirement of Tom Brady, which could leave the door open for the Saints to take the division and get a home playoff game.
There is always speculation around this time of year about who truly are contenders for the Super Bowl. And, no matter the odds, you could make a good case that these three teams could lift the Lombardi trophy next season.