In a little over a week, every NFL team will begin its season and try to make its way to Super Bowl LXI. There are three teams with +1000 or better odds to win. They are the current favorites, but should they be? These are the favorites in Super Bowl bets on the books. However, let me tell you why I’m fading these three teams.
Three Super Bowl Favorite Bets To Fade
Baltimore Ravens (+1000)
The first team in Super Bowl bets that is +1000 or better is the Baltimore Ravens. Their last Super Bowl win was in 2013. I could stop the argument for fading the Ravens by just saying that was with a defense led by Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. However, I’ll give you some more.
Last year, the Ravens missed the playoffs and parted ways with long-time coach John Harbaugh. Jesse Minter steps into his place to try and get this team back to the Super Bowl. I’m certain their defense will be solid. However, I am also certain it won’t be Ray Lewis and Ed Reed solid.
I also have concerns about the offense. Lamar Jackson’s health has been hit and miss. He now enters his ninth year. Derrick Henry is another year older and has even more miles. On top of that, this is a team that has dominated on the run. Now, they enter without their dominating center, Tyler Linderbaum, who they let walk in free agency.
I have zero faith in this team winning the Super Bowl, and I don’t understand the +1000 price. If they perform that well, kudos to Minter. However, scheme changes take a while. This price is too inflated.
Buffalo Bills (+1000)
The Buffalo Bills are another popular team in Super Bowl Bets. They’re tied as a second-favorite with the Baltimore Ravens. Bettors who are placing the bets on them to win are falling into a trap if history tells us anything.
Josh Allen is one of the best, if not the best, quarterbacks in the league. They have a punishing run game. Their defense also performs very well. Now they added DJ Moore to their passing attack to help give Allen a field-stretcher.
However, here’s the kicker. The Bills have made the playoffs seven years in a row. If you live under a rock, I’ll go ahead and let you take a guess how many Super Bowls they’ve been in during those seven years. Spoiler alert. It’s zero.
I’m a Josh Allen fan. However, there’s just something about this team where they perform very well in the regular season. They’re physical. They win over ten games. Though it’s almost like all that physicality takes too much out of them, and by the time they get in the playoffs, they just don’t have enough left. Therefore, at the second-shortest odds, I just can’t place my money on them.
LA Rams (+500)
The current favorites in Super Bowl bets are the LA Rams. After adding Myles Garrett to their defensive line and Aaron Donald coming out of retirement, many think they’re primed for a Super Bowl run. It makes sense. This is likely Matthew Stafford’s last ride, and they’ve done a ton of work to a defense that was already pretty decent. The offense was stellar last year.
Last year, the Rams got all the way to the NFC Championship. They survived an overtime thriller against Chicago in the Divisional Round. However, they lost that NFC Championship game to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks.
On paper, this team has it all. A strong defense. A star veteran quarterback. A strong run game with Kyren Williams and one of the most uncoverable receivers in Puka Nacua. Not to mention, an excellent red-zone threat in Davante Adams. However, they aren’t without flaws.
One of the most important things for the Rams will be their health. Can Matt Stafford’s back hold up? Will Garrett and Donald be able to perform at a high level all year? Will Davante Adams finally show his age? Can Puka Nacua get away from the off-the-field issues and avoid suspensions? That’s a lot of question marks for a team that’s marketed as a strong favorite.
While I think they have an excellent shot, you’re relying on the health of multiple older players. Especially Matt Stafford, who is 38 years old and will be 39 by the time of the Super Bowl.
