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Bills’ Super Bowl 53 Odds Drop to Worst in League After Allen’s Poor Start

Ryan Metivier

by Ryan Metivier in NFL Football

Updated Jan 6, 2023 · 6:41 AM PST

Buffalo Bills
Fans at New Era Field may not have much to cheer for in 2018 as the Bills now have the longest odds to win Super Bowl 53. Photo by: Idibri (Flickr) [CC License]
  • The Buffalo Bills have seen their Super Bowl odds drop as low as +15000
  • Which quarterback last looked the best in preseason so far?
  • What other teams present good value when betting on Super Bowl 53?

Odds to win Super Bowl 53 have been out for many months now and bettors have had their chance to weigh in on who they think will win. Thanks to a poor preseason thus far, the Buffalo Bills have fallen from having the third-longest odds, to now having the longest of any team in the NFL.

Average Super Bowl 53 Odds

Expectations were already low heading into this season with the Bills projected 2018 win total of seven, before bettors began to pound the Under pushing it down to six, with still heavy juice on the Under.

Below are the odds for the top five Super Bowl contenders, plus the 32nd ranked Bills, currently tied with the Miami Dolphins at +15000 odds.

Super Bowl 53  Odds

Player Odds
New England +650
Los Angeles Rams +850
Philadelphia +950
Minnesota +950
Pittsburgh +1000
Buffalo +15000

Bills’ Uninspiring Quarterback Room

Tyrod Taylor may not have been spectacular, but he was definitely serviceable. He actually ranked only behind Tom Brady the past three years in interception percentage. Now in Cleveland, the position is wide-open for one of AJ McCarron, Nathan Peterman, or rookie Josh Allen.

McCarron has played in a total of 11 NFL games in his four-year career and already suffered a collarbone injury during preseason. While Head Coach Sean McDermott says he’s cleared to play, he’s surely behind schedule in preparation to be the potential starter.

The bar is not high, but Peterman has likely looked the best in preseason. However his NFL career has consisted of only two starts and four appearances. Whereas Taylor had four INTs all last season, Peterman had five in his first start.

Bills’ QB 2018 Preseason Stats

Player Att Comp Comp % Yards TD INT Passer Rating
Josh Allen 44 24 54.5 210 2 0 82.6
Nathan Peterman 41 33 80.5 431 3 1 124.7
AJ McCarron 16 10 62.5 128 0 0 87.5

Then there is first round pick Josh Allen. The Bill’s rookie QB has every chance of winning the starting job for Week 1, but has struggled so far. The Bills’ sinking odds likely have something to do with Allen’s performance against Cincinnati.

Allen went 6/12 for a meager 34 yards. He actually lost more yards through sacks as he was taken down five times for 39 yards. His 54.5% completion rate throughout the preseason, along with shaky offensive line play aren’t inspiring confidence among Bills’ supporters.

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Bills’ 2017 Provided False Hope

In 2017 when Buffalo tied or lost the turnover battle they went 0-6 in regulation. They were 8-2 when they won in turnovers, with five of those eight wins decided by one score. Buffalo was 6-2 in one-score games and 3-9 when games were decided by more than one score.

In 2017 Buffalo was 6-2 in one-score games and 3-9 when games were decided by more than one score.

Consistently winning coin flip games as well as the turnover battle is not sustainable and a regression to the mean is more than likely in 2018.

Who’s the Best Super Bowl 53 Bet?

Obviously the Bills aren’t looking good to win the Super Bowl. It’s possible Andy Dalton will receive the biggest ovation of anyone at New Era Field all year.

But who could win Super Bowl 53?

AFC – Sure there’s the Patriots and Steelers, but how about the Houston Texans at +2000. They have the 11th-best odds overall at sportsbooks, and fifth-best odds of any AFC team. Houston is only behind New England, Pittsburgh, Jacksonville and the LA Chargers. They have a star-studded defense and if fully healed from last year’s injury, an electrifying young QB in Deshaun Watson.

NFC – The LA Rams have the shortest odds in the NFC at +850, but I like them. They are loaded, added plenty of exciting pieces this offseason and look like clear favorites to win their division. For a little more value you can’t go wrong with Drew Brees and the Saints at +1600.

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