Chargers Remain a Favorite in Super Bowl 53 Futures Betting
- The Chargers have been a very popular bet to win Super Bowl 53
- LA makes their first appearance among the top ten contenders for Super Bowl 53
- See how their odds have fluctuated since opening in February
The Los Angeles Chargers have been one of the most snake-bitten franchises in NFL history. And their recent history has been no different.
This is a team who cannot seem to avoid season-ending injuries to key player in camp; they have found some crazy ways to lose close games; and they have also suffered through their fair share of playoff meltdowns.
In the last two seasons, the Chargers have lost eight games by three points or less. The majority of those last season were a result of not being able to kick a field goal – posted the worst field goal percentage in 2017 (66.7%) in the NFL.
And now headed into 2018, they have already seen Hunter Henry and Jason Verrett lost for the season.
But bettors remain optimistic this will be the year Los Angeles finally puts it all together and hoists the franchise’s first Lombardi Trophy – see the top ten tab in the graph below.
Top Contenders Odds to Win Super Bowl 53
The Chargers average odds to win Super Bowl 53 have been trending in the right direction the majority of the offseason. Their recent movement sees them make their first appearance in the top ten in the NFL.
Super Bowl 53 Odds for Top AFC Contenders
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| New England Patriots | +650 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | +1200 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | +2000 |
| Los Angeles Chargers | +2000 |
| Houston Texans | +2200 |
Can the Chargers be the Next Franchise to Win its 1st Super Bowl?
The loss of Jason Verrett certainly stings, but the Charger defense still managed to finish third in points allowed in 2017 with Verrett only appearing in one game. With Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram coming off the edges, LA’s secondary has the luxury of not needing to cover receivers for too long.
And looking to the AFC over the last handful of years, the only teams who have been able to knockoff Tom Brady and the New England Patriots are ones who can pressure the passer without having to blitz. Check that off for the Chargers.
Losing Hunter Henry may sting a little more, as the third-year tight end was poised to breakout in 2018 with Antonio Gates finally out of his way. But again, the Chargers have talent on the roster to overcome the loss.
Mike Williams getting it done in every way at #ChargersCamp pic.twitter.com/aRtIfbdFpZ
— FlurrySports (@FlurrySports) August 5, 2018
Mike Williams, the seventh-overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, was basically a non-factor as a rookie, but can be the big-bodied pass-catcher Philip Rivers loves in the redzone.
The Chargers have not posted a record better than 9-7 in the last eight seasons, and have only made the playoffs once in that stretch. In order for LA to shake their bad luck and actually win the AFC West, their defense will have to be just as dominant as last season, and Rivers will have to continue protecting the football.
While I don’t expect this to be the year it all falls apart for New England, considering the competition in the AFC East, but I do not believe they can make their third straight appearance in the Super Bowl.
LA does have a bit of luck working their way this season, as they play the third-easiest schedule in the league. At +2000, the Chargers are still worth a wager.
After working in TV, Matt turned his focus towards numbers, specifically odds. He has been with us since 2016 and serves as SBD's Editor-in-Chief, credited with creating our futures trackers, SBD's score predictor, SBD Sharp, and his own model for calculating NFL SOS, among other products.
