Kansas City Chiefs Rebound in Super Bowl 52 Futures

From the moment they came available, we’ve been tracking the odds for all 32 teams to win Super Bowl 52. Following a Week 15 where many statements were made, and playoff hopes were spoiled, there has been some major changes in the odds. Here’s a review of the most significant movements, along with our expert advice on how you (as a bettor) should react.

Chiefs Regaining Their Early-Season Form

Ahead of Week 14, the Chiefs had lost four straight and six of their last seven. Their odds to win Super Bowl 52 had never been longer this season (+3400). But after two consecutive wins over AFC West foes, Kansas City is not only in control of the division title, but is also seeing its Super Bowl odds rebound.

The Chiefs’ average odds to win Super Bowl 52 now sit at +1700. It’s still far from the +630 odds they possessed back on October 10, but a big step in the right direction from the +2700 they were given prior to Week 15.

EXPERT ADVICE: Don’t buy into what you’ve see lately from the Chiefs defense. Oakland laid an egg in Week 14 (making roughly a full dozen for the season) and Philip Rivers threw the game away in Week 15. Neither Tom Brady or Ben Roethlisberger will commit those same turnovers, and the Chiefs offense still lacks the same we saw early in the season.

If you’re looking for a little more value than what’s offered with the Patriots (+210 average), your best bet remains with the Jaguars at an average of +1300 to win Super Bowl 52. Jacksonville has the defense to pester Brady and Roethlisberger, and Blake Bortles is proving to be serviceable.

Rams Are Legitimate Super Bowl 52 Contenders

The Rams entered Week 15 looking to avenge their 16-10 defeat at the hands of the Seattle Seahawks back in Week 5. It’s safe to say Jared Goff and the LA offense made up for each of their five turnovers from the first meeting, lighting up the scoreboard with 42 points, en route to embarrassing the Seahawks at CenturyLink Field (42-7)

The dominant performance not only grabbed the attention of every other team in the league, but also legitimized the Rams as a top contender for Super Bowl 52 with online sportsbooks. After not experiencing much movement over the previous three weeks, LA’s average odds to hoist the Lombardi Trophy are now under +1000 for the first time all season (+960).

EXPERT ADVICE: If you like the Rams in the NFC (and there is a lot to like), this may be your last chance to get any value betting on them. LA finishes the season with games in Tennessee and hosting San Francisco. In spite of the 49ers being 3-0 with Jimmy Garoppolo starting, they haven’t played anyone near the Rams’ caliber. Both of these games should be wins for Sean McVay’s squad, putting their record at 12-4. The result of two more wins will be even shorter odds to win Super Bowl 52, so take advantage now.

The Rams have scored the most points in the league, thus far, and I don’t see their offense stumbling if forced to play outdoors in Philadelphia during the playoffs. Jared Goff has had a brilliant turnaround in his second year, and will also be able to lean on Todd Gurley and the NFL’s seventh-ranked rushing attack. Add in a defense that has surrendered the fifth-fewest points and 12th-fewest yards in the league, and you’ve got a championship formula. Although they are very young and inexperienced, the Rams at +1000 offer good value.

Seahawks in Unfamiliar Territory as Super Bowl 52 Long-Shots

For the first time since 2011, the Seattle Seahawks are in serious jeopardy of missing the playoffs. The 42-7 whooping the Rams handed them in front of the 12th-man, coupled with the Falcons’ victory on Monday Night Football, mean that Seattle no longer controls its own destiny. As a result, the team’s average odds to win Super Bowl 52 plummeted from +1600 before Week 15 to +5300.

EXPERT ADVICE: Do not treat the 2017 Seahawks like the teams we have seen in Seattle over the previous half-decade; save your money. Here are the scenarios it would take for Russell Wilson and company to squeak into the playoffs:

Situation 1: Winning the NFC West

• Seattle beats Dallas and Arizona in the final two weeks, and
• the Rams lose to both Tennessee and San Francisco

Situation 2: Stealing a Wild Card Spot

• Seattle beats Dallas and Arizona in the final two weeks, and
• Atlanta loses both of its games (at NO, vs CAR), and
• Detroit loses one of its final two games (at CIN, vs GB)

or

• Seattle beats Dallas and Arizona, and
• New Orleans loses both of its games (vs ATL, at TB), and
• Detroit loses one of its final two games (at CIN, vs GB)

or

• Seattle beats Dallas and Arizona, and
• Carolina loses both of its games (vs TB, at ATL), and
• Detroit loses one of its final two games (at CIN, vs GB)

Even if one of those unlikely scenarios unfolds, that only gets the Seahawks into the dance. They would still have to samba their way to the Super Bowl from there, and that’s not going to happen. The defense is too banged up to slow the powerful offenses of Philadelphia, Minnesota, Los Angeles, Atlanta, or New Orleans. They’d also be in tough trying to win a defensive battle against Carolina. Do not get sucked into these long odds.