Packers Alive in Super Bowl 52 Futures; Eagles Lead NFC Odds

In case you haven’t been following along, SportsBettingDime.com has been tracking Super Bowl 52 odds from the moment they came available on February 5th. We updated the odds following each major event during the NFL offseason and have been providing a weekly update since the 2017 NFL season kicked off.

Week 13 in the NFL served as a virtual do-or-die for many teams. Although the Chicago Bears were the only team officially eliminated from playoff contention on Sunday, many others — Houston, Indianapolis, Denver, Washington, Arizona, and Tampa Bay — dug their graves and will soon be interred next to their Windy City brethren.

Here’s a run-down of the most significant odds movement in the Super Bowl 52 futures after Week 13.

Packers Alive with Win and Rodgers Return Imminent

On Sunday, the Green Bay Packers picked up their second win in what has been a rough six-game stretch with Brett Hundley under center. While the win was great, keeping them two games back of a Wild Card spot, the best news of the weekend was that Aaron Rodgers was removed from the injured reserve and participated in practice. The two-time NFL MVP is eligible to return to action on December 17th (Week 15), but there’s no guarantee his broken collarbone will be fully healed by then.

Online sportsbooks obviously feel confident in Rodgers’ return, though. Prior to the weekend, Green Bay’s average odds to win Super Bowl 52 were just over +13000, and have now been slashed all the way down to +5400. The Packers are as low as +3300, and as high as +7500.

EXPERT ADVICE: The best-case scenario for the Packers involves Brett Hundley beating the winless Cleveland Browns this weekend, and Aaron Rodgers returning for their huge Week 15 game in Carolina. But even if Rodgers does return and is in MVP-form, Green Bay still needs some help to make the playoffs. Looking at the schedules of the Panthers and Falcons, it’s reasonable to believe Rodgers and the Packers will receive that help.

The Panthers, who occupy the final Wild Card spot in the NFC, have tough games in three of their last four. They host the NFC-leading Minnesota Vikings this weekend, then have to deal with Rodgers’ possible return in Week 15, and finish the season on the road in Atlanta. (They get a pass in Week 16 when they host the Bucs.) It’s very possible Carolina loses at least two of those games.

The Falcons, who sit one game up on Green Bay, have a similarly tough slate down the stretch, including two games against the 9-3 New Orleans Saints and the aforementioned tilt with the Panthers (plus their own lay up against the Buccaneers).

A Packers playoff berth is very possible, and any Aaron Rodgers-led team with +7500 odds is worth sprinkling a little money on.

Russell Wilson has the Seahawks Back in a Wild Card Spot

After upsetting the Philadelphia Eagles at CenturyLink field on Sunday night, the Seattle Seahawks have reemerged as a Super Bowl 52 contender. Their 24-10 victory, along with Atlanta and Carolina losses, has Seattle holding the fifth-seed in the NFC playoff picture, only one game back of the NFC West-leading Los Angeles Rams.

The Seahawks saw their odds to win Super Bowl 52 take a major hit following season-ending injuries to Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor in Week 10, and again after their Week 11 loss at home to the Falcons. But Seattle’s defense has rebounded in the last two weeks, allowing a combined 23 points, and Russell Wilson continues to be Mr. Everything for the offense. Prior to Week 13’s, the Seahawks’ average Super Bowl 52 odds got all the way to +2100. They now sit at an average of +1400, with the high being +1800 and the low being +1100.

EXPERT ADVICE: The 8-4 Seahawks are a very dangerous team, mostly because Russell Wilson might be the most dangerous QB currently playing. The problem is they have too many holes on their roster, thanks to injuries and a terrible offensive line, to make a deep run in the playoffs. The 12th man at the CLink helps mask some of these flaws, but Seattle will have to take to the road eventually in the playoffs, since they won’t be catching Philadelphia or Minnesota.

Stay away from the Seahawks, who are just one Russell Wilson-injury away from never scoring again.

Los Angeles Chargers are the New Favorites in the AFC West

The Los Angeles Chargers surprised many by starting the season 0-4. But they have righted the ship now, winning six of their last eight games. The Chargers’ defense has been great during their current three-game win streak, generating a whopping ten turnovers. Philip Rivers and the offense have come on strong, as well, scoring 101 points over the last three weeks. One player they can certainly thank for the offensive outburst is wide receiver Keenan Allen, who just became the first player in NFL history to record at least ten receptions, 100 receiving yards, and a touchdown in three consecutive games.

The Chargers now find themselves in a three-way tie for the AFC West lead with Kansas City and Oakland. Of the three teams, LA has the shortest odds to win Super Bowl 52. The Chargers’ average odds now sit at +2400, after being north of +11000 just three weeks ago.

EXPERT ADVICE: Only two of the Chargers’ six losses this season have come by more than two points, and one was an eight-point game in New England. The AFC favorites — the Steelers and Patriots — do not want to see Los Angeles get into the playoffs. Los Angeles has the best pair of edge rushers in the league in Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram, and Philip Rivers is more than capable of lighting up the scoreboard.

Listed at +2800 the Chargers are worth the gamble. If they get in, no other AFC team has a better shot of going into New England and taking down the defending champs.

In Spite of Loss, the Philadelphia Eagles Remain NFC Favorites for Super Bowl 52

Week 13 marked Philadelphia’s first loss since Week 2. You cannot say they didn’t have their opportunities to pick up the W in Seattle, though. Carson Wentz had his worst game of the season, missing a couple wide-open receivers deep down the field and fumbling the ball on the one-yard-line when he was on his way into the endzone for a touchdown. In spite of the loss, and surrendering the top seed in the NFC to Minnesota, the Eagles maintain the shortest odds in the conference to win Super Bowl 52.

Philadelphia’s average Super Bowl 52 odds are up to +550 from +360 last week. Minnesota has closed the gap, now sitting at +730 .

You will not get odds this favorable for the Eagles again this season, so take advantage while they’re available. Philadelphia is the best team in the NFC and have a pivot who can win them a close game in the playoffs.