Patriots Were Already Super Bowl Favorites Before Signing Antonio Brown, Now Given 5-1 Odds
- The New England Patriots signed Antonio Brown after he was released by the Oakland Raiders
- The Patriots are now at +500 to win the Super Bowl
- Brown won’t be available to play in Week 1
The New England Patriots were already considered the best team in the NFL, according to Super Bowl odds, but now they’ve added a Hall of Fame caliber wideout in Antonio Brown.
Was this the plan all along? At any rate, they’re the clear-cut Super Bowl favorite now. But are they the best bet on the board? Let’s take a closer look:
2020 Super Bowl Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| New England Patriots | +500 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | +800 |
| New Orleans Saints | +900 |
| Los Angeles Rams | +1000 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | +1400 |
*Odds taken September 7
Patriots Sign Antonio Brown
In a move that was shocking, but somehow not that surprising too, the Patriots ended up with Brown.
After the Oakland Raiders released the diva, he rebounded almost immediately as the Patriots gave him a $15 million, one-year contract.
As a result, the Patriots have now moved into the clear-cut favorite role, as their Super Bowl odds are now +500. The Kansas City Chiefs are at +800 while the Oakland Raiders are all the way back at +6600.
Patriots Blocking Others from Brown?
One benefit to the Patriots signing Brown is that they prevented other teams from getting him.
It’s unclear who might have wanted to or would have signed him, but the Patriots now keep a Hall of Fame receiver from joining a possible competitor.
The downside risk for the Patriots is also quite minimal. When you think about it, if they encounter any problems with Brown, they can suspend. It’s a smart move for them as they don’t have a lot to lose here.
Patriots Passing Game Will Be Lethal
Heading into the season, there were all sorts of question marks about the Patriots wide receiving corps – especially after Rob Gronkowski retired.
Now they’re looking at a lineup that includes Brown, Josh Gordon, Julian Edelman and possibly Demariyus Thomas. In the backfield, they have Sony Michel and James White.
This is probably the best supporting cast that the Patriots have ever put around Brady. On top of that, you add in a defense that’s replete with a lot of quality young studs and the Patriots look like they’ll be one heck of a tough team to beat.
Division Is A Breeze
One of the best reasons to bet the Patriots is that they’re likely to have a high seed because of their division. The AFC North has the Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens.
The AFC West has the Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs. The Patriots don’t have to contend with anyone who is expected to make the playoffs.
That means New England should cruise to double-digit wins once again. They’ve registered at least 10 wins in 16 straight seasons and were expected to hit around 11 wins before landing Brown. Now their chances of doing it are even higher.
What’s The Best Bet?
The Patriots are one of the most consistent teams in the NFL but it’s still the NFL: anything can happen.
I personally like the Patriots to go over their regular season win total more than I do to win the Super Bowl. It’s not a bad bet, though, as this team is fully-loaded for another run.
For over 15 years, Dave has been working in mainstream media and sports betting. He hosted a station on Sirius Satellite Radio for four years, and is currently a senior writer for AskMen. He's interviewed hundreds of hundreds of high-profile sports stars like Shaquille O'Neal and Floyd Mayweather.
