Now the Top Seed in NFC, Seahawks’ Super Bowl Odds Improve to +1000
- The Seattle Seahawks are now sitting atop the NFC standings with an 11-3 record
- The San Francisco 49ers lost control of the NFC’s No. 1 seed after losing Sunday
- The Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints could also get the top seed
The Seattle Seahawks moved into position to be the top seed in the NFC playoffs on Sunday and their odds improved accordingly. They are now listed at +1000 to win Super Bowl 54, making them the sixth choice.
Seattle was +1200 last week in the 2020 Super Bowl odds.
Odds to Win Super Bowl 54
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Baltimore Ravens | +200 |
| New England Patriots | +450 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | +600 |
| New Orleans Saints | +700 |
| San Francisco 49ers | +700 |
| Seattle Seahawks | +1000 |
| Green Bay Packers | +1400 |
| Minnesota Vikings | +2500 |
| Dallas Cowboys | +3300 |
| Houston Texans | +3300 |
Odds taken Dec. 16th
Falcons Provide Some Help
The Seahawks (11-3) jumped over the San Francisco 49ers into the No. 1 spot in the NFC. Seattle held off a late rally to beat the Carolina Panthers 30-24 on the road before the 49ers (11-3) were knocked off in heartbreaking fashion at home by the Atlanta Falcons 29-22.
Start your #VictoryMonday off with 'The Play'. pic.twitter.com/ZEIH8eP5Rp
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) December 16, 2019
While both teams have the same record, the Seahawks currently hold the tiebreaker because it beat the 49ers in a head-to-head matchup, 27-24 in overtime on Nov. 11 at San Francisco. The teams meet again in the season finale Dec. 29 at Seattle.
However, before that potential showdown for both the top seed and NFC West title, the Seahawks host the Arizona Cardinals (4-9-1) on Sunday (Dec. 22) and the 49ers play at home against the Los Angeles Rams (8-6) on Saturday night (Dec. 21).
The Seahawks are 9.5-point favorites and the 49ers are 6.5-point chalk.
Packers, Saints Still in the Hunt
The Packers are also 11-3 and the New Orleans Saints (10-3) can also match that record Monday night (Dec. 16) with over the visiting Indianapolis Colts (6-7) as nine-point favorites.
Despite the bunching at the top of the standings, the 49ers’ clearest path to the top seed is also by winning out. They hold head-to-head tiebreakers over both the Packers and Saints
San Francisco whipped the Packers 37-8 on Nov. 24 at home and won a 48-46 shootout over the Saints on Dec. 8 in New Orleans.
The Packers have won three games in a row since the loss to the 49ers.
Green Bay plays at the Minnesota Vikings (10-4) next Monday night (Dec. 23) in a pivotal game and is listed as a four-point underdog. The Packers then conclude the season by visiting the woeful Detroit Lions (3-10-1) on Dec. 29th.
While they lost to the 49ers, the Packers do not play either the Seahawks or Saints this season, so head-to-head does not apply in either case. The Packers are 8-2 inside the NFC, the same as the Seahawks – the second tiebreaker in intra-conference play – while Green Bay holds the edge over the Saints, who are 8-3 in conference play.
The Vikings (10-4) are also technically in the running for the No. 1 seed but the odds against them getting it are very long. Minnesota would have to beat the Packers then the Chicago Bears (7-7) at home on Dec. 29 and also receive an inordinate amount of help from teams playing the top contenders.
Rematch Should Decide Top Seed
The Seahawks obviously have the clearest path to the NFC title, but it won’t be easy. While they should handle the Cardinals this week, the game with the 49ers to conclude the season could be as epic as the teams’ first meeting this season. San Francisco’s chances of beating the Rams this week seemed to improve after Los Angeles was all but eliminated from playoff contention with the loss to the Cowboys on Dallas on Sunday.
It is tough to beat a good team twice in the same season, though, and the Seahawks have not been invincible at home in 2019 as evidenced by their 4-2 record at CenturyLink Field. Seattle also isn’t playing its best coming down the stretch as it was thumped 28-12 by the Rams on Dec. 8 then nearly blew a 20-point lead in the fourth quarter to the Panthers on Sunday.
While the 49ers have lost back-to-back games, it is no sure thing Seattle will beat them. In addition to playing for the top seed, San Francisco will also be playing the revenge angle.
While the Seahawks might seem more attractive to win the Super Bowl at +1000, The 49ers appear to be the best bet from the NFC at +700.
John Perrotto has been covering and writing about sports for various outlets for over 40 years. His work has appeared in the likes of USA TODAY, ESPN.com, SI.com, Forbes.com, The Associated Press, Baseball Digest, and more. John is based out of Beaver Falls, PA.
