Preview:
Only over a week removed from the Rams late and dramatic win in Super Bowl LVI and we’re already peaking ahead at some possible future plays, as we try to figure out who’s most likely to win Super Bowl LVII in 2023.
Unlike a season ago, where the two teams that battled in the Super Bowl opened up as the top favorites to return and win, neither of this year’s participants are the early picks. The Chiefs once again open as the favorite, and the team they toppled in thrilling fashion, the Buffalo Bills are hot on their heels. The Rams are receiving some love to return, while the Bengals are sitting in the fifth spot at this point. A lot will change during the NFL offseason, however it remains to be seen which teams will rise and fall in the futures market.
Examining Super Bowl LVII Early Odds
Every team will enter the spring and upcoming season with new life and high expectations, although some will certainly be higher than others. Las Vegas has released it’s initial compilation of odds for the next winner of the Lombardi trophy. Odds vary slightly so as always if you have a team you like, you’ll want to shop around with sportsbooks, but let’s take a look at what Caesar’s Sportsbook is opening with below:
It can be pretty exciting to get the conversation going about the upcoming year’s football season, particularly when you may be going through some early withdrawals. You might be tempted to place an early futures wager on your favorite team, or the one you think has the best shot at winning in 2023. Let us be the first to remind you that the NFL offseason is about as unpredictable as the foreign stock market in terms of the amount of roster fluctuation we’ll see before the start of next season. This offseason offers a lot of intrigue at the most important position of quarterback as the decisions of some of the games all time best have big decisions to make, and some other teams may be jockeying for a new veteran starter. The odds above will change dramatically after some of the QB musical chairs completes its rotation and the music stops.
With so much unknown this early does it make sense to place a futures bet and if so where is the best place to start? There are varying opinions on getting a ticket in at this stage, but depending on what you’re looking for you may be able to find some real value. If you’re thinking about making a play here’s what we would recommend:
Start by determining if there is a team you strongly believe has an opportunity to win the big game. Take a look at the potential payout from the odds and you can decide if it’s worth taking a flyer on. Before you punch that ticket though, do your homework on potential free agents to determine which teams could lose valuable pieces and who should return most of their lineup. Rumors are swirling about marquee talent like Deshaun Watson, who would vault almost any team’s odds if he’s dealt, which most still believe he will. Timing can be crucial, if firm news breaks about a key player’s movement, you can sometimes beat the book before the odds change. For the purpose of this article however, we’re simply looking at the factors we know today and determining which teams could provide an opportunity for a futures win.
Breaking Down the Teams and Value
Kansas City Chiefs +700
Get used to seeing this Chiefs team near the top of the pack opening each season as long as Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes are paired together. They’re a same, yet different version of Belichick and Brady during their stint together in New England. There are some important complementary pieces on the roster that need addressed, on the offensive line, and with defensive heartbeat Tyrann Mathieu. However, much like the rotating rosters in New England, the Chiefs should still find a way to be in the hunt when things are all said and done. Despite a reported tumultuous situation between offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy and Reid and Mahomes, Bieniemy will return in his present capacity. The area the Chiefs really need to work on in the 2022 season is consistency, really on both sides of the ball. When they’re playing well, they’re near unbeatable. It certainly wouldn’t be considered a bad bet to take a flyer on the presumptive favorite, however with odds at just 7-1, it’s difficult to consider them a valuable futures wager.
POTENTIAL VALUE – MEDIUM
Buffalo Bills +750
Many people believe that if Josh Allen had called tails in overtime of their classic matchup against the Chiefs that the Bills would have ultimately captured their first Lombardi Trophy. We’ll never know for sure, but what we do know is Josh Allen has clearly elevated himself into a perennial MVP candidate at the quarterback position. While offensive coordinator Brian Daboll bolted for the head gig in New York with the Giants, the Bills quietly made a big move in paying up to retain Ken Dorsey and installing him as the new OC, a move much approved by Allen. The Bills have a tough scheduled on paper heading into next season, however if they want to be a Super Bowl favorite, those are games that they need to win. There is no doubt that at this point in head coach Sean McDermott’s tenure that anything less than a Super Bowl appearance and win could be considered a disappointment.
POTENTIAL VALUE – MEDIUM
Los Angeles Rams +1000
Entering next season, the reigning Super Bowl Champions have plenty to be excited about as their method of building through free agency and trading has proven to be an effective strategy. Matthew Stafford was indeed the missing piece needed to take this team to the championship, and he’ll return and look to continue his torrid pace with the league’s top wideout in Cooper Kupp. It’s unlikely that any of the key cogs that were mentioned to be contemplating retirement, mostly Aaron Donald and Sean McVay, would actually do so. That being said, even though it cliché to use the term “run it back”, it’s tough to imagine the desire being quite as strong having tasted victory. Everyone knows how difficult is is to repeat as Super Bowl winners, and this Rams team is not as good as many of the previous Super Bowl champs. There’s enough talent and leadership to keep this team competitive, but repeating with another trophy seems pretty unlikely at this price point.
POTENTIAL VALUE – LOW
San Francisco 49ers +1400
At a time in the league where there are some really good head coaches, for our money, Kyle Shanahan ranks right near the top. It seems like as long as he’s in charge, the 49ers will be in the mix of the playoffs, no matter who he has playing quarterback. Yes, a year earlier they were down and out, but remember that team was as decimated with injuries as we’ve ever seen in the modern era. This throwback team is built in the trenches, and reliant upon a good running game and strong defense, as was evidenced in their road win over Green Bay in the playoffs. The question heading into next year is whether or not 2nd year quarterback Trey Lance can step in and handle being the leader of the offense at the quarterback position. As we witnessed during the Jimmy Garoppolo timeframe, the team doesn’t necessarily need Lance to win games, really just not lose them. At +1400 there is some solid value here if you believe in this team. One other really interesting nugget, the rumor mill is swirling around Tom Brady possibly deciding against his early retirement to play a season with his hometown favorite team in San Francisco. Should Brady opt back in and land with the Niners, it’s reasonable to believe the team would be the favorites heading into the season, only adding to the already solid value here.
POTENTIAL VALUE – HIGH
Cincinnati Bengals +1400
There is a lot to love if you’re a fan of the Cincinnati Bengals despite their loss in Super Bowl LVI. Joe Burrow is a true franchise quarterback, and the core of their offense is all under the age of 26 years old. You can’t take anything away from what the Bengals did in a storybook season, however it’s also fair to wonder if the team peaked and missed their golden opportunity to capture a Lombardi Trophy. It’s difficult for a team to find their way to the Super Bowl in consecutive season, and it’ll be tough with several really good teams standing in their path. The good news is the team is in position to bulk up where they need, mainly on the offensive line, and could potentially have an even more talented roster from top to bottom in terms of overall talent. Time will tell if Joe Burrow sees multiple trips to the big game, or if he had his “Dan Marino” moment in year two and never reaches the pinnacle.
POTENTIAL VALUE – MEDIUM
Green Bay Packers +1500
When the season begins, this +1500 number is either going to be looked at as really good value, or a complete bust depending upon two major things. The first is what happens at the quarterback position, with longtime face of the franchise Aaron Rodgers. The second is whether or not the team can find a way to retain All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams, who is the widely recognized top free agent in the class. If Rodgers and Adams somehow find their way back onto this roster, there’s no reason to believe this team won’t find its way to another division title and playoff run. If these pieces are gone, things will look completely different than what we’ve become accustomed to seeing in Green Bay. One thing appears certain, the team isn’t sold on Jordan Love as the future leader of the franchise. With so much uncertainty at this point, it’s impossible to put a price tag on what this team’s odds should be entering the season.
POTENTIAL VALUE – LOW
Dallas Cowboys +1600
Things appeared to be heading in the right direction in Dallas with an improved defense and what seemed to be some more consistent coaching. In retrospect, the coaching still appears to be an issue, and there’s a scary pattern of this team just not being able to overcome the lofty expectations that come along with this historic franchise. The Cowboys enter the offseason $21 million dollars over the salary cap, and have some key pieces on their own roster set to hit the open market. There’s clearly talent on this roster, and they have the benefit of playing in a division that doesn’t have any elite teams to face as competition. Ultimately, if you’re wanting to place a futures bet with the Dallas Cowboys, you have to be taking a stab in the dark at if or when this team will overcome the hurdle? Based on talent alone, this number seems to be solid, based on reality, enter at your own risk.
POTENTIAL VALUE – MEDIUM
Tampa Bay Buccaneers +1800
Having recency bias is normal in the world of sports as we vividly recall a recent Super Bowl victory and playoff run from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Of course it’s easy to look at the retirement of Tom Brady and predict a downfall in Tampa, however examining the team in their entirety is also important. The roster for the Buccaneers is going to be one that sees some turnover as they look to get younger on the defensive side of the ball. Their potent skill position depth will undoubtedly be thinned out with the potential departures of Chris Godwin, Rob Gronkowski and the running backs. There is also a lot of talk around head coach Bruce Arians losing the trust of the team down the stretch. The only thing keeping these odds where they are, is the possibility of Deshaun Watson landing in the big sombrero. The run of success in Tampa is setup to be very short-lived.
POTENTIAL VALUE – LOW
Tennessee Titans +2000
The Tennessee Titans had a disappointing end to their season after holding together the number one seed in the conference for much of the year. The team rode a revamped defense in the absence of Derrick Henry and looked as though they’d have a legitimate shot at a Super Bowl run heading into the playoffs. They’ll open the 2022 season with the quarterback position being under heavy scrutiny once again after Ryan Tannehill failed to carry the team, and played pretty terribly in their playoff loss to the Bengals. Behind a healthy Derrick Henry and A.J. Brown the Titans should find themselves back in the thick of things, and favored to win the AFC South. They are another team that has some challenges with the salary cap however, so they have an important offseason ahead. The odds here seem right around where they should be.
POTENTIAL VALUE – MEDIUM
Baltimore Ravens +2000
Every season there seems to be one team that just can’t seem to shake the injury bug. In 2021 that was the Baltimore Ravens, a team that lost several key contributors before the season even began. They’ll have a bunch of players returning, including quarterback Lamar Jackson, the face of their franchise. The offense should come together behind a core of good players, led by tight end Mark Andrews and a recycled running game. The defense, long the staple in Baltimore, is actually where some of the question marks come in. Look for Baltimore to add some youth in the draft, and fill some holes with their current free agents, or in the marketplace. After missing the playoffs, expect a rebound from John Harbaugh and the Ravens as they’ll likely find their way back into the playoffs this season.
POTENTIAL VALUE – HIGH
Denver Broncos +2200
For a team that didn’t have a single Pro Bowl player in 2021, the Broncos open the season in the top third of the futures market at +2200 to win the Super Bowl. That could be partially because the team has a strong nucleus of young talent on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball, or because they’re rumored to have an inside track on obtaining quarterback Aaron Rodgers. There is no question that if Rodgers ends up in Denver, this team will instantly be an AFC favorite and a +2200 ticket would be fantastic to be holding. However, if the Broncos can’t acquire Rodgers, or another of the top available QBs, it’s going to be difficult for them to overtake the teams in their division, let alone the conference. Can the Broncos recreate a Peyton Manning type situation from last decade, or will they continue to struggle finding the new QB of the future? Until we know who’s lining up under center, we’ll have to stick with this number, which seems about where it should be for the time being.
POTENTIAL VALUE – HIGH
New England Patriots +2500
A nice rebound for the Patriots in a return to the playoffs after their one year hiatus sans quarterback Tom Brady. The team will enter next season with the guy that made a splash as a rookie in Mac Jones leading the offense. The defense, long a staple for Bill Belichick could look a little different next year, and it will need to be molded well to keep this team competitive. A year ago the Patriots were very active in free agency, and they figure to be again this year as there could be some turnover on the roster. This includes some shuffling at the coaching positions, which also offers some question marks? Somehow and someway New England figures to be in the mix in the conference, although it seems apparent to us that without Tom Brady at the helm, this team is just another squad in the stacked AFC.
POTENTIAL VALUE – MEDIUM
Arizona Cardinals +2500
For a second straight season the Arizona Cardinals were one of the fastest starting teams in the league, only to fizzle out down the stretch. There’s already been some offseason controversy with quarterback Kyler Murray and some of the leadership within the organization. At this point there’s no guarantee that Murray will even be playing in 2022, although it seems safe that each side will work things out. This has the feeling of a make or break time season for coach Kliff Kingsbury, Murray and the team as a whole. Add in the fact that Arizona isn’t in the best salary cap situation, and has a slew of quality free agents and things could get ugly in the difficult AFC West. When you have a QB like Kyler Murray, you’ll always have a chance, but even if the most athletic players in the league need some help.
POTENTIAL VALUE – LOW
Los Angeles Chargers +2500
Every season there tends to be a team or two has a high variability between their very good and their very bad. The Los Angeles Chargers seem to have taken on that identity as they’ll look ahead to becoming more consistent heading into the 2022 season. Heading into his third season, star quarterback Justin Herbert is poised to take this team from good to great, and potentially make a run through the playoffs. Having a season under his belt should help analytics-driven head coach Brandon Staley as he learns how to navigate the NFL. The Chargers already have some elite talent at key positions, and enter the offseason with the second most cap room to play with in free agency. With some solid personnel moves, this is a team to watch closely as they’ll have a legitimate shot to overtake the rival Chiefs for supremacy in the AFC West. Even though +2500 seems like the logical place to spot a team like the Chargers, there is a lot of value with this team that could be recognized next season.
POTENTIAL VALUE – HIGH
Indianapolis Colts +2500
In the next couple of weeks we’ll know the fate of quarterback Carson Wentz as it relates to his future with the Indianapolis Colts and in the National Football League. It seems likely that Wentz will be released, making his one season in Indianapolis an unsuccessful venture. That opens up the door again to determine who will be either a stop-gap player, or the QB of the future for the Colts? The team could opt to go young, however most believe this roster is one of the better rosters in the league, and simply needs solid quarterback play to compete. As is the case with a few other teams in the league, the question is who will end up as the signal caller for them? An acquisition of a player like Russell Wilson, or even Jimmy Garoppolo, could be what the Colts need to guide them to playoff success. Much like the Denver Broncos, until we find out who will be at the helm in Indy, it’s too difficult to anticipate how good this team will be.
POTENTIAL VALUE – MEDIUM
Minnesota Vikings +3000
The Kevin O’Connell era is underway in Minnesota and it remains to be seen how much change will take place in his first season as head coach? The biggest mystery is what will happen with quarterback Kirk Cousins, who played well in 2021, but is a huge cap liability entering 2022. Generally speaking, a new coach will want to bring in his own people to ride with, but it’s tough to see the Vikings having more immediate success without Cousins. Even with the quarterback conundrum, it might be the defense that needs the most work during the offseason. Assuming Cousins does return, which is the direction things appear to be headed, the offense should be solid with Dalvin Cook and Justin Jefferson, and a likely restructured contract that should keep Adam Thielen in town. Defensively, it’s imperative the Vikings do well in the draft, and find a way to improve their defensive line and cornerbacks. This team should be a tough out each week, and depending on what happens in Green Bay could end up on the top of the NFC North, however there’s too much instability for them to make a serious run at a Super Bowl championship.
POTENTIAL VALUE – MEDIUM
New Orleans Saints +3500
This is about as low as we’ve seen the Saints to begin a season as the unknown of who is playing quarterback, along with a precarious salary cap situation make things very difficult for first year head coach Dennis Allen. One of Allen’s first tasks will be figuring out who will be the starting quarterback, and if that player is current on the roster, or will arrive via free agency or the draft. The defense, which has helped carry the team over the past few seasons should still be respectable, although slow subtractions have weakened if from it’s pinnacle of a couple of seasons ago. The offensive line, which had also been a strength, will lose some key contributors making things tougher for whoever ends up playing the QB position. Despite the fact that the Saints will be playing in what could wind up as the weakest division in football, it’s highly unlikely they’ll be able to piece together a serious contender.
POTENTIAL VALUE – LOW
Seattle Seahawks +4000
Russell Wilson exiting Seattle seems all but certain, and his destination will transform another team into a potential playoff squad. Unfortunately for the Seahawks, it’ll also end a reign of competitiveness that the Seahawks have had for the past decade since the arrival of Wilson and head coach Pete Carroll. All we need to do is review how this team looked when Wilson missed his stint during the middle of the season with the injury to his throwing hand. The truth is, this team has a lot of holes that Wilson helped cover up by willing his team in a lot of close football games. Rumor has it, it’ll be an entire rebuild in Seattle, and in the stacked NFC West, it’s tough to imagine the Seahawks not finishing in cellar again in the 2022 season.
POTENTIAL VALUE – LOW
Cleveland Browns +4000
Doesn’t seem like years ago that the Browns were one of the preseason favorites to get to and even win the Super Bowl? A lot can change in just a year as the Browns now enter the offseason as a more realistic number of +4000 to be the last team standing. Baker Mayfield should be healthy to start the season, as he’ll take one last crack at being the franchise quarterback for an organization that is desperate for a winner. The team needs to find some upgraded talent at the wide receiver position, but they’re really in pretty solid shape as a whole. It’s not only Mayfield who needs to play better, the defense, which underachieved for much of the previous season also needs to improve. If you follow the BetCrushers you’re probably aware that we’re very bearish on Mayfield, so despite the decent odds, we’re going to tag this as average value.
POTENTIAL VALUE – MEDIUM
Philadelphia Eagles +4000
Of all of the preseason future odds we’re pegging the Philadelphia Eagles as the most disrespectful of the 32 teams in the league. This team made the playoffs last season, and despite the poor showing in the Wild Card round of the postseason, they are definitely deserving of shorter odds. The Eagles are rumored to be the favorites to land Russell Wilson, who would instantly catapult them into the top tier of the NFC. Even if they don’t, it’s not a terrible thing to have Jalen Hurts as your team’s starting quarterback. In addition to a strong offensive line and some nice core players, the Eagles have the luxury of three first round draft picks that will either give Hurts additional support, or the team the collateral they need to make a move for the player they believe will be the future signal caller in Philly. In the very winnable NFC, this Philadelphia Eagles team figures to be right in the thick of things come playoff time.
POTENTIAL VALUE – HIGH
Miami Dolphins +4000
The Dolphins are in the midst of some controversy from owner Stephen Ross down through the firing of former head coach Brian Flores. Despite the fireworks, there is quite a bit to be excited about in Miami with the arrival of new head coach Mike McDaniel. The Dolphins roster is not lacking for talent, and even though they’ve got some work to do with it, they could boast a really strong group as they head into the season. Perhaps the biggest question facing this team is whether or not Tua Tagovailoa will be their choice for starting quarterback? The team has long been rumored to be the frontrunner for Deshaun Watson, and there’s no guarantee they’ll end up sticking with Tagovailoa. With the most cap space in the entire league, the team can be as active as they’d like in free agency and in locking up some of their talent. Although it’s unlikely the Dolphins will be able to overtake the heavyweights in the AFC, there is clearly some value with these odds as they sit.
POTENTIAL VALUE – HIGH
Las Vegas Raiders +5000
In a lot of ways the Las Vegas Raiders really overachieved in the 2021 season as they not only made the playoffs, but had a shot to advance before falling to the eventual AFC champs. The team looks to change it’s identity after a tumultuous season, as Josh McDaniels gets his second “real” stint as a head coach in the NFL. The Raiders are log-jammed in the AFC West, and despite some really underrated players like Maxx Crosby and Hunter Renfrow, they seem to be a team that will always be straddling that line of mediocrity with Derek Carr at the helm. At a +5000 mark, there are worse bets that you can make for a team coming off of a playoff appearance, however can this team really win a Super Bowl in their current state?
POTENTIAL VALUE – MEDIUM
Atlanta Falcons +6000
With nearly every team in the league there are usually a handful of things that a fan can be excited about entering a season in the NFL. The Atlanta Falcons appear to be an outlier in this theory, as it’ tough to be optimistic with what this team is up against. For starters, there’s a good possibility that the team’s proverbial face of the franchise in QB Matt Ryan will be released due to his enormous cap hit. For as much heat as Ryan sometimes took, he really was a very good viable leader for this team for a long time. The team also looks like it’ll lose it’s two most dynamic weapons in Cordarelle Patterson and Calvin Ridley, leaving this offense with a chance at being one of the weakest in the league. There’s certainly not enough talent on the defensive side of the ball to carry the team either. It’s a rebuild in some form or fashion in the ATL and the Falcons will be picking early in the following year’s draft.
POTENTIAL VALUE – LOW
Washington Commanders +6000
Although there may be a new name and logo in Washington for the upcoming season, we may have a similar result when we see their win and loss tally at the end of the long journey. Ron Rivera seems unsure of whether or not to put his eggs in the basket of Taylor Heinicke, which tends to make one believe that the youngster is not the answer as a franchise quarterback. It’s not that the Commanders are a terrible team, they’re simply not good enough on either side of the ball to really test the top teams in the NFC. With the benefit of playing in the muddled NFC West division, they should hang around for a while, before ultimately finding themselves on the outside looking in at the playoff teams.
POTENTIAL VALUE – LOW
Pittsburgh Steelers +6000
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been the model of consistency for the NFL in the 21st century, finishing near or in the playoff chase in basically every season behind quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. The future Hall of Famer enters retirement leaving the Steelers in a precarious spot of wondering who will be the starting QB to begin the season? Will the team give the unimpressive Mason Rudolph another shot, or possibly take a swing with Dwayne Haskins? Don’t be surprised if they find a way to bring in someone with a little more experience, perhaps Carson Wentz or Mitchell Trubisky? A veteran quarterback can keep this scrappy team competitive behind Mike Tomlin, but don’t be fooled by the mystique of the Pittsburgh Steelers. This team needs a lot of help in the trenches, and will be rebuilding at the wide receiver position and on defense. Let’s also not forget that they’ll now be fighting with three teams in their division that all believe they are playoff caliber. Even though these long odds seem crazy for what we’re accustomed to with the Steelers, they’re pretty fair in the grand scheme of things.
POTENTIAL VALUE – MEDIUM
Carolina Panthers +7000
The Sam Darnold quarterback experience didn’t work out in Carolina, nor did the great story of welcoming Cam Newton back mid-season. As seems to be the case with many of the teams we’re finding with less optimistic odds, there is a big question around who will play quarterback for the Panthers in the 2022 season? This question is more important for the Panthers than most of the teams who are falling into that category for one really simple reason. This team is truly a good quarterback away from being a legitimate contender in the NFC and in the league. Imagine just what this team would be with a guy like Rodgers or Wilson leading the charge? Unfortunately for Panther fans, they most likely won’t end up with either of those guys, but even a serviceable QB could really make this team exciting. With odds at +7000 this isn’t the worst lottery ticket in the world that you could buy.
POTENTIAL VALUE – HIGH
Chicago Bears +8000
Chicago Bear’s owner Virginia McCaskey is one of the more likeable stories in terms of NFL owners, as the near 100 year old still finds her way to attending her team’s games around the country. She’s also partially responsible as the owner for the mess that has become the Chicago Bears franchise in recent years. Despite compiling a top defense a few seasons ago, the team has wildly failed with its coaching, personnel and overall performance on the field. The jury is still out on the selection of Justin Fields as the their hopeful future leader, but despite some sizzle as a rookie, his play as a whole wasn’t all that great. Some of this of course is a result of the weaknesses within the roster to begin with. The once stout defense is fading away, and it’ll now take a lot of patchwork to put a competitive team together on the field.
POTENTIAL VALUE – LOW
New York Giants +10000
When selecting the most disappointing teams of the 2021 season the New York Giants would have to be somewhere near the top of the list. The result is a new GM and head coach as the team will look a lot different in an effort to install a new culture. New head coach Brian Daboll wants to give quarterback Daniel Jones a fair look, as many believe his lack of success was really just a result of not being put into a great situation in New York. There’s little doubt that Daboll can shift the culture and performance of this team, however it’s going to take some time. Don’t be shocked if a year from now these odds are much better for the New York Giants, but for this year, this longshot is right on the money.
POTENTIAL VALUE – MEDIUM
Jacksonville Jaguars +12500
In searching for some positive news for the Jacksonville Jaguars the most exciting thing going for the team is Urban Meyer will have no imprint on the team in 2022. While many Jaguar fans were disappointed that Byron Leftwich didn’t get the nod as the new head coach, the team should be happy with the selection of Doug Pederson. The former Super Bowl winning coach could be exactly what quarterback Trevor Lawrence needs in terms of a reliable mentor to help him develop in his journey as a franchise leading quarterback. Where the Jaguars are still vulnerable, is with the lack of a vision from the organizational level, as owner Shad Khan still doesn’t have the GM or EVP situation figured out. That could hold them back in terms of the draft and surrounding Lawrence with the talent needed to elevate both his and the team’s play. Pederson will make some things happen for the Jags offense, but it’ll be another long season for the folks in Duval.
POTENTIAL VALUE – LOW
Detroit Lions +15000
Say what you want about the hiring of Lions head coach Dan Campbell, the guy had his time doing exactly what he stated during his hiring press conference. They scrapped and clawed their way all season and really made things difficult for their opponents despite being undermanned in every matchup. There’s still a lot of work to do in Motown as the defense needs some playmakers and the offense needs to determine whether or not they can win with Jared Goff? One thing is for sure, this team at the very least appears to be headed in a better direction. And if the Green Bay Packers experience any kind of fall off, the NFC North could truly be up for grabs. Could it be… The Lions as a division winner? Not just yet, but their odds shouldn’t be worse than a few of the teams ahead of them either.
POTENTIAL VALUE – MEDIUM
Houston Texans +20000
Lovie Smith was awarded the head coaching position for the Houston Texans, which might lead to the question, who else would really want it? Alright, that was a little bit of a harsh way in explaining that there is really no value with taking the Houston Texans in any kind of future bets to win the Super Bowl. The Deshaun Watson disaster still looms over the franchise as a distraction, and although he’ll likely be moved, the Texans will need a lot of things to happen to turn things around. Rumors around town is the team will be sending off Brandin Cooks, one of their few bright spots, which means a complete overhaul is probably coming. Add an extra zero at the end of these odds and this team would be worth taking a couple dollar flyer on. Other than that, stay far far away.
POTENTIAL VALUE – LOW
New York Jets +20000
The New York Jets beat a few really good teams last season and played some others tough, including the teams in their own division. At other times, they were completely embarrassed and whipped right off of the field. That seems normal with a first year coach and quarterback, something that the team will look to improve upon in year number two with Robert Saleh and Zach Wilson. The Jets roster has some large holes to fill for sure, but there are actually some really solid cornerstone pieces in place. With four picks in the first two rounds and an estimated $45 million in cap space, the team could patch up some of those holes pretty quickly with a productive offseason. The players in New York have bought into what Robert Saleh is selling, and they’ve already proven they can compete with the big boys in the league. Will this team win Super Bowl LVII, no they will not, however if we’re talking straight value, this number is disrespectful to the that other team from New Jersey.
POTENTIAL VALUE – HIGH
WHAT WE’LL BE FOLLOWING:
You can spot from the teams we have listed as high value which plays we think are worthy of a ticket, or at least consideration. Our top five plays would probably rest with the Bills, 49ers, Broncos, Ravens and Chargers. If you’re looking for a longshot, consider the Carolina Panthers or the New York Jets, although they’re a true longshot by definition. There is a lot that can happen between now and week one, so enjoy the offseason and start thinking about your wagers sooner rather than later!
Who’s your early pick for next year’s Super Bowl champ? Let us know!
