Preview:
We’re just over two weeks removed from the Chiefs win over the Eagles in Super Bowl LVII 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 LVIII in 2024.
The current champs enter the offseason as pretty strong favorites to repeat, as it’s apparent the sportsbooks place a premium on Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid. There’s a pretty clear “challengers” bunch, including the Super Bowl runner ups from Philadelphia rounding out the top five favorites, before we start to see some longer odds. There seems to be some serious parity within most of the league, with only three teams being listed at the bottom with near impossible odds. Will the Chiefs be able to stake a claim as a true dynasty, or can someone unseat them amongst the elite of the league?
Examining Super Bowl LVIII 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 the Fanduel 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 2024. 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 and salary caps to determine which teams could lose valuable pieces and who should return most of their lineup. 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 +600
A lot of things had to go right for the Chiefs to come away as Super Bowl champions, but that’s just kind of what they do… They find ways to win. They’re now approaching rare company as they look to repeat and establish themselves as a true dynasty. The more we watch this team, the more apparent it is that as long as they have the have Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid, that they’ll find ways to piece the rest of the team together. The AFC is shaping up to be a gauntlet yet again next season, and that may ironically favor this Kansas City team. They’ve proven they can beat anyone, which gives them a bit of that mental edge against the rest of the conference. If there is a question when you look at this roster, it would be how long can Travis Kelce and Chris Jones play at the All-Pro level they have attained? There isn’t a lot of value in taking the Chiefs at +600, although we’ll buy into the fact they should be the favorites to repeat as champions.
POTENTIAL VALUE – MEDIUM
Buffalo Bills +850
After a fast start to the 2022 season the Bills ran out of gas in the second half of the year having dealt with an enormous amount of adversity. The oddsmakers haven’t thrown in the towel on the potential for this team though as quarterback Josh Allen gives this team a chance to win against anyone. The problem for this team seems to be they rely too much on Allen, as some of the role players and coaching has been less than stellar. The Bills enter the offseason in a rough spot from a salary cap perspective and they’re likely to lose some key contributors from last year’s team. They also received a surprise announcement with defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier announcing a break from coaching. How well they can draft and play the cap game will determine if they can improve or will regress from a personnel standpoint. One thing is they simply have to figure out is how to get stronger in the trenches, particularly on the offensive line. Having a franchise QB can only take you so far if you can’t protect him and get him some support. This team will compete in the AFC, however with what looks like a difficult schedule in a stacked conference, it will be difficult for this team to get their elusive first Lombardi Trophy.
POTENTIAL VALUE – LOW
Philadelphia Eagles +900
What a crushing way for the Eagles season to end, as they were oh so close to grabbing the title. There’s some good news and some bad news for Philly as they prepare to defend their NFC crown in 2023. The good news is this team has a lot of talent, and they got their question about whether or not Jalen Hurts is a franchise quarterback answered. Yes, the Eagles did a great job of making things easy for Hurts, but make no mistake about it, he is a top talent who is clearly capable of leading a team in the playoffs. More good news comes in the fact the NFC doesn’t have a ton of firepower as a whole, making the path to the Super Bowl very do-able again. If there is an area of concern, it has to rest with that Eagles front seven that was deep and experienced during their 2022 run. It will basically be a complete overhaul as we will see veterans head into retirement or free agency. The team will need to re-tool at that position without a ton of wiggle room, but GM Howie Roseman is a master at working the cap. These early odds seem just about right as there’s little reason why the Eagles can’t return to the Super Bowl again.
POTENTIAL VALUE – MEDIUM
Cincinnati Bengals +900
The Cincinnati Bengals are a very talented football team, and you better believe that they know that. What was one of the league’s laughing stocks not long ago, has now turned into a confident, and even arrogant team built around one of the game’s top quarterbacks in Joe Burrow. Despite falling short in the AFC Championship game at Arrowhead, this is one team that is clearly not afraid of the Kansas City Chiefs, or anyone else for that matter. The Bengals should be able to piece together a better offensive line, and they’re in pretty good shape to keep most of their roster intact, as they’re key players are still on their rookie deals. Of all of the top tier teams, Cincinnati might be in best position to actually put a better roster on the field in 2023, for at least one more year until those mega-contracts come calling. For our money, the Bengals should have similar odds to Kansas City, so there is some value here.
POTENTIAL VALUE – HIGH
San Francisco 49ers +900
Heading into the Super Bowl many believed the Philadelphia Eagles had the best roster in the league. That may be the case, however for our money give us this San Francisco 49er team, who managed to put together an impressive winning streak despite having to play with their third string quarterback, and then go beyond that in the playoffs. The big question for the 49ers is who will be the starter going into next season? Brock Purdy is expected to be ready for training camp after undergoing elbow surgery, but signs point to the team going with Trey Lance, who they gave up a bounty for to grab as the third pick in the draft. Because of the uncertainty at the QB position, it’s hard to fully get behind this 49ers team, no matter how good the rest of the roster is. They should be in good shape again in the soft NFC, but can Trey Lance or Brock Purdy win the Super Bowl for this team?
POTENTIAL VALUE – MEDIUM
Dallas Cowboys +1500
Something just feels right when you look at the Cowboys entering with +1500 odds, placing them just outside of the elite teams in the league. That seems to be where this Cowboys team is likely to reside as long as Dak Prescott is the quarterback. We’re not hating on Dak, but even with the Cowboys look good, there just seems to be that feeling of the team being only good enough to be a divisional round playoff team. Head coach Mike McCarthy looks as though he’ll be taking over play-calling duties, which we’ll probably know after a few games if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. The Cowboys have their foundational players in place, but they’ll need to figure out the running back position at a minimum. Tony Pollard is a free agent and should be able to cash in on a nice payday, while Ezekiel Elliott is clearly not explosive enough to carry the load in the backfield. The Cowboys will be competitive again, although it’s tough to imagine them taking that next step that Jerry Jones desperately wants.
POTENTIAL VALUE – MEDIUM
Baltimore Ravens +1600
John Harbaugh has been one of the best and most consistent head coaches in the league for well over a decade, but it’s time to wonder if things are nearing an end in Baltimore. While Harbaugh surely has a fairly long leash, his team was outcoached several times a season ago, and the Lamar Jackson fiasco seemed to shine a light on some fundamental issues within the team. The obvious area of intrigue is with Jackson and the quarterback position, as things still feel like they could go either direction in regards to a return to the Ravens for the talented QB. With Jackson on the roster, this team can compete behind a solid defense, but they simply have to get some more weapons on offense. That defense could also be a little weaker as there are several starters entering free agency and possibly heading to new teams. Even with Jackson, this team has a tough path through the AFC North, and without him, it’ll be tough for them to stay competitive as a whole. In the words of Shark Tank, for those reason’s we’re out on the Ravens.
POTENTIAL VALUE – LOW
Los Angeles Chargers +2000
The Chargers finally managed to find their way into the playoffs, only to collapse in epic fashion against the Jacksonville Jaguars. If you follow the BetCrushers you know that our ranking of the Chargers generally factors in a dip for head coach Brandon Staley. Can this team overcome Staley, or can he adapt enough for this team to be a serious threat in the AFC? Los Angeles enters the offseason nearly $20 million over the salary cap so they’ll have to make some moves, but they have most of their key pieces set to return. We got a glimpse down the stretch of the regular season of just how good this team can be when they’re healthy, so it’s not crazy to think this team can really compete to dethrone the Chiefs in the AFC West. They need to beef up their run defense, and some extra help at the corner spot, but overall this is a pretty good roster with a top 5 “ish” type quarterback. These odds make sense, however with a healthy lineup, this team is better than this.
POTENTIAL VALUE – HIGH
Green Bay Packers +2500
You can make the argument that if Aaron Rodgers returns to the Packers that this is a bit of an appealing number. That’s an argument we’re taking the other side on though, as we saw enough from this Green Bay team to bury them distant from the top teams in the NFC. Of course all of that is based on Rodgers being back in GB, which seems like it probably won’t happen at this point. The roster as a whole could look quite a bit different for the Packers as it could be a Jordan Love rebuild situation. If that happens, it seems almost impossible that Green Bay would be able to contend, unless the team lucks out with it’s third straight HOF quarterback in as many tries. After enjoying decades of success, things could look pretty bleak in Title-Town in 2023.
POTENTIAL VALUE – LOW
Jacksonville Jaguars +2500
Trevor Lawrence took that highly anticipated “step” in his sophomore season in Jacksonville, which ended with a playoff win and competing against the Chiefs in the Divisional Round. As a result, it’s pretty apparent that this Jaguars team is going to be in the mix in the AFC for many years to come behind the talented young QB. After backing up the truck in free agency last year, the team is a little more handicapped with what they can do this year, although it’s worth remembering they have Calvin Ridley joining the roster after his lengthy suspension. If the team can find a way to retain tight end Evan Engram, who came on big in the second half of last season, their offense could be downright scary. The defense also has some players, but they also have some holes that they’ll hope to address in the draft. These are odds that we’ll have to re-visit after the draft and free agency, but as it stands right now, this is a team that you should be paying attention to.
POTENTIAL VALUE – HIGH
Detroit Lions +2500
It was a tale of two seasons for the Detroit Lions last year as their preseason hype fizzled with a slow start, injuries and losses. Behind their fiery head coach, the team rallied and nearly made the playoffs, as they knocked off the rival Packers in Lambeau to end their season. The Lions are still on the upswing as their offense is built on a strong offensive line and the ability to run the football and throw it. Jared Goff may never be an elite quarterback, but he played really good football and he really is a solid fit for this team. Detroit needs some more help on the defensive side of the ball, but if they can make some prudent moves in the offseason, they could be in the driver’s seat in the NFC North. Wouldn’t it be something if the Lions were the favorites to win the division heading into the 2023 season?
POTENTIAL VALUE – MEDIUM
New York Jets +2500
The New York Jets are one of the younger teams in the league, yet are approaching their near future as though the window to win is right now. New York boasted one of the better defenses in the league, and nailed the draft on both sides of the football. Head coach Robert Saleh believes they are just a quarterback away from really being a threat in the AFC, and he’s probably correct. The team will welcome back running back Breece Hall and two starters on the offensive line, which really points to the team simply needing a solid quarterback. Publicly, the organization has not given up on Zach Wilson, yet realistically, they know that they need a serious upgrade. The two biggest names available in Aaron Rodgers and Derek Carr are both rumored to be in play, and either would make this team an instant contender. We’re going to assume the quarterback position gets squared away, which will make these odds disappear pretty quickly. If you have any desire to play a New York Jets future, this is one that you’ll want to play now, rather than waiting.
POTENTIAL VALUE – HIGH
Los Angeles Rams +3000
Following up a Super Bowl winning season with continued success is easier said than done, as the Los Angeles Rams experienced last year. An unimpressive start to the season ended up spiraling downward quickly, as injuries to the team’s most important players doomed any chance they had at a repeat. In building that Super Bowl championship team, it cost the Rams draft capital, and has them in one of the more dire salary cap situations. Linebacker Bobby Wagner was released, and word on the street is Jalen Ramsey will be traded. While the team may be forced to make even more difficult decisions, they are hopeful they’ll have quarterback Matthew Stafford, wide receiver Cooper Kupp and defensive tackle Aaron Donald back leading the charge. There was a lot of speculation around head coach Sean McVay leaving the team, however he saw enough out of this roster down the stretch that he’s excited about coming back with his reinforcements. Because of the disaster of last season, this is clearly a buy-low spot on a Rams team that figures to make a run at the playoffs next season if they can stay healthy.
POTENTIAL VALUE – MEDIUM
Miami Dolphins +3000
What could have been for the Miami Dolphins in 2022 had quarterback Tua Tagovailoa stayed on the field? That question leads to the biggest inquiry of next season for the Dolphins, which is will Tagovailoa rebound and play as the team’s quarterback in 2023? Tua has stated he plans to come back, but you have to wonder about what his durability will look like if he suffers another head injury? What we do know is the Dolphins were a really good team when Tua was on the field, and they should find more success with him behind their speedy offense. While the roster is sure to see some tweaks, it could be the addition of defensive coordinator Vic Fangio that is really the difference making move. Miami has some talent on the defensive side of the ball, yet never was able to consistently slow down their opponents. If the defense can catch up to the offense, this team definitely has the potential to be a contender.
POTENTIAL VALUE – MEDIUM
Cleveland Browns +3500
The final five games of the season for the Browns essentially served as an extended preseason to get some reps in for quarterback Deshaun Watson. If we’re being honest, things didn’t go so well for the beleaguered QB after his lengthy absence from the game. It’s still very questionable as to whether Watson can be the All-Pro talent the Browns sold out for, or if this will be another blunder for a franchise that’s been known for them. One thing is for sure, they literally can’t afford for it to be as Watson has the largest salary cap hit in NFL history at over $54 million per year for the next three seasons. Cleveland still boasts a solid offensive line, and some top talent on both sides of the ball, but they really need to figure out what their identity is on offense, and improve on defense. They should be competitive in the AFC North, but we’ll need to see a whole lot more before we start taking this team and organization seriously.
POTENTIAL VALUE – LOW
Denver Broncos +3500
The Russell Wilson experiment didn’t go quite as planned in Denver as head coach Nathaniel Hackett couldn’t survive his first season. The Broncos made what they believe was a directional shaping coaching hire bringing in Sean Payton in hopes he can breathe some life into Wilson and what was an anemic Denver offense. The Broncos sold at the trading deadline, but still fielded one of the better defenses in the league, they simply didn’t have any support on the offensive side of the ball. The team needs to look at improving in the trenches on both sides of the ball, and are likely to do so behind Payton through the draft and possibly free agency. Because the Broncos were so bad a season ago, they’re almost an afterthought at this point. It’s tough to imagine they’d be able to make a leap all the way to a Super Bowl contender, but if any team is in line for a large improvement, it’s probably this Bronco squad.
POTENTIAL VALUE – HIGH
New Orleans Saints +3500
There are rumors about a quarterback upgrade in New Orleans, which could adjust these odds substantially. New QB or not, it’s tough for us to envision a path to where the Saints are a viable threat, even in the relatively soft NFC playoff race. After a decade of consistently being a threat in the conference, the Saints are in a weird spot due to some salary cap challenges. The defense is not the stout unit it was just a couple of seasons ago, and even with good quarterback play the offense is a far cry from the Drew Brees era. There’s uncertainty not only at the quarterback position, but with running back Alvin Kamara’s future, as well as some veterans who will likely be cap casualties. Whether the Saints want to admit it or not, they’re closer to a rebuild than they are contention, even with a quarterback change. There are several teams sitting below this one that we’d take a shot on before we gave the Saints our nickels.
POTENTIAL VALUE – LOW
Minnesota Vikings +4000
The Vikings were a popular joke in 2022, as their extremely positive variance provided a great record, despite mediocre performance in head coach Kevin O’Connell’s first season. There’s almost certainly going to be some regression in those close games, which will make them a popular fade amongst experience bettors next year. As with many of the teams on this list, there are some good things, and some bad things to point out as they head into next season. The positive has to start with the coaching staff. Kevin O’Connell will have a year under his belt to improve as the head man, and more importantly the team added Brian Flores as their defensive coordinator. Flores is a massive step up from the uninspiring defense of former coordinator Ed Donatell, and he should be able to get more out of what he has to work with. Additionally, the cupboard is not bare by any stretch as the Vikings boast some of the league’s most talented players, and the undervalued and often picked on Kirk Cousins at quarterback. The bad news is this team is going to need to let some players go to get under the salary cap. Some big names such as free agent Dalvin Tomlinson, and veterans Adam Thielen and even Dalvin Cook could be on the chopping block. Minnesota is in a spot where they should be competitive in their division, but still seems to be a shade behind the big dogs in the NFC.
POTENTIAL VALUE – MEDIUM
Las Vegas Raiders +4000
One of the more intriguing teams to keep an eye on next year is the Las Vegas Raiders. Heading into the offseason the huge question is who will fill the void at quarterback after the release of former franchise leader Derek Carr? The rumor mill is circulating everything from Aaron Rodgers reuniting with Davante Adams, to a trade for Trey Lance, and even a return for Tom Brady. Until we know who will be piloting this offense, it’s pretty impossible to handicap what their season may look like. The Raiders have a decision to make with running back Josh Jacobs, and they need to get Maxx Crosby some help on the defensive side of the ball. The organization does have a lot of salary cap space to make some moves, and Las Vegas is certainly a destination that free agents would seem to want to consider. For the time being, we have no choice but to slot the Raiders in fourth place in the AFC West, unless until we learn a little more about what this roster will look like. If you like a true gamble, +4000 could end up a value if some big name free agents and a quarterback end up on the team. However, it’s likely these odds actually go the opposite direction as we get closer to the start of training camp.
POTENTIAL VALUE – MEDIUM
New York Giants +4000
With all due respect to the Seattle Seahawks and some others, no team seemed to outperform their expectations from a season ago more than the New York Giants. Head coach Brian Daboll performed an impressive culture shift in guiding the team to a playoff win in his first season. Daboll and GM Joe Schoen now get to really put their stamp on the team in year two with some huge decisions to make, particularly around quarterback Daniel Jones. The former first round pick played really well in earning a franchise role in the league moving forward. With the QB looking for up to $40 million dollars, it remains to be seen if he’s a slam dunk to be the Giants guy or possibly on the move? Signs point to a return to NY, which makes sense, but could set the ceiling at a low mark for the Giants. As it stands today, New York is another of the teams in good shape with the salary cap, but that could change depending on what ends up happening with Jones and running back Saquon Barkley. The NFC East seems to be the top division in the conference, which will make the path for the Giants difficult, despite the great showing last year.
POTENTIAL VALUE – LOW
Pittsburgh Steelers +5000
The jury is still out on whether or not the Steeler’s hit the mark with Kenny Pickett as their franchise quarterback. The young QB showed some flashes in his rookie season, and how competitive the Steelers will be, will ultimately come down to how big of a leap he can take in his second season. We’re tentatively buying Pickett, and more so we’re still buying Mike Tomlin as the head coach of this football team. He continues to get the most out of his players, and with a good draft, this team could be competitive again, after falling out of favor in the AFC North. Make no mistake about it, this team needs to improve in the trenches, and fill a couple of other holes, but they’re going to be competitive, even if not yet ready for the elite tier of the league.
POTENTIAL VALUE – MEDIUM
Carolina Panthers +5500
If it seems like the Carolina Panthers have been “rebuilding” for a while you’re definitely not imagining things. The 2023 season will feature another new head coach with Frank Reich edging out sentimental favorite Steve Wilks to took take over control of the team. It’s also almost certain that it will feature another new starting quarterback as the Sam Darnold experience never took flight, nor did the brief experiment of Baker Mayfield. Carolina has some extra draft picks they received when they shipped Christian McCaffrey to San Francisco, so they’re definitely a candidate to trade up on draft night in an effort to grab a feature QB. No matter who ends up behind center, there is a lot of work to be done to make this team a viable threat in the NFC. Perhaps the best thing going for the Panthers at this time is they occupy a division with three other teams that have plenty of questions of their own. The Panthers may turn things around under Reich and a new quarterback, but this team is nowhere near competing for a Super Bowl victory.
POTENTIAL VALUE – LOW
Washington Commanders +5500
The Commanders are one of those teams that have some really nice pieces on their roster, yet are hard to take seriously because of not having “the guy” at quarterback. They took a crack at Carson Wentz being the franchise leader, which at least temporarily ended with predictable results, releasing him on Monday. Heading into next season the quarterback position remains another question mark for this otherwise solid football team. Is the quarterback they need to be a contender on the roster, or will they be searching in free agency again, or in the draft? The NFC East is no longer the laughing stock division of the league. In fact, as referenced earlier, this is one of the better divisions in the all of football led by the Eagles and Cowboys. This Commanders team is not missing all that many pieces in a quest to be great, however they are still missing the most important piece. Unless they can catch lightning in a bottle at the QB position, this team will likely be fighting for a wild-card spot when the dust settles
POTENTIAL VALUE – MEDIUM
New England Patriots +5500
It appears Bill Belichick is going to outlast Tom Brady, as the head coach appears he’s all-in with the New England Patriots. He must truly love the game, or know something we don’t in regards to the prospects of his team in the post-Brady era. Things haven’t been awful in New England, as the Patriots have played decent football over the past two seasons. For this team though, replacing a legend at quarterback has proven to be as tough as most of the public believed it would be. Mac Jones has the verbal support of the organization, and this feels as though it will be somewhat of a make or break type of season for the young quarterback. The Patriots coaching staff and roster will look quite a bit different heading into the 2023 season, but will those changes be enough to compete in the loaded AFC? At least at this stage of the offseason, we’ve got the Patriots looking at a last place finish in the AFC East. That could certainly change after free agency and the draft, but for the time being, things don’t look great for the Pats.
POTENTIAL VALUE – LOW
Seattle Seahawks +6000
If you had the Seahawks winning nine games and making the playoffs last year you did a heck of a lot better than we did with that projection. Head coach Pete Carroll backed quarterback Geno Smith from early on in camp and that paid dividends as the veteran turned in a great season, and the Hawks finished second in the NFC West. The team should get a deal done that will keep Smith the starter as he’ll look to duplicate his success with the offense. The defense needs some work, particularly with finding a more consistent pass rush, and toughening up against the run. Even with paying Smith, the team has some wiggle room to bring in some help on that side of the ball. Even better, the team has two picks in the first 20 of the draft, and 4 total picks in the the first 52 selections. That could bring quite a bit of extra help to a team that is still chasing a 49ers team in the NFC West, but believes it will find a way back to the playoffs again.
POTENTIAL VALUE – MEDIUM
Chicago Bears +6500
The Chicago Bears are absolutely a candidate to be the most improved team in the league during the 2023 season. They started their rebuild during last season, which should make this one of the more active offseasons for any team in the league. Chicago has the top pick in the draft, and it’s anyone’s guess what they’ll choose to do with it? The first decision the team needs to address is whether or not they’re committed to Justin Fields as their franchise leader, or if they would think about starting over with another rookie? That will undoubtedly be one of the biggest things to keep an eye on before the draft, however this team needs to figure out a lot more than just the QB position. In addition to that first overall draft pick, the team also has nearly $100 million dollars of salary cap space, more than double the next team. That could really help boost a depleted defense, or provide some extra weapons for Fields or whoever they decide is their quarterback. The Bears will be one of the more interesting teams to watch because there will be such high drama, but even if they are substantially improved, this team has a ton of work to do before they’re a legitimate Super Bowl team.
POTENTIAL VALUE – LOW
Tennessee Titans +7000
One could argue that Tennessee head coach Mike Vrabel has gotten more out of what he’s had to work with than pretty much any other coach in the league during his tenure with the Titans. That theory is going to really be tested as the Titans are at a crossroads with any window of a Super Bowl title appearing to be closing. This team could look a whole lot different when things all shake out as both quarterback Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry could end up moving on before the start of the season. After seeing Vrabel’s disappointment with dealing wide receiver A.J. Brown during last year’s draft, the direction of this team is very much in flux. Even with the Texans and Colts not expected to make much noise within the AFC South, this should be the Jaguars division for the foreseeable future. These odds will fluctuate depending upon if the Titans end up being buyers or sellers heading into the season, but either way, there doesn’t seem to be much value in their chances in 2023.
POTENTIAL VALUE – LOW
Tampa Bay Buccaneers +7500
The Tom Brady era is over in Tampa, for what seems like for good this time after Brady’s heartfelt retirement announcement. The team grabbed a Super Bowl win and was ultra-competitive so you’d have to say that venture was clearly a success for the organization. Now that Brady appears to be gone, we may see some of the potential holes in this team exposed. Head coach Todd Bowles often looked lost, and the continual mixing of veteran players on defense wasn’t able to gel the way the team had hoped. Now they enter this offseason without knowing who will be their quarterback, and needing to work some minor miracles to get under a salary cap that they currently sit around $58 million dollars over on. Veterans like wide receiver Mike Evans and others could be on the move out of desperation. In simple terms, this team goes from an NFC heavyweight into a rebuild mode just like that. The NFC South may end up being the worst division in football, and the Buccaneers might end up being the worst of that bunch.
POTENTIAL VALUE – LOW
Atlanta Falcons +7500
The Falcons head into year number three under head coach Arthur Smith really no closer to greatness than they were when they started. That’s to be expected as they’re still searching for the answer at the quarterback position, a common theme with some of these teams at the bottom of the list. They released Marcus Mariota, and it looks as though it’s Desmond Ridder, or perhaps another young gun in the draft for the upcoming season. There are a few nice young players on the roster, and the team has cap room to play with, so they could improve quite a bit if they play their cards right. Because this team plays in the NFC South, we’re giving them a puncher’s chance at these odds, as they could certainly win this division. Once you’re in the tourney, you never know, right?
POTENTIAL VALUE – MEDIUM
Indianapolis Colts +28000
The BetCrushers missed with a couple of teams that overachieved, and completely whiffed with one team that we had really high expectations for in 2022. The Indianapolis Colts season could best be described as a disaster, as they dealt with poor player performances, injuries, and a head coaching change halfway through the season. All of this leads up to the team entering this season at a pretty disrespectful, yet somewhat understandable +28000 to win the Super Bowl. You’d think we’d learned our lesson after they disappointed us last year, but this number just seems like a pretty wild overreaction to last year’s mess. The team will have a first year head coach as they grabbed Eagle’s offensive coordinator Shane Steichen, someone who should give the team at least a little more creativity. It remains to be seen where they will go at the quarterback position, but whoever gets that job should have some talent around them. This roster has some players on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Yes, it’s unlikely this team can contend for a Super Bowl, but their odds shouldn’t be any worse than +10000. If you want a lottery ticket, this would be the one to punch.
POTENTIAL VALUE – HIGH
Arizona Cardinals +28000
Things can change quickly in the NFL, and the Cardinals quick fall from a hyped team of promise to a bottom-feeder is all the evidence you need to see this. The Cardinals are essentially starting over from the Kliff Kingsbury experience, and will now look to former Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon to light a fire within. Kyler Murray remains a big piece to the unknown puzzle as he rehabs from his season ending injury, and will most likely not be available for the first half of the season. For a QB that relies on his speed, it’s worth questioning if he will ever fully rebound to be the athletic talent the team fell in love with? There are plenty of other things to monitor, including the retirement of J.J. Watt, and what happens with veteran receiver DeAndre Hopkins? To be honest, this team is basically in a “start from scratch” type situation. That can be a good thing in 24 months, but is usually a tough pill to swallow during the initial stages of the build. Let’s see what Gannon is all about and we can start to grade the process of this team in a year or so.
POTENTIAL VALUE – LOW
Houston Texans +28000
Lovie Smith was actually a decent bridge coach during his one year stint with what could best be described as the lame-duck Houston Texans. He kept the seat warm for a return for new coach DeMeco Ryans. By all accounts, Ryans is the perfect candidate for another team that has a lot of work to do. That work will apparently start in the draft, where the organization will search for what they hope is their new franchise quarterback. Much of the potential success of this team will rest on whether or not they land the right guy they can build around. As you might expect with a team that enters a season with odds at +28000, they have a lot of work to do, but do have some capital to make that happen. In addition to the early draft pick, they have quite a bit of salary cap space to play with. With the benefit of playing in the AFC South, this team could be feisty, depending on how their offseason goes. With all that being said, they’re not a viable Super Bowl candidate by any stretch, just yet.
POTENTIAL VALUE – LOW
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. We always like to give five of our top teams here, even if we may not be betting them just yet. We’re eyeing the Cincinnati Bengals, Los Angeles Chargers, the Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets and Denver Broncos as teams offering “value”. If you’re looking for a longshot, consider the Indianapolis Colts, 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!
