Super Bowl Odds

So, yes, another NFL season is fast approaching. We have reminders everywhere, with the regular and preseason schedules coming out, the NFL Draft having just taken place (and an unusually high profile one, with Michael Sam and "Johnny Football". Also, we had a high profile suspension of Robert Mathis of the Colts, and how that could impact them defensively (since he was among their best defensive performers last season), particularly early in the season, when they have some tough games against the Broncos and the Eagles (and potentially, the Texans, who should be a vastly improved team this year, after the horrendous 2-14 blemish that they stumbled to last season, after the 2-0 start).

Given that the baseball season is starting to really be in full swing, and also, that the NBA and NHL playoffs are dominating the sports headlines, as they usually do at this time of the year, the NFL wants to keep whatever momentum it has going.

With that, came the release of the odds for each team's Super Bowl chances.

Not surprisingly, the Seattle Seahawks, the youngest team in the NFL, as well as the team that ultimately won the top prize last year, can be considered the favorites heading into this season. They are 5/1 odds as of this moment.

The team that they completely dismantled just a few months ago in the Super Bowl game itself, the Denver Broncos, are second on the list, with 6/1 odds.

The San Francisco 49ers, considered by most to have been the true second best team last season, dropped from better odds earlier to 7/1, still good enough to place third on the list. But that drop could be accounted for because of all of the good moves and pick ups that the Denver Broncos made in the last couple of months, as well as some of the turmoil that seems to have surfaced for the 49ers during that same period.

Among the other top teams are some of the usual suspects, such as the New England Patriots, the Green Bay Packers, and the New Orleans Saints.

Baltimore ranks 11th on the list, despite having been defending Super Bowl champions themselves last year. And the Giants, the team that won it two seasons prior, are at the top of the bottom of the pack, at 17th.

Here is the list, although the picture is not all that clear (apologies):