No more debating a longshot bet on the Steelers and Vikings – it’s down to the final 12 teams if you want to make a bet on Super Bowl 53 before the real games begin.
And two teams are in the hunt who were 100-1 longshots back before the season began.
The NFL playoffs kick off this weekend with the New Orleans Saints favored, according to the latest Super Bowl futures odds at Bovada Sportsbook. They have the Saints listed at +250. That’s not surprising after they tore through the regular season while tying the Los Angeles Rams for the best record in the NFL at 13-3 to earn a bye this week.
New Orleans probably gets the sportsbook’s nod over the Rams because they handed Los Angeles one of their losses.
Saints Opened Season as 15-1 Longshots
The Saints have come a long way since opening the season as a +1500 underdog in the Super Bowl futures. What might help them the most in their quest for another Super Bowl title is having home field advantage throughout the postseason.
New Orleans is 14-2 straight up in their last 16 games at home. In the postseason, the Saints have won six straight home games and haven’t lost a playoff game in the Superdome since 1993.
Rams Started Year 8-1, now 4-1
The Rams head into their bye this week right behind the Saint on the Super Bowl futures at +400. That’s down slightly from the +390 odds they had last week, but up from +800 where they were listed in September.
The Rams need the rest this week to help get running back Todd Gurley back up to speed. He’s missed the Rams last two games with a knee injury. Despite C.J. Anderson filling in admirably (299 yards rushing in two games), Gurley’s health could be the difference between the Rams flaming out or getting back to the Super Bowl for the first time in nearly 20 years.
Colts, Bears Were 100-1 Super Bowl Longshots
| Team | Preseason Odds | Current Odds |
| New Orleans | +1500 | +250 |
| LA Rams | +800 | +400 |
| KC Chiefs | +2000 | +470 |
| New England Patriots | +600 | +650 |
| Chicago Bears | +10000 | +700 |
| Baltimore Ravens | +2800 | +1300 |
| LA Chargers | +2500 | +1500 |
| Dallas Cowboys | +4000 | +2400 |
| Houston Texans | +2500 | +2400 |
| Seattle Seahawks | +6600 | +2700 |
| Indianapolis Colts | +10000 | +2800 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | +900 | +3500 |
The Best of the Rest
Rounding out the rest of the Top 5 on the Super Bowl futures are the Kansas City Chiefs at +470, the New England Patriots at +650 and the Chicago Bears at +700. A few months ago, the Chiefs and Bears landing in those spots likely would have been a big surprise.
The Chiefs were +2,000 underdog on the futures, while the Bears were not on anyone’s radar in the NFC North as a +10,000 Super Bowl longshot.
The team still in the running for Super Bowl that has seen the largest odds increase are the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles began the season at +900 to repeat, but currently sit dead last on the futures at +3500.
The Eagles won three straight and five of their last six to claw their way into the playoffs. With Carson Wentz out again, they’ll look to Nick Foles to try and rekindle the magic that brought Philadelphia their first Super Bowl a year ago.