With the new NFL season set to kick off this week the Green Bay Packers remain the favorite on the odds to win Super Bowl 51.
The Packers continue to sit atop the Super Bowl 51 odds at +600. That gives them a slight edge over the New England Patriots, who are right behind at +650. Led by two-time NFL MVP and Super Bowl XLV MVP Aaron Rodgers, the Packers could have the top offense in the league with wide receiver Jordy Nelson returning from injury and Eddie Lacy back in shape. In 2014 Green Bay had the highest scoring offense in the NFL, but last season with Nelson sidelined and Lacy inconsistent out of the backfield they dropped to 15th overall.
Thanks to the never-ending Deflategate saga the Patriots will begin the season without Tom Brady. Even with Jimmy Garoppolo starting the Patriots’ first four games they remain among the Super Bowl favorites at +650. The Patriots are in tough to start the season on the road against the Arizona Cardinals, but could have three easier wins after that with home games against the Houston Texans and Buffalo Bills and a visit to the Cleveland Browns. It will be interesting to watch and see if the Patriots’ Super Bowl odds are affected by their games with Garoppolo at quarterback.
After Green Bay and New England on the Super Bowl betting lines are the Seattle Seahawks at +900 and the Pittsburgh Steelers, Carolina Panthers and Cardinals all at +1100.
Anyone worried that the Seahawks could lose a step following the retirement of Marshawn Lynch may not need to be so worried. Last season Lynch played in only seven games, during which Seattle was 3-4. When Lynch was out last season Seattle was 7-2.
The Steelers’ three-headed monster on offense with Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and (starting in Week 4) Le’Veon Bell could be the most lethal trio in the league. Pittsburgh’s biggest problem is that they’ve won only one playoff game in the past five seasons.
The Panthers came one win short of their first Super Bowl title last season. They still boasted the top scoring offense in the league, which could get better with the addition of wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin. However, the loss of Josh Norman could weaken the Carolina defense.
In case you forgot the Cardinals had the No. 1 offense in the NFL last season. They also finished first in the NFC West for the first time in six years. With a balanced attack behind Carson Palmer, David Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd, and a defense that was in the Top 5 last season, Arizona could be the best value pick on the board right now.
The biggest change on the Super Bowl futures this past week was the Minnesota Vikings for the second week in a row. After losing Teddy Bridgewater the Vikings plummeted down the odds to +3300. After trading for Sam Bradford they rebounded slightly, up to +2500.