Entering the divisional round of the playoffs this weekend, the oddsmakers still have the New England Patriots as the Super Bowl favorite.
The Patriots begin their playoff run toward a Super Bowl repeat as massive 14-point home favorites versus the Tennessee Titans. With what looks to be a cupcake matchup this week and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, it should be no surprise that New England is a +200 favorite on the updated Super Bowl 52 futures odds. At home in the postseason, New England has won six straight and in their last eight home games against the Titans they are 7-1 SU.
Since New England is atop the Super Bowl futures, that would mean Tennessee has to be at the bottom. And they are at +5000. Tennessee stunned the Kansas City Chiefs 22-21 as an 8.5-point underdog, but repeating that feat against New England seems highly unlikely. In their last six games against New England, the Titans are 0-6.
Second on the Super Bowl futures heading into the weekend are the Minnesota Vikings at +375. Their weekend opponents are the New Orleans Saints, who check in at +550 on the futures. The Vikings are a 4-point favorite as they look for their second win over the Saints this season. Back in Week 1 in their season opener, the Vikings defeated the Saints 29-19 as a 3-point favorite.
Jammed in between the Vikings and Saints on the Super Bowl futures are the Pittsburgh Steelers at +500. This weekend they’ll get the Jacksonville Jaguars, who are considered big Super Bowl underdogs right now at +1800.
If you’re looking for a potential upset this weekend and a profitable long shot, the Jaguars might be the way to go. Jacksonville already went into Pittsburgh earlier this season and upset the Steelers 30-9 as a 7.5-point underdog. In fact, in their last five games in Pittsburgh, the Jaguars are 4-1. Don’t get too cocky, though. If Jacksonville does win and faces New England to get to the Super Bowl, that’s a much bigger task, especially since Jacksonville is 1-10 in 11 matchups with the Patriots.
Filling out the rest of the Super Bowl futures odds are the Atlanta Falcons at +650 and the Philadelphia Eagles at +1400. They’ll meet up this weekend in Philadelphia with the Falcons listed as a 3-point road favorite.
Is it time for bettors to get back on the Falcons bandwagon? Facing an Eagles squad without starting QB Carson Wentz, the Falcons look like a shoo-in to return to the NFC championship game, and possibly the Super Bowl too. One problem for Atlanta if they do make it past Philadelphia is that they’ll have to face Minnesota or New Orleans next. This season they were 1-2 combined in three games against the Vikings and Saints.