It’s officially the NFL playoff season. The Wild Card round begins this weekend, followed quickly by the Division Round, Conference Championships, and, of course, Super Bowl LVIII on February 11. At this moment, 14 NFL teams are prepared to take their best shot at Super Bowl glory, but only two will make it to the big game.
So, who has the best chance of winning the league title this year? Let us take a closer look at the odds.
Who is in the NFL playoffs?
Before we get into this year’s gaming odds, let’s go over who the teams are.
The San Francisco 49ers are the top-ranked team in the National Football Conference (NFC) for this year’s playoffs, having concluded the regular season with a 12-5 record and securing the top seed in the playoff bracket. The Dallas Cowboys (12-5), Detroit Lions (12-5), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8), Philadelphia Eagles (11-6), Los Angeles Rams (10-7) and Green Bay Packers (9-8) are all close behind the Niners.
Whereas, the Baltimore Ravens lead the American Football Conference (AFC) with a 13-4 record and are the conference’s top seed. The Buffalo Bills (11-6), Kansas City Chiefs (11-6), Houston Texans (10-7), Miami Dolphins (11-6), Cleveland Browns (11-6), and Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) follow closely behind.
Obviously, the teams with the most wins are regarded as the best coming into the playoffs, but it’s always worth knowing that anything can happen, and betting odds don’t always match records. With that said, let’s take a look at the Super Bowl predictions.
Who Has The Best Chance to Win the Super Bowl?
Oddsmakers are starting playoff speculation with the best clubs in the top positions. According to ESPN’s Football Power Index, the 49ers and Ravens are the current favourites to win the Super Bowl, with each having a more than 50 percent chance of doing so. The Dallas Cowboys stand just behind the 49ers in the NFC with a 25 percent chance of making the playoffs, while the Buffalo Bills in the AFC have a 26 percent chance of finishing ahead of the Ravens and making their final game. Everyone else is now in single digits, but that may change dramatically after Wild Card weekend.
In terms of actual, actionable gaming odds, Bet MGM also ranks the 49ers and Ravens first, with the 49ers now having the highest chances to make the Super Bowl at +225 and the Ravens behind closely at +325. According to ESPN’s statistics, the Bills and Cowboys are close behind at +650 and +750, respectively.
Which Teams Have the Lowest Chances of Winning the Super Bowl?
So, which teams are at the bottom of the list right now? That title belongs to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC (+12500) and the Green Bay Packers in the NFC (+8000). ESPN’s power index essentially agrees, giving the Packers a 0.8 percent chance of reaching the Super Bowl and the Steelers a 0.4 percent chance.