2014 NFL Super Bowl Gambling Future Props
The countdown is on to the start of a new season in the NFL as all 32 teams are busy preparing for a Super Bowl run. Some team’s chances are obviously much better than others so here is a looking at the top third of the list according to odds provided by Bovada.
San Francisco 49ers- 6/1
The 49ers made it to the NFC Championship Game in 2011 and followed that up with a trip to last year’s Super Bowl so it stands to reason that they will take the next step in 2013 by winning it all. The loss of wide receiver Michael Crabtree with a torn Achilles certainly does not help, but neither does past trends. The last time a team that lost the Super Bowl got back there the following season was all the way back in 1994, when Buffalo lost three-straight title games.
Denver Broncos- 13/2
To me, this is the team to watch in 2013. They finished last season with the fourth-best offense in the NFL to complement a defense that was ranked second in the league in total yards allowed. By his own admission, Peyton Manning already said he was not 100 percent last season, so he should be even better this year.
New England Patriots- 8/1
The combination of Bill Belichick at head coach and Tom Brady under center make the Patriots perennial favorites each and every year, but they head into next season with some burning questions at tight end on offense and with their defense in general. This could be another close but no cigar year for New England.
Seattle Seahawks- 17/2
The Seahawks are quite a few people’s pick to win it all next season. There is no denying that their defense is one of the best around especially when playing at home, but I am not convinced that Russell Wilson does not take a step backwards in 2013, which has been the case for so many other rookie quarterbacks in their second year in the league. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Green Bay Packers- 12/1
This is my team from the NFC. The offseason moves to address a very deficient running game through the addition of Eddie Lacy and Johnathan Franklin through the draft could be just enough to tip the scales back into the Packers’ favor after a brief hiatus from the title game.
Atlanta Falcons- 14/1
Atlanta proved that it can translate its incredible regular season success into the playoffs with a run all the way to the NFC Championship Game in 2012, but the teams that were right below them in the standings have made the necessary moves to help close the gap. The Falcons win the NFC South but once again come up short with everything on the line.
Houston Texans- 18/1
This is another team that has all the pieces in place for a long run in the postseason, but you cannot help but get the feeling that the Divisional Round of the playoffs is as far as it gets for the third straight year. Matt Schaub may not be the answer after all to help this team get over its current hump.
New Orleans Saints- 18/1
The Saints will automatically be a much better team this season with Sean Payton back at the helm, but they may not be able to avoid a slow start out of the gate as they work out the kinks from his year-long suspension from the NFL.
Baltimore Ravens- 22/1
Baltimore is in position to take a serious step backwards next season. The loss of Ray Lewis and Ed Reed on defense are just too big of a void to fill overnight and all that money is bound to go to Joe Flacco’s head on the other side of the ball.
New York Giants- 22/1
The Giants very average 9-7 record last season does set the stage for a another long run to a title game, as this team is once again hungry to go out and win. They should have a fairly easy road in the NFC East as the gap between them and the other three teams have actually gotten wider, but there will be some tough competition to get past to make a trip back to the conference title game.
