With Super Bowl LVIII wrapped, NFL fans are already looking forward to next year’s season start. For many analysts, the focus remains on last year’s champions. Did the overtime win against the 49ers confirm the Chiefs as a bona fide dynasty? Or will early predictions that the 49ers will lift next year’s Lombardi prove as good as gold?
While it might seem a bit early for such questions given the recent conclusion in Las Vegas, the offseason is actually the preferred time to back futures for some NFL fans. At the moment, Super Bowl futures for next year’s game in New Orleans are attempting to predict which of the cream of the crop of the AFC and NFC will face off. Given early predictions provide little to go on, the odds tend to be high value for those who can spot an underdog.
A Note on Favorites: 49ers, Chiefs
Right now is, in fact, a popular time for bettors to explore bonus bets provided by OddsChecker to back their favorite underdogs in the NFL. As mentioned up top, analysts favor the 49ers and Chiefs to battle it out again. Once more, oddsmakers are giving the 49ers a slight edge. At the moment, FanDuel and BetMGM list the 49ers as the +500 favorites to the +650 Chiefs. DraftKings and Caesars are keeping the odds a little shorter at +550 and +625, respectively.
But these aren’t sure bets, even if all the major sportsbooks have their lines in the same order. In fact, it’s not uncommon for underdogs to over-perform in the postseason. Back in 2022, the Los Angeles Rams entered the preseason with Super Bowl odds of +1200. The year before, the Buccs toppled predictions with odds of +1000. Only three years prior in 2018, the Eagles took home the Lombardi after preseason odds of +4000.
Though Tom Brady’s help can’t be understated in the Buccs’ win, the Rams and Eagles are a great example of why backing underdogs early can pay off—literally. So which underdogs should you keep your eye on during this offseason?
Detroit Lions, +1200 (BetMGM)
Along with the 49ers and Chiefs, most sportsbooks list the Ravens and Bills are primary contenders to enter Super Bowl LIX. However, others are eyeing the Lions and Bills as a potential matchup. The Lions are amid a multiyear reboot. Since 1957, the Lions have only won three games in the playoffs—and two of those wins came last season.
Though the Lions will be losing a lot of power in their roster, they’ll hold onto Jared Goff, along with Aidan Hutchinson, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Alim McNeill. Then again, they’ll still be helmed by Dan Campbell—a coach who caused many to raise their brows after the team’s late January loss against the 49ers.
Dallas Cowboys, +1300 (FanDuel)
The Cowboys are in an extremely interesting position at the moment. Over the last three years, the team has advanced to the playoffs—but been eliminated twice by the 49ers. Will Dak Prescott and coach Mike McCarthy finally be able to make it to the NFC Championships?
Unfortunately for the Cowboys, they still carry the reputation of ‘pretenders’ for their abysmal performance in the postseason. However, there’s certain to be a fire in McCarthy to finally deliver on a Super Bowl appearance as it’s his last year under contract in Dallas. He’ll likely have a Super Bowl-caliber roster—but will he be able to finally perform in the playoffs?
Cincinnati Bengals, +2400 (BetRivers)
What are the Bengals doing on this list—especially after missing the playoffs this last season and ending with a 9-8 record? It’s all about the QB. Analysts still think Joe Burrow will be able to guide the Bengals to a Lombardi Trophy. Though still relatively green, he has two AFC championships to learn from.
In fact, some have likened his trajectory to Patrick Mahomes. Now that he’s got a few years of experience under his belt and the Bengals roster is tightening, could it be time for him to bring home the silverware? Assuming Burrow and DJ Reader avoid more injuries, and that the team makes solid moves to replenish roster this offseason, the future looks extremely bright in Cincinnati.
New York Jets, +2500 (Caesars)
Aaron Rodgers flew the coup a few years ago—so when will his efforts in New York start to pay off? Some analysts think this might be Rodgers’ year with the Jets. The QB certainly has the stats to finally pull off another Super Bowl win. Meanwhile, assuming the offensive line avoids major injuries, Rodgers could finally make some serious magic with Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson.
If backing the Jets in the Super Bowl is a bit too much of a stretch (we understand), then consider backing them to come out ahead in the AFC East. They’re a shoo-in to beat the Patriots, but what about the Bills and Dolphins?
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