Updated NFL Odds: Conference Championships, Super Bowl XLVIII
This week Bovada oddsmakers released AFC and NFC Championship odds, as well as odds for Super Bowl XLVIII and the early line on the big game. The lay of the land will change drastically after wild card weekend, but here’s what it looks like right now.
Super Bowl XLVIII Odds
Seattle Seahawks: 11/4
Denver Broncos: 11/4
San Francisco 49ers: 7/1
New England Patriots: 9/1
Carolina Panthers: 10/1
Green Bay Packers: 14/1
Cincinnati Bengals: 16/1
Philadelphia Eagles: 16/1
New Orleans Saints: 22/1
Kansas City Chiefs: 25/1
Indianapolis Colts: 28/1
San Diego Chargers: 40/1
The Seahawks and the Broncos are the heavy favorites in Vegas right now, with each given over a 25 percent chance of going home with the coveted Lombardi trophy. It’s no surprise for these No. 1 seeds, given the weak AFC field Denver is facing and how formidable Seattle is at home.
It should also come as no surprise that Vegas has absolutely no faith in the Chargers, Chiefs and Colts—nobody else does either. San Diego is maddeningly inconsistent, Kansas City is 0-5 against playoff teams and Indianapolis just isn’t there yet—they benefitted from a terrible division.
The Saints are among the bottom rung because, as dominant as they can be in the Superdome, they simply aren’t the same team on the road. They’d have to win three outdoor road games just to make it to the Super Bowl and then have to win another in New York. Simply not going to happen.
Super Bowl XLVIII Early Line
AFC: +2½ (-105)
NFC: -2½ (-115)
AFC Championship OddsÂ
Denver Broncos: 5/7
New England Patriots: 7/2
Cincinnati Bengals: 7/1
Indianapolis Colts: 14/1
Kansas City Chiefs: 14/1
San Diego Chargers: 18/1
The Broncos are the heavy favorite to emerge from the AFC, with Vegas giving Peyton Manning nearly a 60 percent chance to continue making history this season in the Super Bowl. They might have to go through the Patriots first though, who are next up with a 22 percent chance.
The odds favor a dramatic face-off between Manning and his longtime nemesis Tom Brady, who has absolutely owned Manning in recent years. Again, the odds don’t favor any scenario that includes the Chargers, Chiefs or Colts. They’re especially low on San Diego, who shouldn’t even be in the postseason.
NFC Championship OddsÂ
Seattle Seahawks: 10/11
Carolina Panthers: 5/1
San Francisco 49ers: 5/1
Green Bay Packers: 8/1
Philadelphia Eagles: 9/1
New Orleans Saints: 14/1
Vegas loves the Seahawks almost as much as they love the Broncos; their 52 percent chance is reflective of the talent representing the NFC this season. Considering how red hot the 49ers have been down the stretch, their chances are likely to increase dramatically if they can take care of business this weekend.
Although, considering the Packers relatively unimpressive 8-7-1 record this season, it’s clear that having Aaron Rodgers behind center counts for something. Many are predicting a San Francisco upset in Green Bay, with the bone chilling temperatures being a major factor for the West Coast team.
According to the numbers, the Eagles are almost guaranteed victory over the Saints in Philadelphia. New Orleans may seriously struggle on the road, but you can’t count that Drew Brees led offense out of any game—and something tells me Brees will be very comfortable in the underdog role.
Exact Super Bowl MatchupÂ
There are too many of these to cover individually, but let’s take a look at the most and least likely scenarios.
Denver Broncos vs. Seattle Seahawks: 9/4Â
With a 30 percent chance of butting heads in the championship game, the Broncos and Seahawks are by far the most likely matchup, and will remain so as long as they’re still alive. The second most likely is Patriots vs. Seahawks—Vegas loves them some Seahawks.
San Diego Chargers vs. New Orleans Saints: 200/1
The most unlikely scenario is a Chargers-Saints Super Bowl. Continuing each team’s snowball’s chance in hell prospects, this potential matchup has just a .5 percent chance of ruining Super Bowl Sunday. Although New Orleans suddenly becomes a prohibitive favorite against San Diego.
[Click here to see the entire list of Super Bowl Matchups and the updated betting odds from Bovada]
