We’ve passed the midway point of the NFL season heading into Week 10, and the New England Patriots (3/1 odds) and New Orleans Saints (5/1 odds) are the favorites to win Super Bowl 54, according to William Hill.
The Patriots (8-1) lost their first game of the season, and had an eight-game winning streak snapped by the Baltimore Ravens. They’re still the favorite on the futures board.
The Ravens (6-2) saw a Super Bowl odds bump with their victory over the Patriots. Lamar Jackson and the Ravens gave the Pats their toughest matchup of the season. With the KC Chiefs’ playoff hopes riding on the health of Patrick Mahomes, the AFC Championship could feature a Ravens and Patriots rematch. You have a feeling that Bill Belichick isn’t going to lose to L-Jax and company the next time they meet.
The 8-0 San Francisco 49ers are the last undefeated team remaining in the NFL. Their odds shot up to 7/1 as their winning streak continues.
SUPER BOWL 54 ODDS (THRU WEEK 9):
New England Patriots 3/1
New Orleans Saints 5/1
San Francisco 49ers 7/1
Baltimore Ravens 9/1
Kansas City Chiefs 9/1
Green Bay Packers 12/1
Mahomes is expected to return to action after missing only two games for Kansas City (6-3). Backup Matt Moore went 1-1 as a starter replacing Mahomes, and held his own in a 31-24 loss to Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay.
The Packers (7-2) had inflated odds coming into the season due to their popularity. After a good start under new head coach, Matt Fleur, their 12/1 Super Bowl odds have a little more credence.
Super Bowl Saints
The Saints were robbed by the zebras last season in the NFC Championship. I’d like to think that Drew Brees would have beaten Brady and Belichick in the Super Bowl 53.
The Saints came into this season with a clear mission to win the Super Bowl. Of course, those hopes almost blew up in Week 2 when Brees injured his thumb. I don’t think anyone would have imagined the Saints would be 7-1 at the midway point with a sidelined Brees. Teddy Bridgewater stepped up to lead the Saints to a 5-0 record (and a 5-0 ATS record for Saints backers).
Brees returned to the lineup in Week 9, at least two weeks ahead of schedule. He looked like his old self against the Arizona Cardinals. Saints fans endured the worst-case scenario — an injured Brees. They also caught a glimpse of what a Brees-less team would look like under Teddy Bridgewater’s helm. The future is now for the Saints, but it’s good to know that they have someone capable to take over when Brees eventually retires. Of course, the Saints have to do everything in their power to keep Bridgewater in the Big Easy.
For now, the Saints are the top team in the NFC with only one loss, which occurred in the game where they lost Brees.
They have three division games remaining against Tampa Bay and Atlanta. Those two bottom dwellers in the NFC South are a combined 3-13. On the more difficult side of their schedule, they have to play the Carolina Panthers twice. The Saints also host the Niners at the Superdome in Week 14.
Oh, and the Pope accidentally blessed the Saints on Twitter. With the pontiff on your side, how could you lose the Super Bowl?
Pats Season About to Begin
“Bill Belichick is notoriously known for not giving a flying f— about football games in September and October,” said ex-Patriots DE Chris Long on the Ryen Russilo Podcast. “He’d like to win them, but the real season begins in November.”
The Patriots head into their “real” season with the best defense in the NFL, allowing just 10.8 points per game. They’ll need the D to continue, as five out of their next seven games are against winning teams.
The offense is still chugging along. The Pats average 30 points per game with Gronk in retirement. Belichick punted on troubled wideouts Antonio Brown and Josh Gordon. The air attack still relies on Julian Edelman to make a big play when it counts. The addition of WR Mohamed Sanu could finally provide Brady with the home-run threat the offense has been lacking all season.
They Pats have only two more cream-puff games against really bad teams, including the winless Cincinnati Bengals (0-8) and the tanking Miami Dolphins (1-7).
Brady and the Pats will have to get down and dirty when they host the Buffalo Bills (6-2), KC Chiefs (6-3), and the Dallas Cowboys (5-3). They also hit the road for two potentially tough away games at the Philadelphia Eagles (6-3) and the Houston Texans (5-4).
The New England Patriots have a bumpy road ahead of them, yet they’re still the favorites to win the Super Bowl at 3/1 odds.
