Super Bowl LIV – Page 17 – Syndication Server

Should you bet on the Kansas City Chiefs to win Super Bowl LIV?

Previewing the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIV chances, with NFL betting odds, picks, futures and best bets.

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Throughout the 2019 season, it appeared the Kansas City Chiefs just didn’t have “it” this season after losing 37-31 in overtime to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship last season; however, they finished the 2019 season strong, winning six straight games to become the No. 2 seed in the conference.

With a first-round bye in hand, the Chiefs have an excellent chance at advancing to the Super Bowl. Below are their odds to win Super Bowl LIV and reasons why you should and shouldn’t bet on Kansas City to take home the Lombardi Trophy this postseason.

NFL futures odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Friday at 5:15 p.m. ET.

Why you should bet on the Chiefs to win Super Bowl LIV

(Photo Credit: Denny Medley – USA TODAY Sports)

Odds To Win Super Bowl LIV: +450

Get some action on the games by betting at BetMGM. New customer offer: RISK-FREE First Bet (up to $500!) paid in free bets.

As we have seen over the last decade, quarterback play is a significant factor in who wins the Super Bowl. Luckily for Kansas City, reigning-MVP Patrick Mahomes is healthy, and he is starting to get back to his form of last season. It also helps that he will have his full assortment of weapons on the field in the playoffs, which might just be the best supporting cast in the AFC.

It also doesn’t hurt that the Chiefs’ defense is starting to play better, allowing just 11.5 points per game over the last six weeks. They are beginning to create sacks and turnovers, which will be needed to advance deep in the playoffs.

Given that Kansas City will host a playoff game in Round 2, it certainly doesn’t seem impossible the Chiefs can get hot and make a three-game run with Mahomes under center. At +200, the Chiefs are a great bet to win the AFC Championship. They’re also a strong play at +450 to win Super Bowl LIV.

Why you shouldn’t bet on the Chiefs to win Super Bowl LIV

(Photo Credit: Jay Biggerstaff – USA TODAY Sports)

New to sports betting? A $10 wager on the Chiefs to win Super Bowl LIV would return a profit of $45 should Kansas City win the Super Bowl.

Despite being the No. 2 seed, the road to the Super Bowl could be awfully tough for the Chiefs. They will likely host the New England Patriots in Round 2, and the Pats have shown no fear playing in Arrowhead Stadium lately. If the Chiefs can survive that contest, they will then likely travel to Baltimore to take on the No. 1-seeded Ravens. It’s a brutal draw for the Chiefs and one which could keep them out of the Super Bowl for a second-straight season.

There is also some lingering doubt about head coach Andy Reid in the playoffs. While no one can argue about his regular-season success, too often, his teams come up short relative to expectations. For Kansas City to advance to the Super Bowl, Reid will need to outcoach the likes of Bill Belichick and John Harbaugh to make it to the Super Bowl. While that’s certainly possible, there are some reasons to be concerned.

Ultimately, the Chiefs are still a great bet to win the Super Bowl due to their overwhelming amount of talent on both sides of the ball. Don’t be afraid to put down a few units on the Chiefs to make a run this postseason.

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Should you bet on the Seattle Seahawks to win Super Bowl LIV?

Previewing the Seattle Seahawks’ Super Bowl LIV chances, with NFL betting odds, picks, futures and best bets.

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The NFL playoffs begin this weekend and the Seattle Seahawks open on the road as the No. 5 seed in the NFC, taking on the NFC East champion Philadelphia Eagles on the road Sunday at 4:35 p.m. ET.

They had a chance to be as high as the No. 1 seed in the conference but ended up one play short of winning the NFC West and getting the coveted first-round bye.

Seattle is a perennial contender and is built to win playoff games. They have been to two Super Bowls in the last decade and won one. The question is whether you should bet on the Seahawks to win Super Bowl LIV.

Seattle Seahawks playoff futures

(Photo Credit: Joe Nicholson – USA TODAY Sports)

NFL futures odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Friday at 4:45 pm. ET.

Get some action on the games by betting at BetMGM. New customer offer: RISK-FREE First Bet (up to $500!) paid in free bets.

They have, along with the Eagles, the second-longest odds to make it to the Super Bowl out of the NFC at +1200. To win the Super Bowl, only five teams have higher odds than Seattle’s +2500.

They can provide one of the biggest paydays of all the teams in the postseason. A $10 bet on them to get to the Super Bowl will return $120 in profit and a $10 bet on them to win it all will win $250.

It is a big payday. The question is whether it is worth betting on them.

Why you shouldn’t bet on the Seahawks to win Super Bowl LIV

Dec 29, 2019; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) puts on his helmet during the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at CenturyLink Field. (Photo Credit: Joe Nicholson – USA TODAY Sports)

They will have to win three games on the road to get to the Super Bowl, having to play in Philadephia and then potentially Green Bay, New Orleans or San Francisco. However, they shared the league’s best road record at 7-1 and were 10-2 in one-score games.

It is hard to bet against QB Russell Wilson, but the Seahawks are without their top three running backs in Chris Carson, Rashaad Penny and C.J. Prosise. All are on injured reserve and Seattle recently had to sign Marshawn Lynch to back up rookie Travis Homer.

The defense is not what it used to be, as the Seahawks were 22nd in the league in scoring defense, and they allowed an average of 25.7 points per game over their last three games. You can’t ever count out Wilson, but the Seahawks faltered down the stretch, losing three of four to end the regular season.

The potential payout is huge, but they aren’t worth the risk of a big wager. If you are going to bet on Seattle, keep it in the casual range.

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Should you bet on the Tennessee Titans to win Super Bowl LIV?

Previewing the Tennessee Titans’ Super Bowl LIV chances, with NFL betting odds, picks, futures and best bets.

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The Tennessee Titans were the last team to qualify for the AFC playoffs at 9-7, earning the No. 6 seed and a Wild Card Round matchup against the New England Patriots (12-4). They’ll play Saturday at 8:15 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium. Should the Titans win, they’ll advance to face the Baltimore Ravens Saturday, Jan. 11, while the Patriots would visit the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, Jan. 12. Below, we analyze the Titans playoff chances and NFL futures odds to win Super Bowl LIV.

The Titans open the postseason as the second-biggest longshots to win both the AFC (+2200) and the Super Bowl (+4000). They struck gold in the middle of the season after cutting bait on former No. 2 pick QB Marcus Mariota and turning to failed former Miami Dolphins starter Ryan Tannehill. RB Derrick Henry finished as the regular season’s leading rusher, and the rejuvenated Titans enter the playoffs as one of the NFL’s hottest teams.

NFL futures odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Friday at 12:30 pm. ET.

Tennessee Titans playoff futures

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AFC Champion: +2200

The Titans won five of their last seven games and went 7-3 after making the switch from the ineffective Mariota to Tannehill against the Denver Broncos in Week 6. Tannehill, the eighth overall pick of the Dolphins in the 2012 NFL Draft, finished the season with 2,742 passing yards and 22 touchdowns against six interceptions while adding 185 rushing yards and four scores on the ground. Henry totaled 1,540 rushing yards, 206 receiving yards and 18 combined touchdowns.

Of course, no one has a tougher road through the AFC playoffs than the Titans. They’ll play the Patriots in New England’s first Wild Card Round game since 2009. If the Titans survive the first test, they’ll need to visit the top-seeded Baltimore Ravens.

(Photo Credit: Troy Taormina – USA TODAY Sports)

The Titans draw a PASS from me. They’re not tempting enough based on the two incredibly difficult road games in front of them, before they’d reach an AFC Championship Game, which would likely require a visit to Kansas City to face reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. The AFC is extremely top-heavy, and it’s tough to envision the Cinderella Titans crawling their way through.

Super Bowl: +4000

New to sports betting? A $10 wager on the Titans to win Super Bowl LIV would return a profit of $400 should Tennessee win the game.

The Titans finished the regular season ranked 10th in points per game (25.1) and 12th in yards per game (362.8). Defensively, they allowed 20.7 PPG (12th) and 359.5 YPG (21st). Only the Ravens and San Francisco 49ers accumulated more team rushing yards than Tennessee, though unlike the others who were able to pile on their yards while nursing large leads late in games, the Titans relied on Henry throughout games.

(Photo Credit: Jim Brown – USA TODAY Sports)

Four of the NFL’s top six run defenses from the regular season made the playoffs, including the Ravens and Patriots. No coach in the league is better at scheming to take away a team’s top option than Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. By doing so against the Titans, Henry would become neutralized, leaving Tannehill to handle his former AFC East rivals on his own.

I’ll agree with the books that there’s a much better chance of the underdog Titans being discarded in their opening game – only the Minnesota Vikings (+310 at New Orleans Saints) are bigger dogs than the Titans (+180) in the Wild Card Round – than of winning Super Bowl LIV. PASS and look elsewhere for your Super Bowl lotto ticket.

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Should you bet on the Buffalo Bills to win Super Bowl LIV?

Previewing the Buffalo Bills’ Super Bowl LIV chances, with NFL betting odds, picks, futures and best bets.

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AFC East teams besides the New England Patriots don’t typically make the playoffs. They certainly don’t usually go 10-6 or challenge New England for the division crown very often. Yet, that’s exactly what the Buffalo Bills did this season, giving the Patriots a run for their money in the AFC East and becoming just the third wild-card team from the division since 2011.

But do the Bills have a legitimate chance to win the Super Bowl? According to the oddsmakers, not really.

Buffalo Bills playoff futures

NFL futures odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Friday at 12:30 pm. ET.

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BetMGM has the Bills at +6000 to hoist the Lombardi Trophy in February, the longest odds of any team in the playoffs. That’s the result of them having a young, inconsistent sophomore quarterback under center in Josh Allen, a tough matchup in the first round against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium, and a second-round date with either the Baltimore Ravens or Kansas City Chiefs if they were to advance to the Divisional Round.

New to sports betting? A $10 wager on the Bills to win Super Bowl LIV would return a profit of $600 should Buffalo win the Super Bowl.

Allen had a solid season. He threw 20 touchdown passes with only nine interceptions, rushing for another 510 yards and nine touchdowns, as well. However, he only completed 58.8% of his passes and his 5.71 adjusted net yards per attempt – a good measuring stick of a quarterback’s aggressiveness and success – ranked 23rd among qualified quarterbacks.

(Photo Credit: Rich Barnes – USA TODAY Sports)

The Bills defense is what helped carry them to the postseason, ranking second in points and third in yards allowed, but how many top offenses did they truly face? The Dallas Cowboys and Ravens were the only teams that really stand out offensively from Buffalo’s schedule, though it was impressive that they were held to a combined 39 points in consecutive weeks.

The Bills aren’t exactly coming into the postseason riding high, either. They lost three of their last four games, one of which was the season finale with Matt Barkley at quarterback. There isn’t much momentum behind the Bills heading into this wild-card matchup with the Texans, especially on offense. In the last three games that Allen completed, the Bills had fewer than 300 yards of offense in each, including fewer than 200 yards passing.

Why You Shouldn’t Bet On the Bills to win Super Bowl LIV

(Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire – USA TODAY Sports)

So that begs the question again: Should you bet on the Bills to win Super Bowl LIV? In short, no. Unless the Tennessee Titans go on a deep run, Buffalo will be on the road for the entire postseason run. Winning four straight games away from home is no easy task for any team, let alone one that faced only three playoff teams in the regular season – including a Philadelphia Eagles squad that barely got in.

Save your money and put it on a team like the Ravens, San Francisco 49ers or New Orleans Saints. The Seahawks at +2500 or the Patriots at +1200 are better bets than the Bills and still come with financial upside on a small wager.

So unless you just want to lay $10 down on a Bills Cinderella story, it’d be wise to pass on this wager.

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Should you bet on the Baltimore Ravens to win Super Bowl LIV?

Previewing the Baltimore Ravens’ Super Bowl LIV chances, with NFL betting odds, picks, futures and best bets.

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The Baltimore Ravens cruised through the 2019 NFL regular season to a 14-2 record and a second straight AFC North crown. They won their final 12 games of the year after a 2-2 start and nine of their 14 wins were decided by at least a two-score margin. Now, they head into the postseason as +225 favorites to win Super Bowl LIV in Miami Sunday, Feb. 2.

The Ravens, led by MVP frontrunner QB Lamar Jackson, locked down the No. 1 seed in the AFC and will host the Tennessee Titans, Buffalo Bills or Houston Texans in the Divisional Round Saturday, Jan, 11.

NFL futures odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Friday at 12:30 pm. ET.

Baltimore Ravens playoff futures

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AFC Champion: -112

The Ravens are the only team in either conference getting a negative number to advance to Super Bowl LIV. The Kansas City Chiefs are the next closest favorite in the AFC at +200, while the Buffalo Bills are the biggest long shot at +3000. The books are putting the juice on a Ravens team, which obtained the NFL’s best regular-season record, controls home field through the AFC playoffs and enters the postseason on a 12-game winning streak.

The Ravens’ two losses this season came at the Chiefs (33-28) and at home to the rival Cleveland Browns (40-25) in Weeks 3 and 4, respectively. Baltimore and KC may meet in the AFC Championship Game, but it’ll be Baltimore with the home advantage in the rematch.

(Photo Credit: Tommy Gilligan – USA TODAY Sports)

The Ravens led the NFL with 33.2 points per game and ranked second in total yards of offense per game at 407.6. Defensively, they ranked third in PPG allowed (17.6) and fourth in YPG allowed (300.6.). Only six teams had a better turnover differential than Baltimore’s plus-10.

These merits aside, there’s zero value in placing a futures bet on the team getting the juice. There’s too much that can happen, even in a three-game sample. It’s a hard PASS for me on the conference title odds. It’s Super Bowl or bust for John Harbaugh’s Ravens.

Super Bowl: +225

New to sports betting? A $10 wager on the Ravens to win Super Bowl LIV would return a profit of $22.50 should Baltimore win the game.

Harbaugh should be viewed as the Coach of the Year favorite, much like Jackson ran away with the MVP honors. Additionally, the Ravens tied an NFL record with 12 Pro Bowl selections this season. Behind Jackson, free-agent additions RB Mark Ingram and S Earl Thomas received nods, as did in-season trade acquisition CB Marcus Peters. Nine of the team’s sections were either drafted by the Ravens (six) or signed as undrafted free agents (three).

At +225, the books still aren’t offering much value on the Ravens to win it all in early February. The Ravens opened with +2000 odds of winning Super Bowl LIV last February, with those rising all the way to +4000 by the end of the preseason. To all those who acted at the right time, congratulations. Sit back, and hold your ticket tight.

For those needing action entering the postseason, go ahead and back the Ravens on a multi-unit bet. Hedge it by backing a long shot out of the NFC such as the Minnesota Vikings (+1600) or Seattle Seahawks (+1200).

Alternatively, try predicting the exact Super Bowl LIV matchup. Baltimore Ravens v Green Bay Packers (+800) will be getting some of my money.

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Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Should you bet on the New England Patriots to win Super Bowl LIV?

Previewing the New England Patriots’ Super Bowl LIV chances, with NFL betting odds, picks, futures and best bets.

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For most of the 2019 season, it appeared the New England Patriots were locked into the No. 2 seed in the AFC as they rode their hot defense to another 12-win season. After a colossal collapse against the Miami Dolphins in Week 17, the Patriots will now have to play on Wild Card weekend against the red-hot Tennesee Titans.

Given their history, it’s hard to count out the Patriots as long as they are still in the playoffs. Below are the reasons you should or shouldn’t bet on the New England Patriots to win their seventh Super Bowl.

NFL futures odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Friday at 11:45 a.m. ET.

Why You Should Bet On The Patriots to win Super Bowl LIV

(Photo Credit: Bob DeChiara – USA TODAY Sports)

Odds to Win Super Bowl LIV: +1200

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The case for why you should bet on the Patriots to win the Super Bowl is simple; head coach Bill Belichick and QB Tom Brady. The two are nearly unstoppable in the playoffs and have proven time and time again they can flip the switch when it matters the most. They have shown they can go on the road and win, something many of the other AFC playoff contenders can’t say.

It also doesn’t hurt that the Patriots have the best defense in football, allowing just over 14 points per game this season. New England can create takeaways at will and give their offense short fields with which to work. While it may not always look pretty, it’s awfully tough to not bet on the Patriots to come out of the AFC this season. And with their current odds, they actually present some excellent value, as well. Their +1200 odds to win Super Bowl LIV seem almost too good to be true.

Why You Shouldn’t Bet On The Patriots to win Super Bowl LIV

(Photo Credit: David Butler II – USA TODAY Sports)

New to sports betting? A $10 wager on the Patriots to win Super Bowl LIV would return a profit of $120 should the Patriots win the Super Bowl.

Despite six Super Bowl wins over the last 20 seasons, the Patriots have never made it to the Super Bowl, let alone win one when they were forced to play on Wild Card weekend. It’s just too difficult to make it through the AFC gauntlet when you have to play two or three games on the road in order to make the Super Bowl.

On top of that, the 2019 Patriots don’t resemble anything we are accustomed to seeing. The Patriots have scored more than 24 points just once in their last 10 games, and their offense can be shut down relatively easily. It’s also concerning how Brady appears to be in the worst slump of his career as he has a passer rating of only 80.8 over the last eight games of the season.

While it’s hard to count out Belichick and Brady, this does appear to be one of their weaker teams in recent memory. But don’t be surprised if New England finds a way to come out of the AFC for the fourth-straight season.

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Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Should you bet on the Houston Texans to win Super Bowl LIV?

Previewing the Houston Texans’ Super Bowl LIV chances, with NFL betting odds, picks, futures and best bets.

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Should you bet anyone to win the Super Bowl? That’s a personal question I suppose. Some would say no. I’d definitely argue yes. In the spirit of trying to break the BetMGM book, let’s take a look at the Houston Texans’ case to win Super Bowl LIV.

NFL futures odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Thursday at 9:40 p.m. ET.

Houston Texans playoff futures

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AFC Champion: +1800

If you’re anything like me, then seeing a quadruple-digit betting line for a relatively healthy, division-winning team with a franchise quarterback is very exciting. The Texans have been well-coached and structured enough to have a winning record in five of the six seasons Bill O’Brien has been their head coach.

Also, the Texans have won the AFC South and made the playoffs in four of six seasons under O’Brien, but this time, they have a legitimate franchise quarterback in Deshaun Watson to help them advance in the postseason. Also, the 21-7 drubbing to the Indianapolis Colts last year in the playoffs gave Watson much needed postseason experience.

(Photo credit: Christopher Hanewinckel – USA TODAY Sports)

The 2019 Texans are the most balanced offense in their team’s history, statistically and personnel-wise. Thousands of words have been written about the explosiveness of the passing game featuring Watson, and WRs DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller, but little has been said about an elite run game.

That’s right, I said elite. What else do you call the ninth-ranked team in total rushing yards (2,009), eighth in yards per carry (4.6) and with 17 rushing touchdowns with a multi-faceted run game? Carlos Hyde was a great offseason pickup—245 carries for 1,070 yards and six touchdowns—but Duke Johnson provides a dual-threat spell back and Watson added 413 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns.

Taking the TEXANS +1800 to come out of the AFC is a tremendous value, and gives you a plethora of hedge options (betting the other side against the Texans to minimize financial exposure and/or ensure a profit) should they advance to the AFC title game.

Super Bowl: +3300

New to sports betting? A $100 wager on the Texans to win Super Bowl LIV would return a profit of $3,300 should the Texans win the Super Bowl.

Talk about value, betting TEXANS +3300 to win Super Bowl LIV is a juicy play. Playoff competition isn’t new to the Texans and they’ve already beaten three AFC playoff teams in the regular season: the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 6 (31-24), the New England Patriots in Week 13 (28-22) and the Tennessee Titans in Week 15 (24-21).

Also, their emotional leader, and best defensive player, DE J.J. Watt is coming back for the postseason. The defense took a noticeable dip with Watt out of the lineup since Week 8 due to a pectoral injury. Sans Watt, the Texans gave up more yards per game, yards per play, points per game and were minus-31 in point differential compared to a plus-24 point differential with Watt playing.

All the teams in the playoffs have a worthy argument of hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, but only the Texans are getting a first-ballot Hall of Fame player back for the postseason.

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Should you bet on the Eagles to win Super Bowl LIV?

Previewing the Eagles’ Super Bowl LIV NFL chances, with NFL betting odds, picks, futures and best bets

The NFL playoffs begin this weekend and, as NFC East champions, the Philadelphia Eagles will host the final of the four wild-card games on Sunday afternoon. The Eagles finished the season 9-7, beating the Dallas Cowboys in Week 16 then closing out the division crown with a 34-17 road win against the Giants in Week 17.

In all, the Eagles had to win four in a row to do it. And they needed every win.

Now Philadelphia readies for its playoff run with one looming question: Can the Eagles win four more games and take home its second Super Bowl title in the last three seasons?

The question for you is whether you should bet on the Eagles to actually sweep through the playoffs and win Super Bowl LIV.

NFL futures odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Wednesday at 6:30 pm. ET.

Get some action on the games by betting at BetMGM. New customer offer: RISK-FREE First Bet (up to $500!) paid in free bets.

The odds certainly wouldn’t point to the Eagles even making the playoffs, as they sit at +1200 to win the NFC, tied with Seattle for the second-longest odds in the NFC. Only Minnesota (+1600) has longer odds.

Philly is tied for the third-longest odds to win the Super Bowl at +3300. So while their odds of pulling it all off seem unlikely, the Eagles offer one of the biggest potential paydays in the playoffs.

New to sports betting? A $10 wager on the Eagles to win the Super Bowl would return a profit of $330 should Philadelphia win the game.

Yes, it is a big payday. The question is whether it is worth betting on the Eagles.

Eagles to win the Super Bowl: Worth the risk?

Carson Wentz and the Eagles conquered the Dallas Cowboys in December. Can they conquer the rest of the NFL in January and February? (Photo Credit: Matthew Emmons – USA TODAY Sports)

They did win their final four games to get into the playoffs, so they are hot. However, those four games were all against the NFC East. They did not beat a winning team in the final eight games of the season.

They were 5-3 at home and 4-4 on the road. They likely will only have one playoff game at home — and that’s against the Seahawks, who have a better record than the Eagles (11-5) and were literally one yard away from winning the NFC West.

The Eagles’ receiving corps is underwhelming and Philadelphia struggles in the secondary. And last week, the club saw one of its best linemen, guard Brandon Brooks, go down for the remainder of the season. Running back Miles Sanders, a revelation in the second half of the season, also went down against the Giants and his availability is in question. And then there are injuries to All-Pro tight end Zach Ertz and All-Pro tackle Lane Johnson, both of whom are also uncertain for Sunday.

And if the Eagles do get past the Seahawks, they will likely be sitting in the divisional round with a trio of 11-3 teams … and that’s before we start talking potential Super Bowl opponent.

The potential payout is huge, but unless it is a casual, small bet, the Eagles aren’t worth wagering much.

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Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Should you bet on the 49ers to win Super Bowl LIV?

Previewing the 49ers’ Super Bowl LIV NFL chances, with NFL betting odds, picks, futures and best bets

The San Francisco 49ers steamrolled their way to an 8-0 record to open the season, allowing more than 20 points just once in that span. Then came an overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 10 and a 3-3 run over the next six games as the San Francisco defense came back down to earth.

Nevertheless, the 49ers finished the season 5-3, earned the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs, and still look like one of the best teams in the NFL. The oddsmakers see it that way, too. As of Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET, BetMGM lists the 49ers at +400 to win Super Bowl LIV, the second-best odds only to the Ravens (+225).

NFL futures odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Wednesday at 3:30 pm. ET.

Get some action on the games by betting at BetMGM. New customer offer: RISK-FREE First Bet (up to $500!) paid in free bets.

The upside of betting on the 49ers isn’t nearly as high as picking a team like the Texans (+3300), but the risk is also much lower, given the fact that San Francisco has a first-round bye and home-field advantage in the NFC.

So should you lay down a wager on the 49ers to win it all? Absolutely. In fact, they’re one of the best bets in the playoffs for a couple of reasons.

Sizing up the NFC field

Jimmy Garoppolo and the San Francisco 49ers spent much of the regular season perched atop the NFC. (Photo credit: Kirby Lee – USA TODAY Sports)

First is San Francisco’s seeding and the NFC side of the playoff bracket. The 49ers haven’t had a week off since Week 4 — in late September. Earning a first-round bye with their riveting win over the Seahawks in Week 17 will do the 49ers a world good as banged-up veterans such as Emmanuel Sanders get extra time to recover and get healthy, while their first opponent won’t have that benefit.

And speaking of their first opponent in the playoffs, it won’t be the Saints or the Packers — the next-best teams in the conference. Green Bay is the No. 2 seed and also has a bye. New Orleans is the No. 3 seed and would automatically visit the Packers in the divisional round should it beat Minnesota this weekend. That leaves the 49ers to face the Seahawks, Eagles or Vikings.

New to sports betting? A $10 wager on the 49ers to win the Super Bowl would return a profit of $40 should the 49ers win the game.

The Eagles are a nice story of perseverance and overcoming injuries, but they’re too banged up to make a deep run in the playoffs with Carson Wentz being their only consistent source of offense. Seattle isn’t as good as its record — the Seahawks have only one win by more than one possession but three losses by at least two touchdowns.

The Vikings are an interesting team, but Kirk Cousins can’t be trusted on the big stage. Plus a deeper look at Minnesota’s schedule shows the Vikings beat only one opponent that finished with a winning record. In other words, they beat up on lesser teams and lost to their tougher foes.

On top of the playoff bracket, the 49ers are one of the most consistent and proven teams in the postseason. They lost in overtime to the Seahawks before beating them in Week 17, lost by three points on the road to the Ravens and were upset by the Falcons at the last second in Week 15 with a decimated secondary.

San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa is a big reason why the 49ers are looking down at the rest of the NFC playoff field. (Photo credit: Stan Szeto – USA TODAY Sports)

When healthy, the 49ers have a terrifying defense that’s outstanding at all three levels — from the pass rush with Nick Bosa to the linebackers with Fred Warner to the secondary with Richard Sherman.

On offense, their relentless ground game with the three-headed running-back monster of Raheem Mostert, Matt Breida and Tevin Coleman helps balance the offense with Jimmy Garoppolo behind center. As long as Garoppolo doesn’t fold under pressure, the 49ers will be in good shape.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan has the smarts to outduel even the best defensive masterminds — including Pete Carroll and Mike Zimmer. He has a golden opportunity to lead the 49ers to the Super Bowl, where a rematch with the Ravens could ensue.

Talent and coaching win in the playoffs, and the 49ers have both. Feel good about putting money on the 49ers to win it all in February.

Want action on this bet? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @camdasilva and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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NFL futures betting: Super Bowl LIV Champion odds, picks and best bets

Previewing the Super Bowl LIV champions futures odds with 1 week left in the regular season, with NFL futures, betting odds, picks and bets.

The NFL playoffs are nearly here as most of the playoff seeding is set heading into Week 17. What we know for sure is that the Baltimore Ravens are the No. 1 seed in the AFC and all seeding spots are still up for grabs in the NFC.

To get you prepared for the playoffs, here are the five best Super Bowl bets you should be making ahead of Week 17.

Looking to get in on the final week of the NFL regular season? Get some action on the games or other sports at BetMGM. Sign up now!

1. New Orleans Saints (+500)

The Ravens (+225) are currently the overwhelming favorite to win the Super Bowl this season, but those odds might be off. The Saints could finish anywhere from the NFC’s No. 1 seed to No. 3. They have an incredibly deep roster on both sides of the ball, and they have a head coach and a quarterback who have been in several big games together.

The Saints have looked incredible this season, with their only losses coming against the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams, and Atlanta Falcons. They look to be a team that is just starting to hit their stride and can win games in a variety of ways.

2. New England Patriots (+550)

Photo Credit: Winslow Townson – USA TODAY Sports

The Patriots are +550 underdogs to win the Super Bowl despite likely being the No. 2 seed in the AFC. Considering the history and the quality of their defense, those odds seem awfully low.

For the Patriots to win the Super Bowl, they will need to win a home playoff game and then will likely travel to Baltimore. But there is also the chance the Ravens could slip up against the Texans or Bills, giving the Patriots another home game. It’s just hard to envision the Patriots not playing in the AFC Championship Game, and if they make it to the Super Bowl, they will likely be favored once again due to their experience. At +550, there is finally value in betting on the Pats.

3. Kansas City Chiefs (+750)

Photo Credit: David Banks – USA TODAY Sports

More than likely, the Chiefs will be the No. 3 seed in the AFC, and that means they will face one of the Tennessee Titans, Pittsburgh Steelers, or Oakland Raiders in the first round of the playoffs. Despite losing to Tennessee on the road this season, the Chiefs will open as big favorites against any of those three teams in the first round.

From that point on, the road will get much tougher for Kansas City. The saving grace for the Chiefs is they may still have the best offense in the NFL. Given the talent level of QB Patrick Mahomes and the rest of the offense, don’t be shocked if the Chiefs get hot on offense and make a run through the AFC to the Super Bowl. At +750, they are a strong bet to make before the playoffs begin.

4. Seattle Seahawks (+1200)

Photo Credit: Jim Dedmon – USA TODAY Sports

Despite an ugly Week 16 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, the Seahawks still have a chance to clinch the No. 2 or No. 3 seed in the NFC. While the No. 2 seed is so much more valuable, Seattle is a team that has proven it can go on the road and win games in the playoffs. They have one of the best head coach-quarterback pairings in the entire league, and the Seahawks’ experience in big games makes them incredibly difficult team to beat. At +1200, Seattle is a nice longshot bet to win the Super Bowl.

5. Green Bay Packers (+1400)

Photo Credit: Brad Rempel – USA TODAY Sports

With their win over the Vikings in Week 16, the Packers’ odds of having a first-round bye have moved all the way up to a 78% chance, according to the New York Times. As long as they take care of business in Week 17, the Packers will get a bye and will likely be the No. 2 seed in the AFC.

With a future Hall of Fame quarterback and a potential home playoff game in Round 2, the Packers are a great longshot bet to make a run in the playoffs. Can Aaron Rodgers get hot for three-straight games and lead the Packers to a Super Bowl win? He certainly can, and given the odds, this is a bet you should be making right now.

To get some action on the Super Bowl LIV Futures odds or other games, place a bet with BetMGM today. And for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @Marcus_Mosher and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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