Tag: 2021 Super Bowl LV NFL futures betting odds predictions picks best bets

Clark: Seattle Seahawks best value to win 2021 Super Bowl LV

Geoff Clark backs the Seattle Seahawks to win the 2021 Super Bowl LV with a look at NFL futures betting odds at BetMGM Sportsbook.

The Seattle Seahawks claimed the NFC West title for the first time since 2016, finishing the regular season 12-4 and entering the NFC playoffs as the 3-seed. Below, I make the case for the Seahawks as my prediction to win the 2021 Super Bowl, along with other NFL playoff picks and best bets.

Seattle Seahawks year in review

Likely future Hall of Fame QB Russell Wilson added another spectacular season to his resume: 4,212 passing yards (ninth in NFL), 40 passing touchdowns (T-2), 68.8% completion (sixth) and 105.1 QB Rating (seventh).

Wilson guided an offense Football Outsiders ranked sixth in the league and he quietly received assistance from a quarterback’s best friend—the ground game—which ranked sixth in yards per rush and rushing DVOA (Football Outsiders). The Seahawks’ offensive balance is a real thing.

Seattle took the toughest division in the NFL despite all of the teams flirting with the postseason until the reigning NFC champion San Francisco 49ers were too banged-up for a playoff run and the Los Angeles Rams eliminated the Arizona Cardinals in Week 17.

The Seahawks enter the postseason as BetMGM‘s seventh favorite to win Super Bowl LV at +1400.

Place your legal, online NFL bets in CO, IA, IN, NJ, PA, TN and WV at BetMGM, The King of Sportsbooks. New customer offer: Risk-free first bet! Terms and conditions apply. Bet online now!

Why the Seattle Seahawks will win the 2021 Super Bowl

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 7:40 a.m. ET.

I’m more or less sticking to my guns and rolling with the team I predicted to win the Super Bowl prior to the start of the season. On SportsbookWire’s Bet Slippin’ Podcast episode from Sept. 8 previewing the NFL season (34:00-35:00), I gave out the Seahawks to win the NFC West (they did), the first seed in the NFC (they did not) and to win the Super Bowl (TBD).

Over Seattle’s first five weeks this season, I felt like a genius with my Seahawks handicap and liking Wilson to win the 2020 AP MVP after they were a perfect 5-0. Wilson had 19 touchdowns to 3 interceptions at the time.

Then I felt kind of silly predicting the Seahawks could be an elite defense when Seattle was getting torched through mid-season and reached its low-point after a 44-34 whooping they took at the Buffalo Bills in Week 9.

My instincts were correct about the defense and the acquisition of Pro Bowl SS Jamal Adams gave head coach Pete Carroll the piece he needed to compose a championship defense come playoff time.

After that Week 9 beatdown by the Bills, the most points the Seahawks gave up in through the remainder of the regular season was 23 and the defense allowed 17 or fewer points in five straight games from Week 12-16.

Sure, the offense and Mr. Unlimited himself regressed as the season progressed but they are fully healthy on the offensive line, in the running back room, and in the WR corp. The Seahawks have a championship DNA led by Carroll and Russell and get at least one home game this postseason to build even more momentum on their current four-game win streak entering the playoffs.

This is a gambling column and, unfortunately, the moment to take either the Kansas City Chiefs (+240) or Green Bay Packers (+550) has passed. Seattle’s Super Bowl odds are just too juicy and I’m going to ride out with my preseason pick.

TAKE SEAHAWKS (+1400) to win Super Bowl LV.

Want action on 2021 Super Bowl futures? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.

Seahawks Wire:

Follow Geoff Clark on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

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

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1367]

Pomponio: New Orleans Saints will win 2021 Super Bowl LV

Ken Pomponio predicts the New Orleans Saints will win the 2021 Super Bowl LV with a look at NFL futures betting odds at BetMGM Sportsbook.

The New Orleans Saints finished 12-4 in an unconventional 2020 NFL regular season and earned the second seed in the NFC playoffs. Here’s the case for the Saints as my prediction to win 2021 Super Bowl LV, along with a few other NFL playoff picks and best bets.

New Orleans Saints year in review

The Saints captured the NFC South title for the fourth straight season. Head coach Sean Payton, QB Drew Brees and Co. set the tone right out of the gate, thrashing their primary challengers, in QB Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers by a 34-23 count in the regular-season opener.

The rest of the route, though, wasn’t exactly smooth sailing.

New Orleans followed the opening win with back-to-back losses to the Las Vegas Raiders and Green Bay Packers, and that latter 37-30 defeat wound up being the difference between the first and second seed in the NFC.

Nine straight wins followed, but Brees missed the final three of those wins — and four starts total — after suffering multiple fractured ribs in Week 10. Offensive Swiss Army knife Taysom Hill was the surprise starter in Brees’ absence and went 3-1.

Brees returned for a Week 15 home showdown against the defending Super Bowl-champion Kansas City Chiefs, but the Saints came up a field goal short as they suffered their second of back-to-back losses.

New Orleans, though, closed the season strong, shredding the Minnesota Vikings 52-33 on Christmas Day behind Alvin Kamara‘s 6 rushing touchdowns and then, even with Kamara and the rest of the Saints’ regular running backs out due to COVID-19, walloped the Carolina Panthers 33-7 behind three Brees TD passes and five defensive interceptions.

Wagering wise, the Saints finished 9-7 against the spread, and covered in eight of their final 10 games.

Place your legal, online NFL bets in CO, IA, IN, NJ, PA, TN and WV at BetMGM, The King of Sportsbooks. New customer offer: Risk-free first bet! Terms and conditions apply. Bet online now!

Why the New Orleans Saints will win Super Bowl LV

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 9:20 a.m. ET.

Instead of a bye, the second-seeded Saints will be in action on “Super” Wild Card Weekend, drawing the 8-8 Chicago Bears in a Sunday home game. Chicago won three of its last four games to claim the final spot in the expanded NFC field, but look for the Saints to roll to the most lopsided win of the entire postseason.

I also foresee the lower-seeded Bucs and Los Angeles Rams winning on the road in their Saturday NFC wild-card games, setting up Bucs-Saints III in the NFC Divisional Round.

The Saints will complete the sweep and earn a trip to Green Bay for the NFC title game.

Despite Green Bay’s decided edge playing out in the elements at home and the Saints’ 1-5 road playoff record during the Brees/Payton era (since 2006), the Saints will avenge the Week 3 loss, spring the upset and shake the crushing disappointments of the previous three postseasons with the franchise’s second Super Bowl berth.

There, I have New Orleans facing off with the AFC’s sizzling second seed, the Buffalo Bills, who will cruise past the Indianapolis Colts and Pittsburgh Steelers at home before upending the Chiefs in a tight AFC title tilt at Arrowhead Stadium.

Buffalo will arrive in Tampa, Fla., having won 12 of its last 13 games (losing only on the “Hail Murray” miracle TD in Week 10 against the Arizona Cardinals) but the shockingly improved Josh Allen and Co. will meet their match in the more experienced and balanced Saints, who will make good on the plus-value Super Bowl (+750) and NFC (+325)-winning wagers.

In the end, beneath a confetti shower culminating the strangest of seasons, Brees will follow in the Hall of Fame footsteps of John Elway, Peyton Manning and Ray Lewis, winning a second Super Bowl in his final NFL game.

Want action on 2021 Super Bowl futures? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.

Saints Wire:

Follow Ken Pomponio on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

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

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1367]

DaSilva: Kansas City Chiefs good bet to repeat, win 2021 Super Bowl LV

Cameron DaSilva predicts the Kansas City Chiefs will win 2021 Super Bowl LV with a look at NFL futures betting odds at BetMGM Sportsbook.

The Kansas City Chiefs went 14-2 in the 2020 NFL regular season and finished first in the AFC, earning the coveted first-round bye. As the defending Super Bowl champions, the Chiefs are primed to repeat thanks to an explosive offense and a defense that deserves more credit than it gets. Below, I make the case for the Chiefs as my prediction to win the 2021 Super Bowl LV, along with other NFL playoff picks and best bets.

Kansas City Chiefs year in review

The Chiefs absolutely rolled through the regular season with their only real stumble coming in Week 5 against the Raiders – a shocking 40-32 loss at home. Their other loss came in Week 17 when QB Patrick Mahomes and most key starters got the week off to rest for the playoffs.

Despite resting their starters in the season finale, the Chiefs still finished sixth in scoring, first in yards, first in first downs, first in passing, third in touchdown passes and first in plays per drive. It was yet another season dominated by Mahomes and the offense, scoring at least 21 points in all but one game.

Defensively, the Chiefs deserve more credit than they’ve gotten, too. They allowed 38 points to the Chargers in Week 17 and finished 10th in points allowed and 16th in yards – both of which were lower than they should’ve been due to the backups playing on Sunday. Where Kansas City must be better is in the red zone, ranking only 14th offensively and 32nd on defense.

Place your legal, online NFL bets in CO, IA, IN, NJ, PA, TN and WV at BetMGM, The King of Sportsbooks. New customer offer: Risk-free first bet! Terms and conditions apply. Bet online now!

Why the Kansas City Chiefs will win the 2021 Super Bowl

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 8:53 a.m. ET.

It’s easy to like the Chiefs as a Super Bowl contender, even at the low +240 odds. They had the best record in the regular season, are the reigning champs and are mostly healthy heading into the playoffs. Few teams in the NFL can keep up with this offense when they really put the pedal down, which is a massive hurdle for opponents on its own.

The AFC isn’t exactly loaded this year, either. The Pittsburgh Steelers offense is underwhelming, the Tennessee Titans defense sorely lacks talent, the Baltimore Ravens can at times be one-dimensional, the Indianapolis Colts are inconsistent and the Cleveland Browns are once again dealing with COVID-19 complications. That leaves the Buffalo Bills as the biggest threat to Kansas City in the AFC.

Fortunately, the Chiefs won’t face the Bills in the divisional round, as Buffalo will have to win two games to potentially meet the Chiefs in the NFC Championship. The Chiefs will face the lowest remaining seed in the conference after this weekend, which in a worst-case scenario will be the fourth-seeded Titans, or in a best-case scenario will be the Colts (who face Buffalo this weekend).

The Chiefs have a better chance than any other team to win the Super Bowl, and it all starts with Mahomes. A quarterback who rarely has an off day, combined with two of the best pass-catchers in football (WR Tyreek Hill and TE Travis Kelce) make Kansas City dangerous. It’ll just come down to whether an opponent catches them on a bad day.

Want action on 2021 Super Bowl futures? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.

Chiefs Wire:

Follow Cameron DaSilva on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

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

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1367]

Williams: Kansas City Chiefs are best bet to win 2021 Super Bowl LV

Joe Williams predicts the Kansas City Chiefs will win the 2021 Super Bowl LV with a look at NFL futures betting odds at BetMGM Sportsbook.

The Kansas City Chiefs went 14-2 in the 2020 NFL regular season and finished 10-2 in the AFC. Below, I make the case for the Chiefs as my prediction to win the 2021 Super Bowl, along with other NFL playoff picks and best bets.

Kansas City Chiefs year in review

The defending champion Chiefs were the top offense in the NFL, tossing up 415.8 total yards per game while managing 303.4 yards per game through the air, also No. 1 in the league. They checked in sixth in the NFL with 29.6 PPG, too.

Defense wins championships, though, right? Well, Kansas City’s numbers were rather middling in that department, allowing 358.3 total yards per game to rank just 16th, although they yielded just 22.6 PPG to check-in 10th in the NFL. Still, they are 4-0 straight up and 3-1 against the spread against playoff teams this season while scoring 29.7 PPG in those contests, and they will be able to outscore anyone who comes to town.

All of those stats, numbers and trends are fine, but I like experience. QB Patrick Mahomes, who won the Super Bowl MVP last season, completed 66.3% of his passes for 4,740 yards, 38 touchdowns and just 6 interceptions this season. The kid just never makes mistakes, and when he does, rarely are they costly and game-changing miscues. He had a pair of 1,000-yard pass-catchers in WR Tyreek Hill (87 receptions, 1,276 yards, 15 touchdowns) and TE Travis Kelce (105-1,416-11), and that double-dip makes it difficult for opposing defenses.

Place your legal, online NFL bets in CO, IA, IN, NJ, PA, TN and WV at BetMGM, The King of Sportsbooks. New customer offer: Risk-free first bet! Terms and conditions apply. Bet online now!

Why the Kansas City Chiefs will win the 2021 Super Bowl

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 8:40 a.m. ET.

I know, I know. Betting the favorite, the CHIEFS (+240), is not exactly going out on a limb or the sexy pick. Don’t overthink it. It’s not so much that I am in love with the Chiefs, but they will have somewhat of a home-field advantage, allowing fans on a limited capacity. Don’t underestimate that. Even a smattering of boisterous fans will give the home side the extra juice when they need it most.

In addition, I love what I have seen from the Buffalo Bills (+700) this season, but while I am all-in on QB Josh Allen being a bona fide star, I am not sold on their running game, and their defense wasn’t nearly as dominant as last season. And hey, we’ve already seen these two AFC titans square off, with the Chiefs winning 26-17 in Buffalo back in Week 6. The results won’t be different in a potential AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead Stadium.

The Chiefs lost their Week 17 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers, but that game can be tossed out since they rested all major players. That will actually help them, as the stars will get two full weeks to rest their bumps and bruises. Kansas City won its previous four home games, and they rattled off 10 consecutive wins overall before their loss to the Bolts.

This team has all the tools to hoist the Lombardi Trophy again, becoming the first team to repeat as Super Bowl champs since the New England Patriots won Super Bowls XXXVIII and XXXIX.

Want action on 2021 Super Bowl futures? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.

Chiefs Wire:

Follow Joe Williams on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

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

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1367]

McLaren: Green Bay Packers follow Aaron Rodgers to 2021 Super Bowl LV win

Esten McLaren predicts the Green Bay Packers will win the 2021 Super Bowl LV with a look at NFL futures betting odds at BetMGM Sportsbook.

The Green Bay Packers went 13-3 in the 2020 NFL regular season and finished first in the NFC for a bye into the Divisional Round. The Packers won their final six games of the regular season to seal a second straight NFC North title. Below, I make the case for the Packers as my prediction to win the 2021 Super Bowl, along with other NFL playoff picks and best bets.

Green Bay Packers year in review

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers is BetMGM‘s favorite for the AP MVP award with odds of -3500 representing a 97.22% win probability. The recently turned 37-year-old enjoyed a resurgent season and finished with a 70.7-percent completion percentage, 4,299 passing yards and 48 passing touchdowns against just 5 interceptions. His completion percentage, touchdown total and 121.5 quarterback rating were best in the league.

Rodgers received plenty of help. RB Aaron Jones had 1,459 yards from scrimmage and 11 total touchdowns in 14 games. WR Davante Adams had 115 receptions for 1,374 yards and 18 TDs and TE Robert Tonyan broke out with 11 TDs on 52 total catches.

The defense came and went, and finished 17th by Football Outsiders’ total DVOA. The Packers were 14th in opponent yards per play allowed, but they were just 20th by ESPN’s Team Pass Rush Win Rate.

From a betting standpoint, the Packers went 10-6 against the spread and covered by 3.8 points per game while winning by an average of 8.8 PPG. They were 9-7 against the Over/Under and topped projections by 4.1 PPG. With home-field advantage secured through the NFC playoffs, the Packers can build on their 5-3 ATS record at Lambeau Field from the regular season. Games at Lambeau went 9-7 against the O/U.

Place your legal, online NFL bets in CO, IA, IN, NJ, PA, TN and WV at BetMGM, The King of Sportsbooks. New customer offer: Risk-free first bet! Terms and conditions apply. Bet online now!

Why the Green Bay Packers will win the 2021 Super Bowl

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday at 1:20 p.m. ET.

The Packers trail only the reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs (+240) with odds of +550 to win Super Bowl LV. They’re my pick at the onset of the playoffs with a $10 bet returning a profit of $55.

I never like betting a favorite for futures and better than double the value for the No. 1 seed from the NFC is extremely attractive.

Rodgers, a two-time MVP winner and Super Bowl XLV champion, is the only QB in the NFL who can match Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes’ throwing ability. The Packers have the superior running back in Jones, and Adams would be the best pass-catcher on the field in a Packers-Chiefs Super Bowl.

Want action on 2021 Super Bowl futures? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.

Packers Wire:

Follow Esten McLaren on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

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

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1367]

Root: Buffalo Bills primed to win 2021 Super Bowl LV

Jess Root predicts the Buffalo Bills will win the 2021 Super Bowl LV with a look at NFL futures betting odds at BetMGM Sportsbook.

The Buffalo Bills went 13-3 in the 2020 NFL regular season and finished as the second seed in the AFC. They swept the AFC East and won their final six games. Below, I make the case for the Bills as my prediction to win the 2021 Super Bowl, along with other NFL playoff picks and best bets.

Buffalo Bills year in review

This was a special year for the Bills. They won their division for the first time since 1995 and had their best record since 1991. They had the league’s No. 2 offense in terms of yards and points, led by quarterback Josh Allen‘s career year. The third-year QB is an MVP candidate after passing for over 4,500 yards and having 37 touchdown passes and only 10 interceptions. Plus, he added another 421 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, to account for 45 total touchdowns on the season.

The Bills were 14th in yards allowed per game and 16th in scoring defense. Their only losses were to the Kansas City Chiefs, Tennessee Titans and Arizona Cardinals. The Chiefs and Titans won their respective divisions in the AFC and are in the postseason. The loss to Arizona was only by a last-second Hail Mary throw.

In addition to dominating the league overall, the Bills were one of the best bets in the NFL with a league-best 11-5 record against the spread and beat the spread by an average of 5.6 points per game. They were 10-5-1 against the Over/Under.

Place your legal, online NFL bets in CO, IA, IN, NJ, PA, TN and WV at BetMGM, The King of Sportsbooks. New customer offer: Risk-free first bet! Terms and conditions apply. Bet online now!

Why the Buffalo Bills will win the 2021 Super Bowl

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday at 1 p.m. ET.

The Bills, who enter the postseason with the third-shortest odds to win it all at +700, are the hottest team in the NFL. They finished the season winning six straight games and were a “Hail Murray” away from 11 wins in a row. They have three wins over playoff teams already and seven of their wins came against teams that finished .500 or better.

They can score on any defense. They put up 35 points on the No. 1 scoring defense in the league (Los Angeles Rams), 26 against the No. 3 scoring defense in the league (Pittsburgh Steelers) and 87 combined in two games against the No. 6 scoring defense (Miami Dolphins).

TheBills will face the Indianapolis Colts in the Wild Card Round and then, if the higher seed wins in each first-round game in the AFC, would face the Steelers in the divisional round, followed by either the Tennessee Titans or Kansas City Chiefs in the conference championship. They already beat the Steelers this season. They lost to both the Titans and Chiefs in a three-game stretch in which they failed to score at least 24 points. They were the only three games all year that happened. They have put up over 30 points in four of their last five games and scored over 45 in two of their last three.

They match up well against any team, are getting elite quarterback play and are the hottest team in football. The Bills are primed to win the 2021 Super Bowl bring home the Lombardi Trophy.

Want action on 2021 Super Bowl futures? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.

Bills Wire:

Follow Jess Root on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

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

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1367]