Super Bowl odds check: Patriots favored, Cardinals getting no love (again)
Las Vegas Sports Consultants, Inc. provides odds and pointspread guidance to the majority of Nevada's casinos, and I thought it would be interesting to get their latest odds for Super Bowl XLIV. The below odds were originally set on January 19 and most recently updated on June 15.
A few thoughts, then the odds:
? As you can see, the Patriots are the clear favorites in the LVSC's view, with the Steelers a strong second. The Colts have floated to 11-1; as I noted last week, there's a sense the coaching staff changes makes Indianapolis a little tougher for handicappers to read. Also, look at how the Ravens have floated to 15-1, with the Titans going 16-1. Makes sense: with the Pats' odds going down, have to be adjusted.
? The NFC hierarchy, per the LVSC's odds: Giants (9-1), Eagles (11-1), Cowboys (11-1), Vikings (15-1), Bears (16-1), Panthers (16-1), Falcons (18-1), Packers (18-1), Cardinals (20-1), Saints (20-1). Yes, eight NFC teams have lower Super Bowl odds than the Cardinals. Safe to say the Cards have some convincing to do still.
? The odds of some longshots have fallen. Three caught my eye. The Bills are 30-1 off a 50-1 opening line; that probably has everything to do with T.O. The Seahawks are 40-1 off a 60-1 opener. And the Chiefs, who were 100-1 in January, are now 40-1. In my view, the Seahawks are the most viable playoff contender.
? I found it odd that of all the teams that opened at 75-1 or higher, only the Bengals' odds haven't fallen. Cincinnati opened at 75-1 on the board, and those odds were unchanged as of mid-June. To me, they're better than the four teams who had higher odds in January (the Rams, Chiefs, Raiders and Lions). So why haven't the odds fallen? Perhaps it's just because the public isn't all that excited about a club that traditionally struggles and is coming off a 4-11-1 season. As I have said before, backing a longshot involves the ability to dream about that club acheiving greatness, and it is a little tough to see the Bengals getting out of the AFC North, much less winning it all.
Without further adieu, the LVSC's updated odds:
Team Open Current
Patriots 6/1 4/1
Steelers 7/1 15/2
Giants 8/1 9/1
Colts 8/1 11/1
Cowboys 9/1 11/1
Ravens 11/1 15/1
Panthers 12/1 16/1
Eagles 12/1 11/1
Titans 12/1 16/1
Chargers 14/1 12/1
Cardinals 15/1 20/1
Falcons 16/1 18/1
Saints 18/1 20/1
Packers 20/1 18/1
Vikings 22/1 15/1
Dolphins 25/1 28/1
Redskins 25/1 25/1
Jets 28/1 35/1
Bears 28/1 16/1
Jaguars 30/1 38/1
Bucs 35/1 40/1
Broncos 35/1 40/1
Texans 40/1 30/1
49ers 40/1 35/1
Bills 50/1 30/1
Seahawks 60/1 40/1
Browns 60/1 50/1
Bengals 75/1 75/1
Rams 100/1 80/1
Chiefs 100/1 40/1
Raiders 100/1 75/1
Lions 150/1 100/1
Las Vegas Sports Consultants, Inc. provides odds and pointspread guidance to the majority of Nevada's casinos, and I thought it would be interesting to get their latest odds for Super Bowl XLIV. The below odds were originally set on January 19 and most recently updated on June 15.
A few thoughts, then the odds:
? As you can see, the Patriots are the clear favorites in the LVSC's view, with the Steelers a strong second. The Colts have floated to 11-1; as I noted last week, there's a sense the coaching staff changes makes Indianapolis a little tougher for handicappers to read. Also, look at how the Ravens have floated to 15-1, with the Titans going 16-1. Makes sense: with the Pats' odds going down, have to be adjusted.
? The NFC hierarchy, per the LVSC's odds: Giants (9-1), Eagles (11-1), Cowboys (11-1), Vikings (15-1), Bears (16-1), Panthers (16-1), Falcons (18-1), Packers (18-1), Cardinals (20-1), Saints (20-1). Yes, eight NFC teams have lower Super Bowl odds than the Cardinals. Safe to say the Cards have some convincing to do still.
? The odds of some longshots have fallen. Three caught my eye. The Bills are 30-1 off a 50-1 opening line; that probably has everything to do with T.O. The Seahawks are 40-1 off a 60-1 opener. And the Chiefs, who were 100-1 in January, are now 40-1. In my view, the Seahawks are the most viable playoff contender.
? I found it odd that of all the teams that opened at 75-1 or higher, only the Bengals' odds haven't fallen. Cincinnati opened at 75-1 on the board, and those odds were unchanged as of mid-June. To me, they're better than the four teams who had higher odds in January (the Rams, Chiefs, Raiders and Lions). So why haven't the odds fallen? Perhaps it's just because the public isn't all that excited about a club that traditionally struggles and is coming off a 4-11-1 season. As I have said before, backing a longshot involves the ability to dream about that club acheiving greatness, and it is a little tough to see the Bengals getting out of the AFC North, much less winning it all.
Without further adieu, the LVSC's updated odds:
Team Open Current
Patriots 6/1 4/1
Steelers 7/1 15/2
Giants 8/1 9/1
Colts 8/1 11/1
Cowboys 9/1 11/1
Ravens 11/1 15/1
Panthers 12/1 16/1
Eagles 12/1 11/1
Titans 12/1 16/1
Chargers 14/1 12/1
Cardinals 15/1 20/1
Falcons 16/1 18/1
Saints 18/1 20/1
Packers 20/1 18/1
Vikings 22/1 15/1
Dolphins 25/1 28/1
Redskins 25/1 25/1
Jets 28/1 35/1
Bears 28/1 16/1
Jaguars 30/1 38/1
Bucs 35/1 40/1
Broncos 35/1 40/1
Texans 40/1 30/1
49ers 40/1 35/1
Bills 50/1 30/1
Seahawks 60/1 40/1
Browns 60/1 50/1
Bengals 75/1 75/1
Rams 100/1 80/1
Chiefs 100/1 40/1
Raiders 100/1 75/1
Lions 150/1 100/1
