Super Bowl 55 odds: Chiefs, Packers are favorites as 2021 NFL playoffs begin

The early Tremendous Bowl 55 odds function a transparent favourite within the 2021 NFL playoffs area: the staff that raised the Lombardi Trophy final 12 months.

Oddsmakers have put in the Chiefs because the heavy chalk on their boards, with FanDuel Sportsbook posting odds of plus-190 (wager $100 to make $190) getting into wild-card weekend. Kansas Metropolis accomplished its 2020 NFL common season with a 14-2 file; its solely losses have been to the Raiders in Week 5 and the Chargers in Week 17. The season-ending loss didn’t have an effect on KC’s seeding; it’s No. 1 for the AFC playoffs. 

NFL PLAYOFFS 2021: Bracket, wild-card matchups, schedule for AFC, NFC

The NFC area is tighter, with the top-seeded Packers (13-Three within the common season) opening as plus-500 favorites (or 5-1 odds) and the No. 2 Saints (12-Four) at plus-750.

Individuals who need to strive earning profits predicting the Tremendous Bowl 55 winner have two extra selections in 2021 than in earlier years, due to the NFL increasing the playoff area from 12 groups (six every within the AFC and NFC) to 14 groups (seven every). 

Tremendous Bowl 55 odds

Per FanDuel Sportsbook, listed here are the percentages of every staff within the 14-team 2021 NFL playoff area successful Tremendous Bowl 55 in Tampa, Fla., on Feb. 7.

Although the sphere has expanded, the variety of rounds within the NFL playoffs has not modified. There’ll nonetheless be the wild-card spherical, the divisional spherical, convention championships and the Tremendous Bowl. The first change to the playoff format is to the variety of groups receiving a first-round bye. Simply the highest seeds — which, for 2021, are the Chiefs and Packers — will get the wild-card weekend off. Beforehand, the highest two seeds in every convention routinely superior to the divisional spherical.

Chiefs Tremendous Bowl odds: +190

Kansas Metropolis seemed like a prohibitive favourite early within the season as Patrick Mahomes and his mates on offense rolled by means of the primary 4 weeks of the 2021 schedule. Then got here a 40-32 house loss to the Raiders in Week 5. Simple wins over the Broncos and Jets adopted, however the dominance stopped there.

The Chiefs reeled off seven consecutive wins to begin the second half of the season, however the common successful margin was simply Three.9 factors. The streak ended with the Week 17 loss to the Chargers. One can assume that Mahomes, Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Co. will step it up now that the Chiefs are in win-or-go-home mode. However in the event you’re a believer in mathematical developments moderately than momentum and motivation, KC’s 19-10 odds would possibly appear to be poor worth.

Packers Tremendous Bowl odds: +500

Inexperienced Bay had moments of dominance and doubt in 2020 due to a spotty protection. First, although, the dominance: Aaron Rodgers mounted a powerful challeng to Mahomes for NFL MVP, his predominant argument a 48:5 touchdown-to-interception ratio. No. 1 huge receiver Davante Adams benefited probably the most from Rodgers’ prolific passing; he completed with 115 receptions, 1,374 yards and 18 touchdowns.

The Pack completed No. 1 within the NFL with 509 factors, however they have been simply 13th in scoring protection, permitting 369. Inexperienced Bay allowed 30 or extra factors 4 instances within the common season.

Kansas Metropolis had the same profile: sixth in scoring offense (469 factors), 11th in scoring protection (367 factors allowed). If it matches up with Inexperienced Bay within the large sport in Tampa, then look lengthy and exhausting on the over/underneath.

The remainder

The Payments and Saints test in because the co-third selections at +750. Each groups completed within the high 5 in scoring (spot a development right here?). Buffalo has a rising younger QB in Josh Allen whereas the Saints have a fading previous QB in Drew Brees, however each males have deep supporting casts. Allen’s operating skill provides Buffalo an enormous edge. . . . The Buccaneers (+1100), Ravens (+1200) and Seahawks (+1200) symbolize the following degree within the area. Tom Brady can be competing for a seventh Tremendous Bowl title in his first season away from the Patriots. The Bucs will attempt to develop into the primary staff to host a Tremendous Bowl. Baltimore went over the three,000-yard mark because it led the league in dashing. QB Lamar Jackson completed ninth within the NFL in dashing with 1,005 yards. Seattle will lean exhausting on Russell Wilson, after all. . . . Subsequent come the Steelers (+2000), Titans (+2100) and Rams (+2400). Tennessee, like Baltimore, is run-first. Derrick Henry rumbled for two,027 yards on the bottom. The Steelers gained the AFC North on the power of their 11-Zero begin, not their 1-Four end. LA might need QB Jared Goff (damaged thumb) out there for the playoffs. . . . The Colts (+3400) do not get a lot credit score for his or her 11 wins. Possibly it is as a result of they should journey to Orchard Park. . . . The narrative of Baker Mayfield (+4800) as scrappy underdog is simply too straightforward, however the Browns are going to Pittsburgh, which, as famous, hasn’t seemed a metropolis of champions of late. . . . The Bears (+8500) sneaked in at Eight-Eight; Washington (+13000) gained a division at 7-9. Their rewards? A matchup on the Saints and a house sport towards Brady and Co., respectively.