Best Super Bowl XLIX Bets

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hacheman@therx.com
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[h=1]Best Super Bowl XLIX bets[/h][h=3]New Orleans among smart value picks to win it all this season[/h]By Dave Tuley | ESPN Insider
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LAS VEGAS -- The LVH SuperBook put up its Super Bowl XLIX futures odds even before Super Bowl XLVIII was played, with the Denver Broncos as the slight favorite ahead of the Seattle Seahawks, but after Seattle's 43-8 rout, the LVH made the two teams 5-1 co-favorites for next season's title. In the following days, the Seahawks were bet down to 9-2 favoritism and then to 4-1 and have stayed there the past two months.

Even though there has been daily NFL news about players re-signing with teams or free agents opting to join new teams, a look up and down the LVH's future-book odds shows very little change. For instance:

• On March 21, Michael Vick signed with the New York Jets, who were 60-1 back on Super Sunday night and are still offered at 60-1 (and that's also with adding wide receiver Eric Decker).
• The big news last week was former Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson joining the Washington Redskins. The Eagles' odds are actually lower than they were two months ago, dropping from 30-1 to the current 25-1 even with the loss of Jackson. In contrast, the Redskins were 40-1 then and they're 40-1 now (though they had gone as high as 60-1 at the LVH, so there's been some adjustment after the Jackson acquisition, but the fact remains they're the same as they were Feb. 2).
• How about the running back signings of Ben Tate from Houston to Cleveland, Knowshon Moreno from Denver to Miami, Rashad Jennings from Oakland to the New York Giants and Maurice Jones-Drew from Jacksonville to Oakland? All of those teams -- both sides of each move -- have the exact same future-book odds they had two months ago. The reason for this lack of odds adjustment is mostly because the oddsmakers know what they're doing: They know that teams are going to address their needs, but they also know that most teams have multiple areas where they need improvement, so adding just one star player doesn't cause a big shift in odds, especially with football being the ultimate team sport.
The same thing goes for next month's NFL draft. The oddsmakers already know the worst teams are going to get the top draft picks, but it usually takes more players (or a few years of experience) to make a difference.
But my assignment here is to look at the future-book odds and see if I find any value, either in the teams that I picked in my ESPN Insider article that ran the day after the Super Bowl or other teams on the board, factoring any relevant offseason moves so far. Let's take a look.


New Orleans Saints (18-1 odds Feb. 2; now 20-1) <OFFER></OFFER>
I made the Saints my top value play at 18-1 for next year's Super Bowl, and I feel even better about it now. While I mentioned that they weren't the ready-made complete team that the Seahawks were a year ago when I picked Seattle at 12-1 after last year's Super Bowl, the Saints actually have drifted up to 20-1, while the Seahawks were bet down quite a bit during the offseason. However, I like what the Saints have done so far this offseason. They franchise-tagged superstar tight end Jimmy Graham and then got free agent Jairus Byrd, who should team with Kenny Vaccaro to give the Saints arguably the best safety combo in the league. They also added Champ Bailey, who might not be the shutdown corner he once was, but he's still above average and should bring veteran leadership to that side of the ball.

They weren't that far away last year, and an argument can be made that they just need to improve a little to get home-field advantage to make for an easier road to the Super Bowl. I'm also encouraged in that sense as last season's No. 2 seed, Carolina, lost receiver Steve Smith and quarterback Cam Newton has some offseason injury concerns (he's supposed to be fine after ankle surgery, but I'd rather be betting on Drew Brees to have another big year).


San Diego Chargers (30-1 odds Feb. 2; now 30-1)
The Chargers were my other value pick, as they made a strong run at the end of last season and have a great chance to battle the Broncos for AFC West supremacy. They showed they have the offense to compete (and didn't lose any skill players). An underrated signing was keeping guard Chad Rinehart as well as talking center Nick Hardwick out of retirement to bring needed stability to the offensive line. Re-signing up-and-coming linebacker Donald Butler also helps on the defensive side of the ball.



[h=3]Other teams that might be worth a flier[/h]
Philadelphia Eagles (25-1): Yes, they lost Jackson, but as great as he was in Chip Kelly's system (and he was a big part of my fantasy team's success last season, so I watched him a lot), it's clear that Nick Foles is going to spread the ball around. They re-signed Jeremy Maclin and Riley Cooper, and I'm sure they'll find other receivers and put up similar overall numbers again this year. They should be right in the hunt and again appear a cut above their division rivals.
Indianapolis Colts (25-1): Andrew Luck has led the team to the playoffs in each of his two seasons and, unless the Texans finally play up to their potential, the Colts should be headed back again. I really like the signing of linebacker D'Qwell Jackson from Cleveland to help with the run defense along with DE Arthur Jones from Baltimore. If the Colts can add a free safety, I might rate them ahead of the Chargers as my dark horse pick in the AFC.
Arizona Cardinals (50-1): The Cardinals' biggest obstacle is being in the same division as the Seahawks and 49ers (as evidenced by them going 10-6 last season and still missing the playoffs, in part because of a 2-4 division record). But the Cards have the defense to keep them in every game and need to find more consistent offense to take the next step and try to become the first team to play a Super Bowl in its home stadium. The signing of left tackle Jared Veldheer from Oakland certainly is beneficial, though some more skill-position players to go with Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd would help (as it seems they're not going to replace Carson Palmer anytime soon).


<!-- begin inline 1 -->[h=4]Odds To Win Super Bowl XLIX[/h]

[h=4][/h]* Per LVH SuperBook
TeamFeb. 2April 7
Seattle Seahawks5-14-1
Denver Broncos5-15-1
San Francisco 49ers6-16-1
New England Patriots7-18-1
Green Bay Packers16-112-1
New Orleans Saints18-120-1
Atlanta Falcons30-135-1
Cincinnati Bengals20-120-1
Carolina Panthers20-125-1
Indianapolis Colts20-125-1
Kansas City Chiefs30-130-1
Philadelphia Eagles30-125-1
Chicago Bears30-140-1
Arizona Cardinals30-150-1
Dallas Cowboys30-130-1
New York Giants40-140-1
Washington Redskins40-140-1
Detroit Lions40-140-1
St. Louis Rams40-175-1
Pittsburgh Steelers30-125-1
Baltimore Ravens30-130-1
Houston Texans30-130-1
San Diego Chargers30-130-1
Miami Dolphins50-150-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers60-175-1
Tennessee Titans60-160-1
New York Jets60-160-1
Buffalo Bills60-160-1
Minnesota Vikings100-1100-1
Cleveland Browns60-160-1
Jacksonville Jaguars200-1200-1
Oakland Raiders200-1200-1

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Nirvana Shill
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The Mirage had the Seahawks at 8/1 in the 4th qtr of the Super Bowl.. grabbed some of that.. Along with Philly 30/1 at t Flamingo after the game.. GB 16/1, Silverton also had Seattle at 8/1 the next day.. grabbed some more of that gravy.. Denver was 9/1 at Silverton.. picked that up too,, One of those books had SF at 7/1... took that bet too..
 

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