Before we know it it will be NFL season again. Here is a look at the best bets for the upcoming 2018 season (Photo credit: Raiders.com).
It wasn’t that long ago that the Philadelphia Eagles lifted the Vince Lombardi Trophy at Super Bowl LII following a 41-44 victory over the New England Patriots at the U.S Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. That came after a fantastic game which broke so many records for points, yards and punts.
Since Super Bowl LII though, there have so many lots of changes to rosters in the NFL, which means many of the teams that struggled last year could be set to challenge when the season begins in September. Here is a look at the best early bets for the 2018 campaign.
Super Bowl LIII Winners
Only two teams in the last 20 years have been able to successfully defend their Super Bowl crowns. Denver Broncos managed it in 1998 while, more recently, the New England Patriots went back-to-back in 2003 and 2004. That goes to show how difficult the task is going to be for the Eagles when they return following their lengthy celebrations later this year. The stats don’t look good for the Patriots either, as only two teams in the 52-year history of the Super Bowl have been beaten in the biggest game in the sport and then gone on to be crowned the champions a year later.
One of the teams who were very close to making the Super Bowl last season was the Minnesota Vikings. Maybe the pressure of becoming the first team to play the game at their own stadium was too much for them in the end as they were beaten in the NFC Championship game 38-7 by the Eagles.
In order to try to improve next year, the Vikings have really gone out and splashed the cash, as they have acquired Kirk Cousins from the Washington Redskins in a deal worth $84 million to the quarterback. Since becoming the starter for the Redskins in the NFL in 2015, the Michigan State man has been producing some incredible numbers. He has started all 16 regular season games over the last three years and had thrown for over 4000 passing yards in each campaign.
Cousins may be just what the Vikings need to go all the way in 2018, therefore, they look to be the best win bet. As of 26th March, they can be backed at +1000 with Betway in their sportsbook market for Super Bowl LIII. With the likes of Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen to throw to, the former Redskins player could go for over 5000 yards next season and produce a career-best in touchdown passes. The Vikings also have one of the best defenses in the league, therefore, not only can they score plenty of points next year, they are capable of limiting the opposition, which takes the pressure off Cousins a little.
NFC West Winners
One of the divisions that could be set for the biggest shake-up next season is the NFC West, a division Seattle Seahawks have dominated recently as they have won the title eight times in the last 14 years. Things could be about to change for Pete Carroll’s side though as their solid defense has been ripped up in the off-season; Richard Sherman has left for the San Francisco 49ers, while Michael Bennett has joined the Philadelphia Eagles.
Niners are red,
Our rivals are blue,
We got Jimmy G,
And @RSherman_25 too. #WorldPoetryDay pic.twitter.com/QH78ceywu3— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) March 21, 2018
The 49ers, who have benefited from the acquisition of Sherman, now look to be the side with the best roster in the NFC West. The five-time Super Bowl winners have a franchise quarterback in Jimmy Garoppolo and, with young exciting head coach Kyle Shanahan in charge, it won’t be long before they are challenging for Championship games. It’s difficult to see the Arizona Cardinals being in contention in 2018, therefore, the only threat to the 49ers for the title is likely to be the Los Angeles Ram. San Francisco are available in the betting at +275 to seal the NFC West title. They are as big as +1400 to win the NFC Championship, while, if really you fancy the 49ers to go all the way next season, they are +2500 to lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy at the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta in February.
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