Here are the top contenders for the Lombardi Trophy at next February’s Super Bowl LV.
It feels like a long wait already and although there are still several weeks to go until the start of the new 2020 NFL season, attentions are already turning to the franchises most likely to compete for the Lombardi Trophy at next February’s Super Bowl LV. The romance of the Super Bowl was restored earlier this year when the Kansas City Chiefs finally broke through, ending a 50-year wait for Super Bowl success against the San Francisco 49ers. The Chiefs were hotly tipped by NFL analysts and futures bettors alike, with MVP stars and developing talent augmenting their roster.
It’s not just Super Bowl futures that capture the imagination of US sportsbooks and NFL bettors. Operators like FOX Bet will also offer prop NFL odds, that can be wagered on specific events within a single NFL game. This could cover anything from the total of successful field goals or the scorer of a game’s first touchdown. Even in next year’s Super Bowl LV, bettors will be able to wager on the winner of the opening coin toss and even the length of the national anthem.
Nevertheless, Super Bowl LV futures are where the big money will go, as bettors try to beat the sportsbook’s latest NFL Super Bowl LV lines and find early-season value before it all dries up. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the franchises most likely to be doing battle in the postseason this coming year.
Kansas City Chiefs
That’s right, after 50 years without a single Lombardi Trophy, there is every chance that the Kansas City Chiefs can secure back-to-back Super Bowls in 2021. One of the main reasons that the Chiefs are so highly regarded by analysts and the leading sportsbooks is the developing MVP talent of quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The likes of Demarcus Robinson and Sammy Watkins have also been added to the ranks to improve their array of catching talent for next season. The Chiefs were also quick in the latest NFL draft to replace LeSean McCoy, with running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire providing yet another great target for Mahomes.
Baltimore Ravens
Aside from the Chiefs, the Baltimore Ravens are deemed to have the next best chance of winning Super Bowl LV by the sportsbooks. In actual fact, the Ravens were many people’s tips to win last season’s Super Bowl. They could well have provided stiff competition for Kansas City had they not suffered a shock divisional playoff defeat. ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) certainly rates Baltimore as highly as the Chiefs. They are given a 21% chance of winning Super Bowl LV, with the Ravens’ offense tipped to be more fruitful than that of the San Francisco 49ers who remain third-favorites.
San Francisco 49ers
The 2019 NFL season was a breakthrough year for the 49ers. Few gave them a hope of finishing the regular season with a 13-3 record, but that was the reality. There are a few seeds of doubt as to whether they will be able to replicate their accomplishments in 2020, given that they’ve lost a few key starters from last year’s roster. Staley, Sanders, and Buckner have left big shoes to fill. The Niners have hung their hat on Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams to deputize for Staley, while Brandon Aiyuk and Javon Kinlaw were picked up in the first round of the draft.
New Orleans Saints
The stage was set for the New Orleans Saints to have a major say on the postseason last time around. The Saints’ Wild Card clash with Minnesota Vikings was expected to be plain sailing, but they were left shell-shocked by a last-gasp defeat which left their Super Bowl aspirations in tatters. Following some off-season home truths, New Orleans will be motivated to go at least one further in 2020/21. Pinching the 49ers’ receiver Emmanuel Sanders was a great move in the off-season, while first-round draft pick Cesar Ruiz has plenty of room for development in the Saints’ offensive line. All of these possibilities will turn Super Bowl LV into an unforgettable spectacle.
