NFL Betting Analysis: Five Reasons AFC Will Win Super Bowl 51
Posted by Eric Williams on Friday,December 9, 2016 4:13, EDT in
While it would seem that the NFC is the stronger of the two conferences in the NFL, fans and betting backers of AFC teams should have plenty of hope that one of their AFC-based teams will win this season’s Super Bowl 51 showdown.
If you’re looking for reasons why you should place some faith – and your NFL Super Bowl futures odds betting bucks on an AFC-based team, I’ve got five great reasons for you to do just that! Let’s get started.
NFL Betting Analysis: Five Reasons AFC Will Win Super Bowl 51
1. Tom Brady and Bill Belichick
Brady and Bill Belichick have combined to win four Super Bowl titles in New England, but did you know that only one of those titles have come in the last decade? After winning Super Bowl 48 two years ago, the Patriots (10-2) just look like they’re poised to bag another Super Bowl title at some point in the very near future.
While the loss of Rob Gronkowski is a big blow to the Patriots’ Super Bowl hopes, Brady and Belichick have both proven they can get it done in myriad ways and with varying rosters.
2. Oakland Raiders
The Raiders (10-2) may be young and still blossoming, but they’re absolutely explosive on offense, and have both, an absolutely fearless quarterback in Derek Carr and a flat-out superstar that I believe is now the most dominant defensive player in the league in linebacker Khalil Mack. Throw in a sage, no-nonsense head coach like Jack del Rio and you have the makings of a legitimate Super Bowl title contender.
As an old guy that used to routinely watch Raiders greats from John Madden and Ken Stabler to Cliff Branch and Ken ‘The Snake’ Stabler, it sure has been nice to see Oakland rise to prominence again this season.
3. Kansas City Chiefs
I picked the Chiefs (9-3) to really contend this season and they certainly haven’t let me down in the least. Kansas City has a really good defense that ranks ninth in points allowed (20.7 ppg) and an offense that is just good enough in averaging 23.4 points per contest (15th). While Kansas City doesn’t have an explosive offense, the Chiefs do have a veteran quarterback that doesn’t turn the ball over often and about a half-dozen Pro Bowl caliber defensive players. Go ahead and laugh, but the Chiefs are a threat.
4. Pittsburgh and Baltimore
Sure, the Steelers and Ravens haven’t set the league – or the AFC – on fire this season, but both AFC North co-leaders (7-5) have won Super Bowl titles this decade and could very well exceed expectations if either team gets into the postseason. Baltimore ranks first in total defense, first against the run, seventh against the pass and third in points allowed (17.2 ppg), not to mention they won Super Bowl 47 over San Francisco 34-31.
The Steelers are 12th in scoring (24.1 ppg) and seventh in points allowed (19.6 ppg) and have arguably the game’s best trio of offensive stars in Ben Roethlisberger, Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown. Pittsburgh also won Super Bowl 43 by beating Arizona 27-23 in one of the most exciting Super Bowls in recent history.
5. History
And speaking of history, not only have AFC-based teams won two straight Super Bowls, but they’ve managed to win five of the last 10 Super Bowls overall. Denver won last year’s Super Bowl 50 showdown against Carolina 24-10 one year after New England narrowly got by Seattle 28-24 in an absolute thriller.
The Ravens won Super Bowl 47 and Pittsburgh won Super Bowl 43. Last but not least, Indianapolis beat Chicago 29-17 in Super Bowl 41. So there you have it…five great reasons why an AFC-based team will win Super Bowl 51.
AFC Super Bowl Winners Last 10 Years
SB 50 Denver 24 Carolina 10
SB 49 New England 28 Seattle 24
SB 47 Baltimore 34 San Francisco 31
SB 43 Pittsburgh 27 Arizona 23
SB 41 Indianapolis 29 Chicago 17
