NFL Betting Favorites, Dark Horses and Longshots Teams

With the Hall of Fame Game now in the books and the rest of the preseason schedule almost upon us, it’s time to really get serious about handicapping the upcoming NFL season. Specifically, we are talking about picking the Super Bowl winner, which is always a risk at this time of year, as you never really know what injuries might be coming that could negatively impact your pick. For now, though, we can still look at where each team ranks in terms of winning a championship, so let’s get into that to consider in your NFL betting odds.

Ranking NFL teams into betting tiers, from Super Bowl favorites to RealUnderdogs | MyBookie NFL Betting Predictions

2023 NFL season | 104th season of National Football League in the United States
September 7, 2023–February 11, 2024

Favorites

Only one team can win it all, but there are a handful who I believe have to be considered the favorites to hoist the Lombardi Trophy. The defending champion Kansas City Chiefs (+590) remain the team to beat, while last season’s other Super Bowl team, the Philadelphia Eagles (+710) figure to be very good again. I think you also have to look at the Buffalo Bills (+860), San Francisco 49ers (+930), and Cincinnati Bengals (+1000). Finally, I would add the Dallas Cowboys (+1400) to this list.

Dark Horses

Generally speaking, there are always a couple of teams who come from out of the pack to make a deep run. This group is where the dark horse teams reside, and there are several who could make a positive impact this season. The New York Jets (+1500) now have Aaron Rodgers leading the offense. You also have to look at the Baltimore Ravens (+1800), Detroit Lions (+2100), and Miami Dolphins (+2300) as potential dark horse teams, as are the Jacksonville Jaguars (+2700). In the next wave of teams, we have a bunch who could well be vying for the Wild Card, and it is a pretty solid bunch, with odds that are more than a little tempting. Those teams are the Seattle Seahawks (+3200), Cleveland Browns (+3300), New Orleans Saints (+3300), Minnesota Vikings (+3700), Denver Broncos (+4300), and Pittsburgh Steelers (+4800).

Longshots

I would be surprised if the playoff teams this season don’t come from the group of teams we have already mentioned. Strange things can happen, though, and we may yet see a longshot team make it into the Wild Card. Of course, some of these teams are going to crash and burn, but if you are in the mood to take a plunge on a longshot, here are some teams to consider: New York Giants (+5200), Chicago Bears (+5200), Green Bay Packers (+5200), New England Patriots (+5800), Las Vegas Raiders (+6600), and Atlanta Falcons (+6000).

No Hope

Whether it’s a rebuild or just a shocking lack of talent, there are a handful of teams that I believe have zero chance of a playoff spot, never mind a Super Bowl. Those teams are the LA Rams (+7000), Carolina Panthers (+6800), Washington Commanders (+6800), Tennessee Titans (+7000), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+9000), Indianapolis Colts (+11000), Arizona Cardinals (+18000), and Houston Texans (+18000). Would you pick any of these teams to make it into the postseason? I’m not sure I would, but if you made me choose, I might have to go with the Tennessee Titans.