Super Bowl 51 Updated Odds And Picks
Posted by Eric Williams on Wednesday,January 4, 2017 4:08, EDT in
With the start of the 2016 NFL postseason just days away, football betting enthusiasts everywhere need to know, not only who the favorite, the smart pick and top longshot are, but which team will actually hoist the Vince Lombardi Super Bowl 51 Trophy.
Now, let’s find out which teams stand the best chances of winning it all.
Here’s A Closer Look At The Super Bowl 51 Updated Odds And Picks
The Favorite
New England Patriots 8/5
The Patriots (14-2 SU, 13-3 ATS) hit the postseason riding a five-game winning streak and haven’t lost since losing Pro Bowl tight end Rob Gronkowski for the season six weeks ago. The New England Patriots finished the regular season ranked a stellar fourth in total offense (386.2 ypg), fourth in passing (269.2 ypg) seventh in rushing (117.0 ypg) and third in scoring at 27.6 points per game.
The fact that the Pats were completely dominating may not even be the worst part about trying to beat this year’s team. You see, New England has also been phenomenal on the defensive side of the ball in finishing the regular season ranked sixth in total defense (326.4 ypg), 12th against the pass (237.9 ppg), third against the run (88.6 ypg) and a stellar first in points allowed (15.6 ppg). New England has limited each of its last three opponents to 14 points or less while holding the Jets and Broncos to a paltry three points during the span.
Forget New England’s statistical excellence, for me, what makes New England the prohibitive is the fact that the Patriots have a Hall of Fame quarterback odds-on-favorite to win Super Bowl 51 is the fact that the Patriots have a pair of Hall of Famers in quarterback in Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick that knows how to win games no matter the circumstance.
The Smart Pick
Dallas Cowboys 17/5
Although I’m a lifelong Dallas hater that hails from Philadelphia, I’ve got to admit that the Cowboys (13-3 SU, 10-6 ATS) have the look of a team that will be very difficult to dispatch this postseason. Dallas can both, run and pass the ball efficiently on offense, although their passing statistics don’t seem to back that fact up. Dak Prescott and company finished the regular season ranked fifth in total offense (376.7 ypg), second in rushing (149.8 ypg) 23rd in passing (226.9 ypg) and fifth in scoring (26.3 ppg)
More importantly, Dallas consistently improved on defense throughout the season to finish first against the run (83.5 ypg) and fifth in points allowed (19.1 ppg). If the Boys can defend the pass a bit better after finishing 26th in yards allowed (260.4 ypg) they could very well beat anyone. Despite their meaningless season-ending loss to Philadelphia, the Cowboys have been on a nice roll heading into the postseason and should have all the confidence they need.
The Longshot
Seattle Seahawks 12/1
The Kansas City Chiefs and Green Bay Packers, both 12/1 picks to win Super Bowl 51, would have both made solid longshot selections, but for me, I think Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks (10-5-1 SU, 8-8 ATS) are a better longshot pick for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, the Seahawks are offering great odds as they sit behind New England, Dallas, Pittsburgh and Atlanta on the Super Bowl 51 futures odds board.
I know Seattle has been wildly inconsistent – and mostly disappointing – on offense, finishing the regular season ranked an uninspiring 18th in scoring, but I love the fact that the Seahawks are still elite defensively. Seattle finished the regular season ranked fifth in total defense, eighth against the pass, seventh against the run and a stellar third in points allowed (18.2 ppg) leading me to believe their formidable defense could carry them to the NFC title game.
While the Seahawks undoubtedly have been inconsistent on offense this season, they still have a Super Bowl winning quarterback in Russell Wilson and plenty of talent on the roster on both sides of the ball in players like Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor, Doug Baldwin and Jimmy Graham.
If the Seahawks can find a way to take advantage of Graham’s jaw-dropping skill set at the tight end position while getting some increased production out of running back Thomas Rawls, the Seahawks could really surprise.
Super Bowl 51 Pick
Whether you love them or loathe them, the New England Patriots are clearly the cream of the crop when it comes to Super Bowl 51 contenders. The Patriots haven’t missed a beat all season long and managed to play winning football for the first four games of the season without Tom Brady. Right now, the Patriots look like they’re going to fend off all challengers in the AFC, although I do believe that Pittsburgh could potentially give the Pats a hard way to go for conference supremacy.
If New England does reach Super Bowl 51, I expect them to get past either Dallas or Seattle, although all bets are off if Eli Manning and the Giants represent the NFC. All jokes aside, the New England Patriots have been the best and most consistent team in all of football this season (sorry Dallas) and I expect them to cap off their outstanding 2016 campaign by winning Super Bowl 51.
