Super Bowl XLIX was a thriller, and we’re already excited for what’s to come in Super Bowl 50. The Seahawks are still strong contenders, as are the Patriots.Then there’s the Denver Broncos, who will welcome a new head coach ahead of next season.
Who will raise the Lombardi Trophy at the end of it all? Read on as we take a look at the favorites, high-value picks and long shots to win Super Bowl 50.
While you’re doing your prep for next season, click here for all the important dates you’ll need to know about the NFL’s offseason events and highlights.
[sc:Football ]Picks for Super Bowl 50
Favorites – Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots
The usual suspects are once again leading the race (at least odds-wise) for Super Bowl 50. Down 28-24 with about 20 seconds remaining, the Seattle Seahawks were just a one-yard Beast Mode run away from repeating as champions.We all know what happened from there.
[sc:NFL240banner ]The Seahawks are the odds-on favorite (+550) to win their second championship in three years, especially with their core mostly intact. Marshawn Lynch, who led the league with 13 touchdowns this season, was offered a monster contract extension to stay in Seattle. One of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the league, Russell Wilson, also returns to direct the Seahawks offense.
Then you have the Patriots (+700). Tom Brady returns as New England’s signal caller for a potential fifth championship in his storied career. He’s been at the top of his abilities when it matters the most, owning the record for the most passing touchdowns in Super Bowl history (13).
Brady should be set for another productive season with three of his best weapons in Danny Amendola, Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman all returning. On the other side of the ball, the Patriots also have a good chance of re-signing one of the best shutdown corners in the league, Darrelle Revis, especially with a Lombardi Trophy under their belts.
High-Value Picks – Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens
Peyton Manning’s late season struggles and the Denver Broncos’ AFC Divisional Round loss to Indianapolis may not inspire much confidence for the upcoming season. New head coach Gary Kubiak will take over the reins with the hopes that they will return to the Super Bowl, but the changing of the head coaching guard may be enough to encourage Peyton to hang up the cleats rather than learn a new playbook. Denver is +1,400 to win Super Bowl 50.
Kubiak helped Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco set career-highs and made journeyman running back Justin Forsett look like a star in the 2014-2015 season. Expect Kubiak to formulate a similar setup with a formidable running back in C.J. Anderson luring pressure away from Peyton Manning or whoever their quarterback might be next season. Anderson was a revelation for Denver, rushing for 108 yards per game with a total of eight touchdowns starting in the last six games of the regular season.
Gubiak’s former team, the Baltimore Ravens, also offer a juicy line (+2,800) to win Super Bowl 50. Led by quarterback Flacco and running back Forsett, the Ravens led by as much as 14 points in two instances in their divisional round playoff game against the Super Bowl champions.
With their two offensive stars returning, Baltimore may once again be in contention for the Super Bowl. The Ravens can also take care of themselves on the other side of the ball. They have one of the best pass rush units in the NFL responsible for 49 sacks in the regular season. This type of disruptive efficiency on defense should carry the Ravens to another playoff appearance.
It’s never too early to make your picks for Super Bowl 50. Create a betting account now and grab these juicy, early lines for sweet returns.
Long Shots – Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers
At one point in the regular season, the Atlanta Falcons (+5,000) looked to be on their way to clinching the NFC South. A loss to Carolina in the final week of the regular season derailed their plans for a playoff appearance. Atlanta has a strong chance of once again contending for the division title, and a playoff spot, with Dan Quinn taking over head coaching duties.
Quinn was the defensive coordinator for the 2013-2014 league-leading Seattle defense. That version of the Seahawks dominated opponents to just 273.6 yards and 14.4 points per game. If Atlanta develops excellent defense through Quinn’s leadership, then they’ll have all the pieces to be one of the surprise teams in the 2015 season.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+15,000) may have finished dead last in 2014. But they have quite a consolation prize waiting for them: the first pick in the draft. This year’s NFL draft features the last two Heisman winners in quarterbacks Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota among other freakish athletes like wide receiver Amari Cooper and running back Melvin Gordon.
The Bucs may opt to pick a potential franchise quarterback in Mariota. The Oregon star had quite a season finishing with 4,454 yards with 42 touchdowns and just four interceptions in his junior year. Tampa Bay may even be lucky enough that Mariota brings the team to the playoffs in his rookie season just as Andrew Luck did in Indianapolis in 2012. Don’t sleep on the Bucs.
Writer’s Prediction
Gary Kubiak turns Denver (+1,400) into a balanced offensive machine en route to winning Super Bowl 50.
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