The New England Patriots are arguably the best team in the NFL over the past decade. They are the defending Super Bowl champions and have been slated as the favorites to win Super Bowl LII since the beginning of the season. However, part of the NFL’s intrigue is its inconsistency regarding teams’ performance. With injuries, off field controversies and other extraneous factors in play, teams can see their seasons change courses in a matter of seconds. At 3-2 in the AFC East, the Patriots are currently 3rd in their division. Can they retain their favored Super Bowl betting odds over the duration of the season?
Part of the Patriots’ dominance is through their roster. With some of the best talent in the league, and incredible depth, it is easy to see why they are favored to win year after year. QB Tom Brady proved his Hall of Fame quality years ago and will likely go down in history as one of the best to ever play the game. Their receiving corps is made up of reliable players like WR Julian Edelman, WR Chris Hogan and TE Rob Gronkowski. However, things aren’t quite as perfect as New England fans would like them to be.
The first problem came in preseason, when Julian Edelman went down with a torn ACL. Edelman was clutch throughout the Patriots’ historic comeback win against the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI. His loss is significant in that their offense is missing a key component. Gronkowski was injured most of last year, so his presence is a welcoming sight, but wear and tear has already affected the player as he is nursing a thigh injury. Brady has already been hit 32 times this season, and for a quarterback over 40, this could affect him later. Brady claims that the injuries don’t bother him, but there is a lot of time between now and February.
Fans looking for legal Super Bowl betting will see that there is a team not too far behind the Patriots regarding odds. The Kansas City Chiefs are outperforming every team in the league, sitting at a perfect 5-0 and 1st in the AFC West. The Chiefs narrowly lost in the Playoffs last season and look to be on a redemption mission. They could be a serious threat to the Patriots in the AFC, and as things stand now, the AFC Championship could be between these 2 forces. Super Bowl predictions have the Patriots as the champions, but it is incredibly hard for a team to repeat in this competitive league.
If you look at other odds listings, you will see the usual suspects like the Green Bay Packers, Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks as other teams projected to win. Not to mention the Atlanta Falcons, who blew a halftime lead to the Patriots last year. If the Patriots can finish strong and gain a momentum, they could improve their chances. With arguably only one tough game left in their schedule against the Falcons, this is possible. However, if the Chiefs continue on their war path, the AFC may very well be locked up.
As the season rolls on, all Super Bowl bets will likely shift, including Super Bowl futures, Super Bowl props, etc. Those who have already placed wagers on the Patriots may be second guessing their decision, as the Chiefs are making a case for the team with the best chance. Past seasons have shown us that things can change, but the Chiefs are making waves and that is worth noticing.