Oakland Raiders, Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers Are The Top Picks To Win Super Bowl 2018

Following promising years that came to an end with embarrassing losses in the 2017 NFL playoffs, the Oakland Raiders and Green Bay Packers are expected to do big things in the upcoming season. They are the top two picks among gamblers to win the 2018 Super Bowl.

According to ESPN’s David Payne Purdum, more wagers have been placed on the Raiders and Packers than any other team at the Westgate Las Vegas Super Book. The Dallas Cowboys are third on the list, followed by the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots and the New York Giants.

The Raiders began the 2017 offseason with 20/1 odds to win next year’s Super Bowl, tying them for the seventh-best odds. As of April 20, Oakland had odds moved to 12/1, putting them behind only the Patriots (3/1), Cowboys (8/1) and Packers (10/1).

It looked like Oakland was going to make some noise in January’s postseason when they won 12 of their first 15 regular-season games. That changed when quarterback Derek Carr suffered a season-ending injury in Week 16, and the team went on to relinquish first place in the AFC West. Having once appeared to be the biggest threat to the Patriots in the AFC, the Raiders were bounced on Wild-Card Weekend by Brock Osweiler and the Houston Texans.

Green Bay had a much more successful postseason campaign, trouncing the Giants in the first round and beating the Cowboys in the divisional playoffs. The Packers were blown out by the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship Game, losing by 23 points.

With Aaron Rodgers under center, Green Bay is almost certain to be in the mix in 2017. They’ve reached the playoffs in every season since 2009, though they haven’t been back to the Super Bowl since they won the Vince Lombardi Trophy in 2011.

It’s no surprise that the Cowboys and Patriots are receiving their share of Super Bowl bets since they are the favorites in their respective conferences. Dallas led the NFC with 13 wins last season, and Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott are both entering their second NFL seasons. Tom Brady remains the best quarterback in football, and he’s led the Patriots to at least the AFC Championship Game in each of the last six years.

New England arguably got even better this offseason after winning their second title in three years. They traded for wide receiver Brandin Cooks and signed cornerback Stephon Gilmore in free agency. New England did lose tight end Martellus Bennett, who signed with Green Bay.

The Raiders have received the most individual bets, but they are second when it comes to total money wagered. More money has been placed on New England to win the 2018 Super Bowl than any other team.

After blowing the biggest lead in Super Bowl history, the Falcons are fifth when it comes to money wagered for Super Bowl LII futures. The Falcons’ odds have gone from 16/1 to 14/1 this offseason.

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks have the best Super Bowl odds (12/1) of the teams that are outside of the top five when it comes to total wagers.