Super Bowl Odds Update: Lions Continue to Roar on the Road
We are officially a third of the way through the 2023-24 NFL regular season.
Of course, an 18-week schedule does not divide evenly into quarters, so the 1/3 tentpole serves as a fantastic spot to reflect on the action. With six weeks in the books, how are the Super Bowl odds at FanDuel Sportsbook looking?
Last Tuesday, we called attention to the fact that teams like the San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills remain as frontrunners to win this season's big game, and there has not been much odds movement among the top four.
Of that bunch, the two NFC sides (S.F. and Philly) just suffered their first losses of the year despite each being favored by upwards of touchdown. That means surviving members of the 1972 Miami Dolphins popped their champagne last Sunday evening in celebration.
Naturally, the middle of the pack is perpetually shuffling in this market. Something we are not used to seeing around the NFL community -- the Detroit Lions are authentically contending, moving to 5-1 after a road win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
In the AFC, the Cincinnati Bengals are attempting to claw back into championship consideration. In Week 6, Cincy did well to protect home turf by edging out the Seattle Seahawks. At 3-3 overall, Cincy is certainly still in the running to make their second Super Bowl in three years.
Before Week 7 gets underway with Jacksonville Jaguars at New Orleans Saints on Thursday Night Football, let's dive into the current Super Bowl market at FanDuel Sportsbook, keeping eye out for key movement.
All NFL odds via FanDuel Sportsbook.
Odds Rank | Team | Odds Rank Trend (+/-) |
---|---|---|
1 | San Francisco 49ers | X |
2 | Kansas City Chiefs* | X |
3 | Philadelphia Eagles* | X |
4 | Buffalo Bills | X |
5 | Miami Dolphins | X |
6 | Dallas Cowboys | X |
7 | Detroit Lions | +1 |
*Denotes Super Bowl LVII participant
Notable Jumps
Detroit Lions
FanDuel Sportsbook Odds: +1400
Last Week: +1800
It feels like many are waiting for the 313 to fall off, but this current version of the Lions is showing no signs of slowing down. Led by Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit has experience, athleticism and a ton of tenacity -- head coach "Motor City" Dan Campbell is absolutely responsible for the latter.
As noted above, the Lions are 5-1 at the moment (and 3-0 on the road), pacing the NFC North in the process. Not only has Detroit not made the postsesaon since 2016, but they have not won their respective division dating back to 1993 (when it was still labeled as the NFC Central). Yes, the legendary Barry Sanders was on that team.
Currently, the Lions' offense is in the top five in scoring (fourth) and yardage (third). Led by right-tackle Penei Sewell, Detroit's offensive line is big and nasty. According to Pro Football Focus, the unit entered 2023 ranked fifth-best front five in the league; strength like that will definitely help Motor City weather any type of playoff atmosphere.
However, the Lions have a big Week 7 test at the Baltimore Ravens. Depending how you feel about that matchup, right now might be the time to buy-in on Detroit.
Cincinnati Bengals
FanDuel Sportsbook Odds: +3000
Last Week: +3200
The Bengals have been a hot topic in the current campaign. Notably, fourth-year quarterback Joe Burrow has been playing through a calf ailment, but it seems the superstar signal-caller is now closer to full strength.
Last Sunday, Cincinnati narrowly defeated the Seahawks, which afforded Who Dey their first string of consecutive wins this season. They will take their two-game winning streak into the bye this week before facing the 49ers in Santa Clara -- which is obviously no small task.
Cincinnati is only a game out of the lead in a crowded AFC North. Approaching Week 7, the Bengals still have ample time to secure a Wild Card spot or win the division. Still, Cincy's offense must improve; they have produced less total yardage than any other team this season.
With receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins ramping up their play over the past two weeks, the Bengals could get hot out of the break. Right now, numberFire gives Cincinnati just a 25.6% chance to qualify for the 2023-24 postseason, but that figure has jumped up considerably since Week 3. Worth mentioning: at FanDuel Sportsbook, the Bengals have received the second-most bets in the Super Bowl market.
Houston Texans
FanDuel Sportsbook Odds: +10000
Last Week: +18000
Most were expecting another rebuilding year in 2023 from the Houston Texans. However, with a first-year head coach in DeMeco Ryans and a rookie quarterback in C.J. Stroud, Houston has managed a 3-3 record thus far -- the exact same clip as the aforementioned Bengals.
Stroud has been amazing as a rook. His 1,660 passing yards through six weeks is currently fourth-best in the NFL. Sure, Stroud's completion clip of 59.6% leaves some to be desired, but his 9-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio has been masterfully efficient. Additionally, the latter figure is tops among starting signal-callers this year.
Will the Texans thrive enough to qualify for a playoff spot in 2023? I don't see that as a likely scenario, but the oddsmakers have certainly begun to notice Houston's ascension. The Texans started the current campaign tied (with the Arizona Cardinals) for the longest odds in the Super Bowl odds market at FanDuel Sportsbook. As it is now, Houston has moved up to yield the 19th-shortest number.
Steep Drops
Tennessee Titans
FanDuel Sportsbook Odds: +12000
Last Week: +8000
A side that has been up and down several times through six weeks of action, the Tennessee Titans are now 2-4 overall and back in the AFC South cellar.
Tennessee's defense has actually been solid, showing as the 11th-best unit in terms of points allowed. However, the offense has looked dreadful in quarterback Ryan Tannehill's fifth year with the franchise, producing just 17.3 points per game, and Tannehill (high ankle sprain) left last Sunday's game in London on crutches.
In Nashville, is it now time for Malik Willis or Will Levis? These two could push each other, and one could emerge as the future of the franchise.
Like Cincy, Tennessee will receive the benefit of having no game this weekend. Perhaps Tannehill's ankle will be in formidable shape for the Titans' Week 8 matchup versus the Atlanta Falcons.
New Orleans Saints
FanDuel Sportsbook Odds: +4700
Last Week: +3800
Similar to Tennessee, New Orleans has been all over the place on the Super Bowl odds board throughout the first-third of the year. After the recent loss in Houston, Who Dat's championship odds are +4700 -- longer than where they were to start the season (40-to-1).
The Saints are 3-3, and considering they play in the pedestrian NFC South, their playoff hopes are still in a favorable spot. According to numberFire's NFL power rankings, New Orleans (-0.24 nERD) is yielding a 40.1% chance to win the division. Tampa Bay (3-2) is the next closest in the division with an estimated 26.2% shot.
Quarterback Derek Carr has been slightly underwhelming thus far, showing just 6.5 yards per pass attempt this year. His completion clip of 65% is solid, but the Saints' offense is just 24th in overall scoring. On the other side, the defense for NOLA has been stout. Through six games, the Saints have surrendered the fifth-fewest yards in the league.
Philadelphia Eagles
FanDuel Sportsbook Odds: +750
Last Week: +650
As the reigning NFC champs, Philadelphia had been making a habit of winning ugly in 2023. Unfortunately for the Birds, that came to a halt last Sunday when they lost in Gotham to the Aaron Rodgers-less New York Jets.
At 5-1, the Eagles are still sitting pretty atop the NFC East. However, perhaps of most cause for concern has been quaterback Jalen Hurts' play through six contests in 2023. Hurts has already scored five rushing touchdowns this year, which is obviously a vital part of Philly's offense -- the "Brotherly Shove" is currently the most un-guardable play in football. Still, when it comes to passing the ball, Hurts has seven picks and seven touchdowns. He has already tossed more interceptions this season than he did in all of 2022.
Head coach Nick Sirianni and Hurts just recently received a boost, however. On Tuesday, it was announced that the Eagles acquired seven-time pro bowl wideout Julio Jones; what will the future Hall-of-Famer look like alongside dynamic players like A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and D'Andre Swift?
Despite Philly's recent grueling efforts, I do not expect the Birds to struggle for the year's entirety. And that's why it would be wise to keep an eye on their Super Bowl odds, which just elongated for the first time this season. The Eagles are back at +750 (same odds as in Week 3) to go all the way. Keep in mind: After six weeks, Philadelphia is attracting the largest handle share in this market at FanDuel Sportsbook.
Honorable Mentions
Trending Up
- Pittsburgh Steelers +7500
- New York Jets +11000
Falling Down
- Los Angeles Chargers +3200
- Los Angeles Rams +10000
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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.