3 Best 2023 Dark-Horse Super Bowl Bets on FanDuel Sportsbook

Updated: Sep 10, 5:00pm UTC

Preseason Super Bowl predictions are a time-honored tradition. While the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills are Super Bowl favorites again out of the AFC, there are plenty of other contenders that could surprise some people like the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals did in 2021.

Here are three of the best dark-horse Super Bowl 2023 bets from teams ranked outside the top 10 in FanDuel Sportsbook's NFL futures odds.

Super Bowl Odds 2023

3. Los Angeles Chargers (+2400)

The Chargers started 4-1 last season and were in position to make the playoffs throughout the season. But three losses in their final four games, including the wild final game finish against the Las Vegas Raiders, left them out of the playoffs with a 9-8 record. Los Angeles has a star quarterback in Justin Herbert, and the offense ranked top five in Football Outsiders DVOA ratings. The defense struggled too often, but with stars like EDGE Joey Bosa and safety Derwin James to build around, the Chargers can make the postseason and challenge for the AFC West title in 2022.

2. Cleveland Browns (+2800)

The Cleveland Browns were the media darling heading into the 2022 season. Cleveland failed to meet expectations, QB Baker Mayfield struggled, and the Browns finished 8-9. Questions will surround Mayfield in the offseason, but the Browns have a very talented roster and a defense that showed promise by finishing 11th in DVOA. The Browns had the league's top-rated offensive line heading into the 2021 season, and Cleveland's offense ranked in the top half of DVOA. Better quarterback play and a favorable schedule should have the Browns favored to win the division and back in the playoffs.

1. Minnesota Vikings (+3300)

No team found more ways to lose close games in 2021 than the Minnesota Vikings. An 8-9 finish was clearly disappointing and cost a proven, winning coach his job. The Vikings moved on from Mike Zimmer and hired Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams OC Kevin O'Connell to be the Vikings new head coach. The offense is loaded with skill position talent with Pro Bowlers like Justin Jefferson and Dalvin Cook. Quarterback Kirk Cousins is plenty capable off a very solid season. The Vikings just need to beef up the offensive line and improve a disappointing defense that also has above league-average talent. Both the offense and defense ranked in the top half of DVOA last year, so Minnesota can bounce back and surprise in 2022.