The dust has barely settled on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ second Super Bowl triumph, where they beat the Kansas City Chiefs to be crowned 2021 champions thanks to Tom Brady’s heroics. Nevertheless, attention is already turning to who will compete for and win next year’s title, and there are no prizes for guessing which team is back in the favorites’ seat for Super Bowl LVI.
Outrageously Early Super Bowl LVI Prediction: Kansas City Chiefs beat LA Rams
Key injuries to the offensive line and some injury concerns in the buildup to Super Bowl LV rocked the Chiefs’ chances of a successful title defense, but it would be unwise to think they’re not capable of an instant return.
Andy Reid’s side has enough youth on its side and star players with plenty of contract space to run down in order to back up their +550 frontrunner price to win in 2022, per Borgata New Jersey. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes remains one of the greatest talents produced in his position, while the passing combination of wide receiver Tyreek Hill and tight-end Travis Kelce is still as potent as ever.
Moreover, the off-season trade rumors suggest JJ Watt could move to Arrowhead Stadium after confirming he’ll leave the Houston Texans, a deal that would feel almost unfair to the competition:
https://twitter.com/ESPNNFL/status/1360344982146715654
The Chiefs are worth half that price (+225) to win the AFC Championship for the third year running, while last season’s runners-up, the Buffalo Bills, are more than double those odds at +500. There’s little to no question that the Chiefs—who ended the 2021 regular season 14-2—will again take top spot in the AFC West, but there’s enough legs on their roster to sustain success for some years to come.
Having won their second Super Bowl some 18 years after the first, Tampa Bay are less fancied to make it back-to-back years, even with Brady leading their cause. Bruce Arians’ side still offer some value at +1000 to win again in 2022, but there’s some feeling about their squad that the season just gone might have been ‘their year’.
NFC rivals the Green Bay Packers are just ahead at +900 to win their first Super Bowl in more than a decade, but it’s a slight underdog of the conference who could be on course for an appearance in the decider.
That’s because the Los Angeles Rams are set for a season of change with Matthew Stafford at quarterback. In one of the biggest trades of the year, the Rams acquired Stafford and sent Jared Goff to the Detroit Lions in his place, substantially boosting their Super Bowl odds.
Coach Sean McVay’s men are now a +1200 shot to win Super Bowl LVI, and although their trademark defense is sure to be affected after coordinator Brandon Staley left to take over the Los Angeles Chargers, there’s just no calculating the potential upshot of Stafford’ signing just yet:
If the Rams defense can maintain even half of its tenacious tendencies while sprucing up the offense with Stafford calling plays, they’re a potential shoo-in for the NFC West. This is a team who won 10 games last year with Goff, despite the fact his tally of interceptions (12) wasn’t that far off touchdowns thrown (20). Stafford will have some top-class targets in Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods, the 33-year-old ready to unleash his full potential after 12 seasons in Detroit.
Super Bowl 2022 Odds Favorites
Team |
Odds |
Kansas City Chiefs |
+550 |
Green Bay Packers |
+900 |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
+1000 |
Baltimore Ravens |
+1200 |
Buffalo Bills |
+1200 |
Los Angeles Rams |
+1200 |
San Fransisco 49ers |
+1400 |
New Orleans Saints |
+1800 |
Seattle Seahawks |
+2200 |
Cleveland Browns |
+2500 |
Dallas Cowboys |
+2500 |
Indianapolis Colts |
+2500 |
Miami Dolphins |
+2500 |
Tennessee Titans |
+2500 |
Los Angeles Chargers |
+3000 |
New England Patriots |
+3000 |