With only a few days left in the calendar year, only two weeks remain on the 2021 NFL season schedule. Some teams have already punched their postseason tickets while others are still battling for a playoff spot in hopes of eventually reaching Super Bowl 56.
While it’s still too early to guarantee this year’s champions, oddsmakers are still updating their Super Bowl odds as often as possible. According to BetOnline’s odds, two teams stand above the rest of the league: the Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs. As of Dec. 28, both teams are favored at +400 odds to win Super Bowl 56.
Continue reading to see just exactly what the Packers and Chiefs have done to become the late-season Super Bowl favorites.
Packers Super Bowl 56 Odds
After playing in last season’s NFC Championship game, it’s safe to say that expectations were high for Green Bay ahead of the 2021 campaign. Fortunately, the team has met and exceeded all expectations with flying colors.
For starters, the Packers have the best record in the NFL and currently sit at 12-3 ahead of Week 17. They’ve also been getting it done on both sides of the ball. Offensively, Green Bay is averaging 25.5 points per game, which is good for 13th-best in the league. It certainly helps that QB Aaron Rodgers has been playing like an MVP candidate, recording nearly 3,700 passing yards and 33 touchdowns through 14 games. Meanwhile, Davante Adams continues being his favorite wideout, proven by his 106 receptions for 1,362 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Green Bay’s defense has also helped the team become a Super Bowl 56 favorite. The Packers are also surrendering the 13th-fewest PPG (21.6) and have averaged 1.7 takeaways per game (T-6th). As long as the Packers keep playing as they are and don’t change anything about their game, there’s a very good chance that they’ll continue being Super Bowl LVI favorites into the playoffs.
Chiefs Championship Odds
The Chiefs have been one of the best teams in the NFL ever since Patrick Mahomes became their starting quarterback. However, things looked grim this year when the organization started the 2021 season with a 2-3 record.
Fast forward to Week 17 and Kansas is surging, winning its last eight games in a row and nine of its last 10 overall. While any team with offensive talents like Mahomes, Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce is sure to do some damage, it’s actually been the Chiefs defense that’s bounced them back into the Super Bowl 56 conversation.
After beginning the season with one of the NFL’s worst defenses, the Chiefs are allowing just 20.4 PPG this year — tied for fifth-best in the league. That becomes even more impressive when you realize that Kansas City is averaging 12.9 points against over their eight-game winning streak, which is the best out of all 32 teams over that stretch. If they can continue that momentum into the playoffs, the Chiefs will continue being one of Bovada’s top Super Bowl 56 picks.
Buccaneers Super Bowl 56 Odds
For most of the 2021 NFL season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were most sportsbooks’ favorite to win back-to-back Super Bowl titles. Unfortunately, a 9-0 shutout loss to the New Orleans Saints back in Week 15 seems to have people doubting Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl odds. Even though they bounced back with a win on Sunday, the team’s odds have shifted to +650.
It certainly doesn’t help that the Buccaneers are dealing with quite a bit of key injuries at the moment. Starting RB Leonard Fournette was placed on the injured reserve a few days ago and is expected to be week-to-week. Start wideout Chris Godwin had his season come to an end due to an ACL tear and even Mike Evans has been placed in COVID-19 protocol. LB Shaq Barrett is also out for the next two games with a sprained MCL and ACL, so only time will tell how fast he can bounce back.
Nevertheless, while Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl 56 odds are still favorable, they can plummet if the Buccaneers can’t find a way to overcome their injuries.
Super Bowl 56 Odds Tracker
Odds via BetOnline as of Tuesday, December 28
- Green Bay Packers (+400)
- Kansas City Chiefs (+400)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+650)
- Buffalo Bills (+900)
- Dallas Cowboys (+950)
- Los Angeles Rams (+950)
- New England Patriots (+1400)
- Indianapolis Colts (+1600)
- Tennessee Titans (+2000)
- Arizona Cardinals (+2200)
- Cincinnati Bengals (+2800)
- San Francisco 49ers (+3300)
- Los Angeles Chargers (+4000)
The complete odds list is available at BetOnline.ag.
