There are plenty of favorites in the race to win the Super Bowl after the 2021 NFL season, with teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers being in the hunt to appear in the Super Bowl once again. But there are plenty of longshots that could very well win a title this year as well. These underdogs, in particular, are attractive options, as these teams have many of the pieces needed to win a championship.
Why Bet for an Underdog?
The main reason to bet on underdogs in the NFL futures market is that they carry bigger potential payouts than the favorites to win the Super Bowl. And with the NFL being a league with more parity and with injuries that could derail teams at a moment’s notice, there is often some serious value associated with betting on underdogs.
New Orleans Saints +2500
While Drew Brees did retire at the end of last season for the New Orleans Saints, the team might be better off with Jameis Winston at the helm. Brees really struggled to throw the ball downfield last season, and Winston will reinstate the vertical passing threat in New Orleans, even if he is going to commit some turnovers along the way. New Orleans’ defense is also built to do some damage, as the team finished ahead of Tampa Bay in the regular season last year.
Tennessee Titans +2800
The Tennessee Titans got better in the offseason on the offensive side of the ball, bringing Julio Jones into an offense that already featured Derrick Henry and AJ Brown. The offense is what let the Titans down in the playoffs against the Baltimore Ravens, and the addition of Jones should help to remedy that. As long as Ryan Tannehill stays healthy, the Titans should be able to win the AFC South as the rest of the division is rebuilding.
Dallas Cowboys +3000
Dak Prescott is back for the Cowboys after breaking his leg last season, and the Cowboys should improve on a 2020 season where they almost won the division without him. Dallas’ passing attack wasn’t able to remain viable with Andy Dalton as the starter but should get back into gear with Prescott at the helm. Dallas doesn’t have any experience going deep in the playoffs with this roster, but that could change in 2021.
New England Patriots +3500
Last season was a rough one for the New England Patriots, as they failed to make the playoffs with Cam Newton as their starting quarterback. But the Patriots will have a normal training camp for Newton and the rest of the team this summer, something they did not enjoy last year, which could help Newton get on the same page with the rest of his offense. And with Bill Belichick running the show, the Patriots can never be counted out.
Pittsburgh Steelers +4000
Pittsburgh won 12 games last year and won the AFC North, even though they were upset in the first round of the playoffs by the Cleveland Browns. That game featured several first-half turnovers from Pittsburgh, and the Steelers were still competitive late into that matchup. This year, with a healthy Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers should be in the mix to win the division and host at least one playoff game again.