In the world of sports betting the next game is always more important than the last game. As the confetti was still falling on the Kansas City Chiefs in Allegiant Stadium this past Sunday, sports books just minutes from the game were posting 2025 Super Bowl odds. They wanted to make sure as people walked up to the counters in Las Vegas to cash their Super Bowl 58 tickets, they could turn that money over into the hope of a big future play for the big game 59.
There are few shocks at the top of the list where the Niners and Chiefs both are sitting at 1-2 on the odds board. But, the San Francisco 49ers, who just lost the Super Bowl actually have the best odds to get back and win this game with 6 to 1 odds. That is in part a testament to the loaded roster, but also lends to the idea that the NFC has a much easier road to get back to the show than the stacked AFC.
Despite some retirement talk it looks like the Chiefs are getting the band back together as Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Andy Reid will all be back looking at a 3 peat to extend their dynasty. They have the best odds in the AFC and come in just under the Niners at 8 to 1. The NFL's best regular season team, who are led by the league's reigning MVP in Lamar Jackson, come in next at 10 to 1 odds, while another AFC quarterback who received the only other first place MVP vote leads his Buffalo team to 12 to 1 odds.
The NFC then gets clumped together with the Cowboys, Lions and Packers all getting into the playoffs and the public expecting more from their high powered offenses next season as they all can be had at 14 to 1 odds, with Philadelphia just one year removed from the Super Bowl coming in at 15 to 1. The Bengals are expected to have Joe Burrow back and healthy and his odds are tempting sitting at 16 to 1, while Miami and their high octane offense are placed at 20 to 1.
Both Los Angeles teams land at 25 to 1 and with the way the Rams played late in the year and with Harbaugh now coaching Herbert they will both get plenty of future tickets from bettors. All eyes, and a lot of tickets were on the Jets winning it all before this season, and if you believe Aaron Rodgers is back and healthy their 25 to 1 odds are intriguing as well.
The Jaguars disappointed many fans late in the season but they are clumped together with some other 30 to 1 odds teams. The Bears are expected to get a new QB, while the Browns will go back to their high priced veteran quarterback and the Texans will lean on their impressive rookie in CJ Stroud, who all join the Jags with 30 to 1 odds. Both Atlanta and Seattle have new coaches and a new preseason price tag that sits at 40 to 1, while the Vikings and Saints are 50 to 1 to win it all amid their roster shakeups.
After that group now we are getting into the real longshots. There is a ton that can be done in free agency and through the draft though few believe that the Bucs, Cards, or Colts can make big time strides and that is why they sit at 60 to 1. The same can be said for the Steelers and Raiders, who are looking for new signal callers, and the Giants who might be losing their best player. 80 to 1 might tempt some people because of the big payoff, but that uncertainty is a real concern. The Broncos, Titans, Commanders, and Patriots are also dealing with some major shakeup at QB and head coach, and their 100 to 1 tag just isn't enough to get over those issues.
Which brings us to the Panthers. Carolina sits at 300 to 1 odds to win the next Super Bowl and they will get more tickets than many of the teams above. Why? Because bettors see long odds and utter phrases like "why not" or "it's worth the $20". This is why one of the nation's biggest cities stands in the middle of the desert. The 'why not' crowd are a sports book's best friend and they count on that throw away money. When betting futures you shouldn't be thinking why not, but instead think to yourself... what gives me the best advantage. What team can make a deep playoff run with the least resistance, who I then can hedge against late in the year. So, when looking at next year's Super Bowl odds try not to be tempted by the large payouts and be strategic in your approach, After all we might just be talking about Mahomes and the Chiefs against Purdy and the Niners yet again anyway.