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The start of the new NFL season is not too far off, so we see a flurry of activity as sports broadcasters and reporters set out their predictions. Fantasy football players, too, will be scanning the preseason games to come up with some value insights for the season ahead. Bettors will be looking at NFL futures markets to see if they can capitalize on the action over the next 5-6 months.
From a betting perspective, it has been an interesting offseason, mainly because the NFL odds for the season ahead have remained relatively static since February. There have been slight moves, as you would expect, and NFL Week 1 betting lines have been adjusted to accommodate trades, preseason performance, and injuries, yet, by and large, we haven’t seen the kind of blockbuster trades that move the dial like it has in previous seasons.
The top teams in the betting markets
Essentially, the five teams that were favorites for Super Bowl LIX going into the Playoffs last January are tagged as favorites again going into this season. That means the Eagles, Bills, Ravens, Chiefs, and Lions are the top five in the betting markets with all major sportsbooks.
There are perhaps a couple of caveats we should discuss, though: the first is that the Ravens and Bills are almost neck and neck as the market leaders, despite neither making the Super Bowl in February. That is a rarity, but there is a sense that the Bills and Ravens had more cohesive offseasons than the others.
The second is that betting markets are cooling on the Chiefs, a team that has been used to being the perennial favorite for the entirety of the 2020s. The Chiefs are still lumped at the top of the betting markets, but they usually lag the Ravens, Bills, and Eagles by a point or two (depending on the sportsbook).
Finally, it seems that bettors don’t love the Lions' lack of continuity. They lost both their offensive and defensive coordinators in the offseason. The Lions are the outsiders of the “Big 5,” available at odds of +1000, whereas the other quartet trends between +600 and +800.
The teams are pushing for recognition.
While it seems most likely that the next Super Bowl winner will come from the above quintet, it’s certainly not guaranteed. Teams in the next tier include the Commanders, 49ers, Packers, Bengals, Vikings, and Buccaneers. All of the odds of that range from about +1500 to +3000: it’s not entirely uncommon for Super Bowl winners to come out of that odds bracket, but you can appreciate that sentiment lies with others.
The teams are moving into the markets.
As mentioned, things have been relatively static across 2025, with most teams having similar odds today to what they had in February. However, there have been some teams taking on money. Top of that list is the New England Patriots, who have gone from +12500 to as low as +6000 with some sportsbooks. They remain longshots, but there is growing confidence that Mike Vrabel – and some astute acquisitions in the offseason – can turn the momentum around in Foxborough.
The Pats likely won’t win a Super Bowl, but a return to the Playoffs is a betting market well worth looking at. While not as stark as that of the Patriots, the Buccaneers’ odds have also shortened, with some predictions experts liking what they have seen so far from a team that will have the luxury of playing in a very weak NFC South, almost guaranteeing postseason action. Teams moving in the “wrong’ direction include the Falcons, Dolphins, Saints, and Jets. All are predicted to have struggles this season.
