NFL Futures Betting: Super Bowl Odds Then & Now

A futures bet on the Colts to win the Super Bowl back in August is looking pretty darn good right now. Same goes for the Chargers...and make that a double for the Saints. Then again, a bet today on the Patriots to win -- could also make things interesting. (AP Images)

Now that the NFL playoff field is set for this postseason, we here at the Beat thought we would compare the Super Bowl XLIV odds to win that were released right after last year’s big game (Feb. 2, 2009) and what they currently are to leave Miami victorious.

New England Patriots (opened at 8/1, now 11/1): Most oddsmakers figured the Patriots would be one of the top two seeds in the AFC before the season began, but now the Pats likely will have to win two road games to get to Miami – and that’s if they can beat Baltimore this weekend. New England’s recent odds also took a small hit with the loss of Wes Welker for the playoffs.

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Dallas Cowboys (opened at 9/1, now 10/1): The Cowboys are always among the favorites to win the Super Bowl when the first futures odds are released: America loves to bet Dallas. Few teams saw their futures odds shift more this season than the inconsistent Cowboys, but now Tony Romo and Co. have found their stride with three wins in a row to close the regular season and the NFC East title. And while the road through the NFC goes through New Orleans, Dallas already has won there.

Indianapolis Colts (opened at 12/1, now 3/1): The Colts will be rested, healthy and have home-field throughout the AFC, but how will they react to shutting it down in Weeks 16 and 17? The past two years Indy did that, 2005 and 2007, the Colts lost their first playoff game.

San Diego Chargers (opened at 12/1, now 7/2): Many experts have pegged the Chargers as the team to beat as they have won 11 in a row. And the warm-weather Bolts won’t have to play a cold-weather game in the playoffs – they either will be at home or at the dome in Indy.

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Baltimore Ravens (opened at 14/1, now 28/1): If defense wins championships, then the Ravens certainly have a shot. And they won’t have to face nemesis Pittsburgh.

Philadelphia Eagles (opened at 18/1, now 16/1): About two weeks ago, the Eagles looked like the NFC favorites. But that loss last week in Dallas cost them a bye and at least one if not two playoff home games. And now they have to beat the Cowboys in Big D after Dallas swept them this regular season.

New Orleans Saints (opened at 20/1, now 4/1): Has a team ever reached the Super Bowl after finishing the regular season on a three-game losing streak? At least it didn’t cost New Orleans home-field advantage.

Green Bay Packers (opened at 25/1, now 22/1): No team is playing better than Green Bay, whose only loss in the past eight was a near-miracle by the Steelers.

Minnesota Vikings (opened at 25/1, now 7/1): The Vikings backed into the NFC’s No. 2 seed despite a late slide. Think Brett Favre has any interest in facing the Packers in the playoffs? That’s probably the last team he wants to see again, but it would be a ratings bonanza.

New York Jets (opened at 25/1, now 45/1): It’s very rare for a team to finish the regular season with the No. 1 rush attack and No. 1 defense. That makes the Jets very dangerous in the playoffs.

Arizona Cardinals (opened at 30/1, now 22/1): Do you realize that Arizona beat only one playoff team all season?? That was Minnesota in Week 13.

Cincinnati Bengals (opened at 60/1, now 35/1): The Bengals were the longest shots on the board in the opening Super Bowl odds that are still playing. But they closed the season losers of three of four games and haven’t beaten a playoff team since Week 9.

You can still make some good money betting on the right team to win the Super Bowl.
It's not too late to get your Super Bowl XLIV odds at Bodog Sportsbook!