The regular season is now over, with results in the book and the major places decided. What comes now is the unpredictability, chaos, and drama of the playoffs. The best-performing teams from the NFL regular season progress to play football in January, where they will face off in knockout football. Anything can and often does at this time of year. But are you ready?
The leading online sportsbooks certainly are prepared, with the best NFL betting sites offering odds on the winner of each match and which side will become Super Bowl champion. We are fast approaching the decisive game of the season played at Glendale, Arizona, but which side will finish with the glory? We investigate the betting, comparing the pick of bookmakers with the form of the teams still in the running.
The traders don’t always get it right and have backed the wrong team on more than one occasion. Are they about to miss the target again? If they do, there could be room for football bettors to land a winner at generous odds.Â
Read on as we investigate the betting and bring readers up to speed with the form of the teams that matter this season.
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Kansas City is the new favorite
Since the start of the NFL season, we have seen major sportsbooks falling over themselves to support the Buffalo Bills. The market leaders haven’t been completely convincing during the regular season, but they have the players to get back on track.
That forced a slight mood change from the traders who swapped Bills for the Kansas City Chiefs, who now sit at the head of the pack. The Chiefs are the new betting favorite heading into the playoffs, and their recent form makes that stance difficult to argue against using stats. Kansas topped the AFC West with fourteen wins to three defeats.
We last saw Kansas in action on week 18 when hammering the Las Vegas Raiders 31-13. A dominant second quarter moved the Chiefs into a strong lead, and they were good enough to protect that advantage.
Bills aren’t panicked
Buffalo is now second in the pecking order, but there will be no one connected to the team reaching for the panic button. Not yet, anyway. The Bills flattened the competition in the AFC East, securing their passage with room to spare.Â
They battered the New England Patriots 35-23 at Highmark Stadium on week 18 to ensure they crossed the line in style. That was the perfect preparation for their playoff match against the Miami Dolphins, who they will be the favorite to sweep past.Â
We’re confident there’s more to come from this team, and they won’t simply roll over for Kansas. Expect that battle to go to the wire, with the Bills showing their muscle against Miami on Sunday, 15th January, at Highmark Stadium.
San Fran deserves respect
Will we see a dark horse this season? The 2023 Super Bowl played in Glendale, Arizona, wouldn’t be the first to give us a shock result. What if the bookies have it wrong, and neither Kansas nor Buffalo live up to expectations? Which side is worth backing as a dark horse with a chance of winning?
The San Francisco 49ers are a lively outsider with attractive betting odds. They finished in pole position of the NFC West on merit, showing division rivals Seahawks, Rams, and Cardinals the way home. The 49ers put on a show recently when beating the Arizona Cardinals 38-13 at Levi’s Stadium.
San Francisco plays the Seattle Seahawks later this month in the playoffs, and the betting believes their winning streak will continue in Santa Clara. Seattle finished as runners-up in the AFC West, winning nine and losing eight from their first 17 games.
Score a free bet
Do you have an opinion on which teams are worth supporting in the playoffs? You may have seen enough during the regular season to pick your Super Bowl winner. You can make your predictions at the leading sportsbooks and land a free bet.
The top NFL betting apps offer all new customers a free bet when they create an account, make their first deposit, and place a bet on a qualifying sportsbook market.