Super Bowl XLV:Futures Odds to Win as of March 1st

This years runner-up in NFL Super Bowl XLIV is now the favorite to win the 2011 Super Bowl in Dallas February 6th, 2011. The Indianapolis Colts will now have Anthony Gonzalez returning and few free agents leaving. Meanwhile the team hosting Super Bowl XLV, the Dallas Cowboys are currently a 12-1 pick to win the Super Bowl.

A key to the odds once again moving, will be if the free agent signing period, which begins on March 5th. Free agency this year could be interesting with the NFL experiencing an uncapped year. The question of how much the owners will be willing to spend will be clear in a few short days.

The long shots that just don't have a chance.

St. Louis Rams 200-1.
St Louis was 300-1 when the initial odds were posted in December. The Las Vegas Hilton Superbook has already adjusted them down to 200-1. Still not a possibility this year and if they pick Sam Bradford first, it will solidify them as a typical NFL rebuild project. Don't believe the Donovan McNabb trade rumors, it won't happen.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 300-1.
Tampa Bay will take Eric Berry in the NFL draft but he can't help them yet. They did look good at the end of the year though.

Detroit Lions 200-1.
Detroit is looking good. Okay not good enough to bet them at 200-1 to win the Super Bowl but they will be tough in 2011. Ndamukong Suh is a possible NFL stud and is expected to be wearing a Lions uniform on NFL Draft Day April 22nd. Matt Stafford did show some guts and promise this year. Maybe they are one year away from going 8-8.

Oakland Raiders 150-1.
Oakland was 100-1 to open and have now gone to 150-1. Obviously no one is betting them and why should they?

Kansas City Chiefs 100-1.
Jamaal Charles will be a stud next year. He may only last a few seasons but he is a strong back for now. Matt Cassell should have a better NFL showing also in 2010 and have a few more receivers. This team is going places, just not to the Super Bowl.

Cleveland Browns 100-1.
This team, believe it or not, isn't far away from being good. Mike Holmgren took the Cleveland GM job because he knows he can make an immediate impact.

Buffalo Bills 100-1.
Sorry but 100-1 is extremely generous for a team that won't win two games in their own division. The NFL isn't sure if they will even be in Buffalo or Toronto in two years.

Some long shots that might be worth a few dollars investment.

Denver Broncos 50-1.
Denver is experiencing some internal problems with Brandon Marshall and once the situation is resolved look for Head Coach Josh McDaniels to possibly simplify the offense and make it his goal to make the NFL Playoffs this year. Once in the NFL Playoffs Denver can do some damage. Denver is the best long shot to bet at 50-1 to win the NFL Super Bowl.

Washington Redskins 50-1.
Odds are unchanged since first posting. Mike Shanahan is a smart coach and has two NFL Super Bowl rings but this is the Washington Redskins. Washington does have a strong defense but the offense is a problem. Shanahan needs a quarterback and a young running back. Clinton Portis is on his last legs and Jason Campbell just hasn't developed. Don't forget wide receivers, they need three wide receivers. Washington is one to two years away.

Jacksonville Jaguars 60-1.
Jacksonville has gone from 50-1 to 60-1 since the Las Vegas Hilton first posted the Super Bowl odds. Jack Del Rio is now sticking around after he nearly left to coach USC. There may be some possible internal locker room issues that need to be resolved.

Chicago Bears 40-1.
Chicago suffered through a down year in 2009 but the pieces to the puzzle may not change much.Jay Cutler needs to grow up and Matt Forte needs to heal up. Maybe two years away from a strong run in the playoffs.

San Francisco 49ers 40-1.
San Francisco does have the US Olympic Curling Team Honorary Captain returning this year, that would be Vernon Davis. For San Francisco's sake, they better hope they perform better than the US Curling Men's team (they finished dead last). No Super Bowl but San Francisco won't be an NFL doormat this year.

Seattle Seahawks 50-1.
Pete Carroll came to the NFL for one reason, he was in trouble with the NCAA. When all that blows over in a few years, he will be back on an NCAA college football sideline. Right about the time they run Lane Kiffin out of LA.

Miami Dolphins 40-1.
Miami will need Chad Pennington to win his third NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2010. If that doesn't happen Miami will finish third in their division.

Carolina Panthers 40-1
Michael Vick said he wants to play in Carolina so he can beat his old team twice a year. Forever the optimist, Michael is.

Houston Texans 30-1.
Houston opened at 40-1 and has been bet down early by the public to 30-1. A strong quarterback in Matt Schaub and the best wide receiver in the NFL Andre Johnson makes for a powerful offense. On the other side of the ball Mario Williams is a force on defense along with best defensive rookie in the NFL Brian Cushing. Houston could be worth a small bet and could be good bet to hedge later. Take Houston 30-1 maybe 10 or 20 bucks.

Tennessee Titans 30-1.
Tennessee had a great year last year but they won't repeat it. look for Vince young to have a melt down soon after the season begins, if not sooner.

Cincinnati Bengals 30-1.
Cincinnati is talking about getting Terrelle Owens and Donte Stallworth. Ever wonder why Cincinnati can never get ahead? They did break the Hard Knocks jinx, they made the NFL Playoffs only to get beat at home by the Jets.

These teams have a small chance to make an NFL Conference title game.

New York Giants 20-1.
New York's odds went from opening of 30-1 to 20-1. Remember when New York was 5-0? What a decline in the matter of 10 weeks. The final humiliation of losing to Minnesota in a blowout as the team flat out quit. Look for a lot of changes to this team in the off season. If they make the playoffs next year don't count them out. Make a small bet on New York, ten bucks to win $200.

Atlanta Falcons 30-1.
Matt Ryan means the world to this team. He is a leader and the spark plug to this team. With a healthy Matt Ryan Atlanta has a shot and they are a live dog at 30-1. Put a small 10-20 dollar bet.

Arizona Cardinals 40-1.
Arizona went from an opening line of 30-1 to 40-1 now. The difference? Kurt Warner. This team now has now shot unless they make a trade for Donovan McNabb.

New York Jets 15-1.
Mark Sanchez will be another year older and Thomas Jones is gone and it will be interesting to see how New York responds to losing a key voice in the locker room. The veterans and young players were not happy. New York won't make the NFL Playoffs and will drop back to mediocrity.

Baltimore Ravens 15-1.
Joe Flacco is still young and the amazing running game is a credit to an awesome offensive line. The defense is aging and 2010 will show the effects. Look for Baltimore to fall off and not make the NFL Playoffs in the 2010-2011 NFL season.

Dallas Cowboys 12-1
Dallas odds remain unchanged so any Dallas fans should already have their money on them. Tony Romo has come of age and the 2011 NFL Super Bowl will be held in Arlington at Cowboy Stadium. Sounds like a fairy tale but Dallas should be the favorite for the 2011 NFL Super Bowl, with their outstanding defense and strong offense. Make the biggest bet on Dallas, never bet more than $100 on a future though.

Green Bay Packers 12-1.
Green Bay was done in by their defense in the NFL Playoffs. They must address the problem through free agency and the NFL Draft. Check back on this one.

Minnesota Vikings 12-1.
Is Brett coming back? Look for Minnesota to draft a quarterback this year and hope Brett comes back. If he does he will hold he NFL and it's fans hostage all off season again. The Minnesota defense has been inconsistent, but when they are on they are stifling. No shot even with Favre next year.

Philadelphia Eagles 12-1.
If Kevin Kolb is the quarterback, Philadelphia should be 8-1. If Donovan McNabb is the quarterback they are an 18-1 shot to win the NFL Super Bowl. No shot unless Kolb is the QB, then try to get them for 15-1.

4 out of 5 favorites to win an NFL title are from the AFC.

Pittsburgh Steelers 10-1.
Pittsburgh's odds remained unchanged since opening. Free agency will be interesting and the NFL Draft will tell more about this team. Worth a $20 bet if a fan of the team.

New England Patriots 10-1.
Tom Brady may not be the NFL MVP anymore but he is still in the top 10. That doesn't mean New England can't win, it just means they won't win an NFL title again with Brady at the helm. The defense needs a ton of work. The NFL draft will answer questions about where this team is headed.

New Orleans Saints 8-1.
Many would call this disrespect regarding the NFL Super Bowl Champions. The number is actually getting bet down as this article is being written. Don't be fooled. It is tough to repeat and New Orleans may make the NFL Playoffs and Drew Brees may win the NFL MVP but that will be it.

San Diego Chargers 8-1.
San Diego opened up as a 7-1 favorite when the odds were posted. Of course that was before that miserable choke in the NFL Playoffs. Sadly a key for this team to succeed was addition by subtraction. The elimination of LaDanian Tomlinson will help this team.

San Diego has an excellent change to win a an NFL Super Bowl in the next few years. Phillip Rivers is the kind of competitor that wins NFL MVP's and NFL titles. The defense has room for improvement but they are solid. From a gambling stand point the numbers aren't great to bet San Diego at 8-1 but that may be the best number.

Indianapolis Colts 6-1.
Peyton Manning will be going for a few more years but what about the defense? The defense is getting older and injuries hampered the older players this year. Look for a youth movement on defense through free agency and the NFL Draft.

source:
Las Vegas Hilton NFL Futures