Featured Columnist IVJanuary 16, 2024
Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images
The top seeds in the NFC and AFC remain the betting favorites for Super Bowl LVIII.
Heading into the divisional round of the NFL playoffs, the San Francisco 49ers have the best championship odds (+175) at DraftKings Sportsbook, with the Baltimore Ravens following closely behind at +290.
The Niners are an even bigger favorite to claim the NFC title (-185). The Detroit Lions are +330, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Green Bay Packers both at +950.
The race is a little tighter in the AFC. The Ravens lead the way at +115, while the Buffalo Bills (+235) and Kansas City Chiefs (+320) are firmly in the mix. The Houston Texans (+1100) are the only real long shot.
The postseason has already provided plenty of surprises.
The Houston Texans dropped 45 points on what had been one of the NFL’s best defenses. C.J. Stroud torched the Cleveland Browns to the tune of 274 passing yards and three touchdowns.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love was just as good in a 48-32 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, a game that saw Dallas trail by 27 points in the first quarter.
The Wild Card Round concluded with the reigning NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles laying an egg against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Philly mustered just 276 yards of offense and nine points, a lackluster showing that raised serious doubts about the franchise’s direction.
The Ravens and 49ers both got to sit back and watch the chaos unfold thanks to their No. 1 seeds.
Wild Card Weekend lent credence to the idea there isn’t one clear team ahead of the pack this year. Baltimore and San Francisco will look to put that notion to rest when they host the Texans and Packers, respectively.
