We all know about the Super Bowl favorites like the Eagles, Ravens, Lions, Chiefs, and Bills—along with popular next-tier options like the Packers and Commanders. And you can generally rule out teams toward the bottom from winning it all in today’s NFL. But what about the teams in the middle? These are a handful of squads to watch with a realistic shot of winning a Super Bowl this season.
San Francisco 49ers (+1900)
One issue with San Francisco is the division they play in. It wouldn’t be surprising to see any of the four teams win the NFC West, so there’s cannibalization downside in a crowded NFC. Still, there’s major upside in a roster that gets All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey back and has an exciting mix of veteran and young defenders on the other side of the ball. The 49ers might not be as trendy as other options, but they were just in the Big Game a couple of seasons ago—and they’re in about that borderline second/third tier when it comes to the oddsmakers. Bonus Finder US can help you identify the best odds for the Niners and all these championship-hopeful squads.
Cincinnati Bengals (+2200)
The long-awaited agreement between the Bengals and 2024 sack leader Trey Hendrickson obviously makes everyone feel a lot better about Cincy’s chances of escaping the AFC to get back to a Super Bowl. A ton is riding on new defensive coordinator Al Golden getting the most out of his group, but we know the offense can score with anyone behind Joe Burrow, Chase Brown, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Mike Gesicki, Noah Fant, and company. Cincy profiles as a team that can get hot at the right time if the offense becomes unstoppable and almost impossible to get off the field.
Denver Broncos (+2500)
Now to the trendiest Super Bowl LX pick—the Denver Broncos. Head coach Sean Payton wasn’t afraid to say that he feels his team is capable of winning a championship. It starts with second-year star Bo Nix, as you need a franchise quarterback to reach that goal—and Nix is said to be even more confident and comfortable after the third-most touchdowns for a rookie in NFL history. The Broncos added former 49ers Dre Greenlaw and Talanoa Hufanga as veterans on defense and drafted Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron in Round 1. They join a unit that just led the NFL in sacks in 2024.
Potentially holding Denver back is the ground game, particularly against top opponents and in the postseason. You want to get into more manageable third-down situations to make things easier on Nix and the passing game—and you want to control the clock a little bit to keep guys like Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson off the field.
Los Angeles Chargers (+2500)
Sticking in the AFC West, the Chargers are another popular Super Bowl pick in Year 2 under Jim Harbaugh. No doubt, those title aspirations took a hit when left tackle Rashawn Slater went down with a season-ending knee injury during training camp, though. At quarterback, Justin Herbert (0-2 in the postseason while not playing well individually) is one of those guys that perhaps just needs to figure it out in the playoffs—and he might take off when he does. Also, running the ball is a formula that works in the NFL, and the Chargers are going to do that with Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman.
Many residing in the Kansas City area will say the Broncos and Chargers as Super Bowl hopefuls is wishful thinking, but the quarterback-coach combinations make both squads dangerous.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+2700)
Another trendy Super Bowl LX pick, the Bucs have a roster that some argue is the best in the NFC. So, if quarterback Baker Mayfield gets hot at the right time, Tampa Bay can make some noise in January. We know that, if necessary, Mayfield has plenty of weapons to throw the ball 50 times—but the ground game showed progress last year behind Bucky Irving. And the aggressive nature of Todd Bowles’ defense can lead to game-changing plays every week. With all the hype they’ve gotten, it’s a bit surprising to see the Bucs given just the 15th best odds to win it all while playing in the conference without Allen, Jackson, and Patrick Mahomes.
Pittsburgh Steelers (+5000)
This is getting toward the bottom of the pack now, and it would be quite the story if the Steelers made it to and won Super Bowl LX (as the odds indicate). But it’s not that crazy. Yes, Aaron Rodgers will be 42 years old this December, but he was playing well down the stretch for the Jets last season—remember, it was his first year coming off the torn Achilles. Pittsburgh is obviously a much better situation overall. The defense can be elite with a cornerback trio of Joey Porter Jr., Jalen Ramsey, and Darius Slay Jr.—potentially allowing for a formula of Rodgers taking care of the ball and finding a way to win games.