By Larry Rupp
The 2021-22 NFL regular season has come to a close and that means it is playoff time once again. The race for the Lombardi Trophy is wide open and everyone knows that anything can happen in the postseason. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t bets out there worth placing.
With that in mind, here are three of the best bets to target before the playoffs kick off on Saturday, January 15. Odds are according to DraftKings Sportsbook and FanDuel Sportsbook.
Super Bowl Winner: Tennessee Titans (+850)
It’s not often that the AFC’s No. 1 seed has the fifth-best odds to win the Super Bowl heading into the first round of the playoffs. The Tennessee Titans locked up the elusive first-round bye with a hard fought win in Week 18. This is a team that has been ravaged by injuries all year long, yet keeps bouncing back behind NFL Coach of the Year candidate Mike Vrabel.
The AFC runs through Nashville Stadium, where the Titans have posted an impressive 7-2 record this season and give up just 16.8 points per game (No. 2 in NFL). This offense could get star running back Derrick Henry back as well. The 28-year-old was pouring in 136.4 yards from scrimmage on a weekly basis before going down with a foot injury.
It’s worth pointing out that 32 of the 62 No. 1 seeds since 1990 have made a Super Bowl appearance and 14 of them have won it all. Simply put, don’t sleep on the Titans.
We're ready to come home to @NissanStadium! pic.twitter.com/RLjQ9Nn4Vk
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) January 9, 2022
Super Bowl Matchup: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+1100)
Betting on the playoffs is all about fun, so why not throw some cash on two of the best quarterbacks in the game meeting up for the second year in a row. This storyline would have it all. Patrick Mahomes would be looking for revenge after struggling to figure out the Tampa Buccaneers’ defense in a loss last season. On the other side, Tom Brady would be aiming to earn an unheralded eighth Super Bowl ring.
The thing is, the idea of this matchup actually coming into fruition isn’t that far-fetched. Each team will have home-field advantage in the first two rounds and feature a balanced roster. Kansas City and Tampa Bay both rank amongst the top 10 NFL teams in terms of scoring as well as FootballOutsiders’ DVOA metric. Bettors in search of a long-shot bet to root for a pair of No. 2 seeds.
1️⃣2️⃣ win seasons‼️ pic.twitter.com/L83un8ENC4
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 9, 2022
Winning NFC Conference Division: NFC West (+220)
This bet is more about opportunity than anything else. Three of the four NFC West teams have finished with a record of 10-7 or better and made the playoffs. That gives the division a 41.9% chance of fielding the conference winner. Odds set at +220 present a lot of value in this situation.
Keep in mind at least one NFC West squad will make the divisional round with the Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals set to square off on Wild Card weekend. Both the Rams and Cardinals bring a powerful offense to the field and rank amongst the top eight NFL teams in yards per game.
Not only that, but the San Francisco 49ers head into the postseason as one of the hottest teams in the league. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo & company have won four of their last five games and have a team of destiny feel to them. Backing the NFC West is a smart bet.
NFC West Champs. More to do. pic.twitter.com/QBUkgrPxZb
— xz – Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) January 10, 2022
Picture Credit: Wikimedia
