A look at the contenders for Super Bowl LV

The 2020 NFL season is set to begin in early September. Training camps have started, although cautiously, around the league as the rest of the U.S. continues to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.

Despite the concerns related to the virus, sports betting markets are open and taking bets on Super Bowl LV. Where can bettors look for early value?

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The Favorites

Reigning Lombardi Trophy winners, the Kansas City Chiefs, are in a position to become the first team to repeat since the New England Patriots back in 2003 and 2004. In today’s salary cap era, it’s tough to keep a roster intact.

The whole COVID-19 ordeal makes it even tougher. The Chiefs had two key players opt out of the 2020 season. Guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif and RB Damien Williams have both elected not to play this season due to virus concerns. 

It’s okay though, as the Chiefs have a roster loaded with talent. Kansas City drafted LSU RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, which will ease the loss of Williams. The Chiefs are a +600 favorite to win another Super Bowl.

Hot on the Chiefs’ trail is Baltimore (+700), home of last year’s NFL MVP, quarterback Lamar Jackson. The now third-year pro proved he is equally capable as a passer, completing over 66 percent of his throws and tossing a league-best 36 touchdown passes. 

The Ravens upgraded their defense with the addition of defensive lineman Calais Campbell and the running game should be even better with Jackson, Mark Ingram, and rookie J.K. Dobbins.

But, Baltimore will have to get past Kansas City just to have a shot at a Lombardi Trophy.

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Fade the Bucs

The NFL futures market went crazy when future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady announced he was moving to Tampa to join the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay is now listed at +1200 to win Super Bowl LV. 

Yes, the Bucs will be better on offense. Brady also got former teammate, TE Rob Gronkowski, to land in Tampa and he’ll have 1,000-yard receivers in Chris Godwin and Mike Evans. The problem for the Bucs is they still don’t play any defense. 

They might be improved on defense in 2020, but not enough to win a Super Bowl.

Top Challengers

The biggest challengers to a Chiefs repeat are the New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers, and you can be sure they will be the focus of many free NFL picks this season.

Saints QB Drew Brees returns for perhaps his best shot at another Super Bowl ring before he retires. He'll have the dynamic Alvin Kamara in the backfield and WR Michael Thomas on the outside. The Saints improved defense is one of the reasons they are listed at +1000 to win Super Bowl LV.

San Francisco is looking to make the next step. GM John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan built the 49ers roster and took it to last year’s Super Bowl where the Niners were within six minutes or so of a championship.

The 49ers return essentially the same roster and are also given +1000 odds to win it all in 2020. No NFC team has won the conference title two years in a row since Seattle in 2013 and 2014. 

The Longshot

The 1999 Rams were the longest of longshot Super Bowl bets when they were listed at +19,900 prior to the start of the season. The Greatest Show on Turf capped off the season with a Super Bowl victory, paying off in a big way for bettors that took a chance.

Is there a '99 Rams in this year’s mix? 

Probably not as long as the Rams. The Bengals check in at +15,400 but are years away. Carolina is given the same odds (+15,400) but needs to continue to build around RB Christian McCaffrey.

About the best you can do is the Buffalo Bills at +2500. The Bills have an outstanding defense, a powerful running game, and an elite quarterback in Josh Allen. And this offseason the Bills got Allen a present - WR Stefon Diggs. 

If there is a big surprise team out there, it's quite possibly the Bills. It won't pay as much as the '99 Rams, but it's a bet worthy of consideration.