There are now 15 million NFL fans in the UK and they are getting excited as the new season starts this coming weekend. It is the time of year for futures bets on who will win the Super Bowl and Brits have been queuing up to back the New England Patriots to emerge victorious this season. This selection has been among the top 10 most popular bets among UK sports fans all week and the odds have dropped slightly on the Pats. But you can still get 4/1 at a few green listed bookmakers on Bill Belichick’s team winning the Super Bowl, which looks a good bet. However, there are several longer shots to consider before making your selection.
It is easy to see why the lion’s share of bets are going on the Patriots after their almost superhuman effort to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in last season’s Super Bowl. They had the best regular season record, coasted through the playoffs and dug deep when it mattered to get the win in the last game of the season. They went 14-2 last season and many are backing them to go 16-0 this time. They are 6/4 with Ladbrokes to win their first four games and that looks a great bet. Whether they can win the Super Bowl again and whether they justify such short odds (4/1 at Ladbrokes, Paddy Power and Coral; 7/2 or 3/1 with various others) is another matter. If Rob Gronkowski returns to full fitness and gives them a full season along with Tom Brady, then they could well be unstoppable.
But the Pats are not infallible and many fans will choose to take their chances on a longer shot. The Seahawks are 11/1 with Bwin and this is the second most popular bet among British punters. They will battle it out with Atlanta and Green Bay in the AFC and Seattle will have a great chance of winning it if they get home advantage in January. They have Russell Wilson and Earl Thomas fit and healthy again and will be a real threat in the AFC. But so will Green Bay, who are 11/1 with Ladbrokes to win the Super Bowl. While Atlanta might struggle with the dreaded Super Bowl hangover, Green Day will be full of confidence going into the new season. They have a great chance of emerging with the best record in the AFC and could earn a comfortable draw for the playoffs, so they look an interesting option to make the Super Bowl.
Over in the NFC, the Pats are expected to dominate once again, but there are a couple of great options if you are looking for a longer shot. First up, the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are also 11/1. If they can keep quarterback Ben Roethlisberger fit they will have a great chance. He lines up alongside Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant and Le’Veon Bell and the Packers have arguably the best offense in the business. However, they were crushed by the Patriots in the playoffs last season and it will take a massive improvement for them to overhaul Brady and co this time around.
If you are looking for an even longer shot, you could do worse than the New York Giants at 25/1 with William Hill. They have an extremely tight defence and that led them to an 11-5 record and the playoffs last season. Much will depend on the offensive line, but Eli Manning is an exceptional quarterback and has real talent in Odell Beckham Jnr, Brandon Marshall and Sterling Shepard to aim at. The Cowboys are their main rivals in the NFC East, but they have been hit by a six-game suspension for Ezekiel Elliott and the Giants could usurp them and go all the way to the Super Bowl. Right now it is hard to look past the Pats as they are so strong and experienced, but if you fancy an option with longer odds, the Steelers, Packers and Giants all look like great bets.
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