2015 Super Bowl: Odds, Free Picks & Predictions

Five “Longshots” to win the Super Bowl

For 32 NFL teams, the dream of winning a Super Bowl becomes a reality for one franchise and disappointment for the rest. Now that the bulk of the NFL free agency period is over, and with the NFL draft approaching, teams are starting to figure out where they stand.

Rosters are almost completed. Position battles are about to begin. Coaches will soon be determining whom the best 53 players are that will dress for 16 games, hoping to earn their chance to compete for the Lombardi trophy.

The odds of winning the Super Bowl are going to fluctuate from now until the start of the NFL season. But in the meantime, let’s take at five teams that might be hoisting the Lombardi Trophy at seasons’ end.

(All odds courtesy of Bovada)

Indianapolis Colts (20-1)

There was no Reggie Wayne or Hakeem Nicks on the field when Andrew Luck completed the 2nd largest comeback in playoff history with a 45-44 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. After signing Nicks to a one-year deal worth a maximum of $5.5 million, the talent has always been there, but it’s been his desire and work ethic that have always been questioned. As the Colts enter the 2014 season looking to build on their first playoff victory in the Luck era, if Nicks can turn back the clock, if Reggie Wayne can still play, and if Trent Richardson finally lives up to the billing of being the third overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft, at 20-1 to win the Super Bowl, you might find yourself cashing in your ticket on February 1, 2015. It took Peyton Manning eight years to win his first Super Bowl. It could take Luck only three.

Green Bay Packers (12-1)

Aaron Rodgers and Randall Cobb are healthy. Eddie Lacy, who was selected as the 2013 Offensive Rookie of The Year, is not a rookie anymore. That bodes well for Mike McCarthy, who will be looking for another contract extension, which currently has him as head coach through the 2015 season. But the Lambeau faithful are wondering if Rodgers is going to miss James Jones. Or, did they overpay for Julius Peppers? To many, the Packers aren’t one of the elite teams that have a chance to win the Super Bowl. Those were my sentiments for a brief moment, but as long as Rodgers is at the helm, the Packers will always have a chance to bring the Lombardi trophy back home.

Philadelphia Eagles (22-1)

Despite running less plays per game in 2012 than in 2013, Chip Kelly’s high-powered “Oregon” offense became a lot more dangerous when the Eagles acquired Darren Sproles for a fifth round draft pick. The Eagles got a great bargain for the 31 year old, who is arguably the most dangerous player to line up in the backfield not named Adrian Peterson. And let’s not forget about his teammate LeSean McCoy. Sproles wasn’t acquired to be an every-down player. That’s Shady’s job, but in the weak NFC East, the Eagles appear to be the runaway favorites to win the division. This team is built to win now. Eagle fans will have all season to wonder if the departure of DeSean Jackson will make the Eagles better or worse. When this offense is the most explosive offense in the NFL, it’s not going to matter who lines up in the backfield. Jackson will be just an after thought because this team is not going to beat you defensively. They will simply outscore you. If Jeremy Maclin can stay healthy, the eagles might even become a guarantee to play in the Super Bowl.

Arizona Cardinals (33-1)

When signing left tackle Jared Veldheer to a five-year contract worth $35 million is your major off-season acquisition it tells me one of two things. Either the Cardinals have very few holes to fill, or they just have a desire to play younger players and are set for the future. If Carson Palmer can improve on his completion percentage (63.3) and minimize the interceptions from one year ago (22), the Cardinals, who went 10-6 last season and barely missed the playoffs, will be back in the playoffs for the first time since 2009. Let’s not forget that the Cardinals defeated the Panthers and Colts, and they were the only team to win at Seattle. There’s no denying that Arizona has improved after this offseason. Losing Karlos Dansby is going to hurt, but with the additions of Veldheer and Antonio Cromartie, to go along with Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu (if he’s healthy) make the Cardinals a much better team. If you thought they were a Super Bowl contender last season, they might have a little more motivation this year with Super Bowl XLIX being played right at home in the desert.

San Diego Chargers (33-1)

Operating under first year head coach Mike McCoy’s offense in 2013, Phillip Rivers finished the year with the third best QBR rating in the league. A major improvement from his 2012 season, where it was a constant struggle, finishing the year with just 26 touchdowns, 15 interceptions and an abysmal QBR rating of 41.5. Although offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt is now the head coach of the Tennessee Titans, not much should change with quarterbacks coach Frank Reich taking over as San Diego’s offensive coordinator. The Chargers return everyone from last year’s starting offense in 2014, and added another weapon in free agency in running back Donald Brown. Expect Rivers to be more efficient with another year in McCoy’s system under his belt. And maybe this year, Rivers will leave Mile High Stadium with a victory, instead of another postseason loss.