2026 NFL Betting Odds & Predictions: Los Angeles Rams Favored To Win Super Bowl LXI

With a little more than five weeks until the start of the regular season, it's time to buckle up for the NFL futures and zero in on who is winning what.

From the Super Bowl, to MVP, to Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year — this week is dedicated to what could take place and why the value lies with certain teams and players.

Today: the Super Bowl!

(Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

Can the Seattle Seahawks run it back, or will their division friends from Los Angeles steal the show with a much-improved defense that is expected to be bolstered with Aaron Donald's return?

Can the Kansas City Chiefs return to the postseason after losing their grip on the AFC West, or will the Denver Broncos prove last year was no fluke?

How about the Dallas Cowboys? Is this the year they finally make a run with Dak Prescott receiving his flowers? The same might be asked about the Baltimore Ravens and Lamar Jackson.

So many questions that will hopefully be answered here. Well, at least some of them. Let's get into it.

Latest Super Bowl Betting Odds

(odds via DraftKings)

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The Favorites

• Los Angeles Rams (+550)

The Los Angeles Rams enter the 2026 season with a rare combination of urgency, continuity, and championship-level talent. After falling just one game short of the Super Bowl last season in a heartbreaking NFC Championship loss to the eventual champion Seattle Seahawks, the Rams have every reason to believe they can finish the job this time. History is also on their side, as coach Sean McVay has already proven he knows how to guide a veteran roster through the pressure of a championship run, doing exactly that during the 2021 season when the Rams captured the Super Bowl on their home field at SoFi Stadium. Coincidentally, SoFi Stadium will once again host the Super Bowl in 2027, giving Los Angeles another opportunity to become just the second team in NFL history to win a Super Bowl in its own stadium.

Continuity is the Rams' biggest strength. Unlike many contenders that underwent significant offseason changes, Los Angeles returns the overwhelming majority of a roster that was already among the NFL's elite. The chemistry between McVay and quarterback Matthew Stafford remains one of the league's greatest advantages, and the offensive system is as polished and efficient as any in football. Stafford, coming off an MVP season, continues to defy Father Time. While his age naturally raises questions entering his 18th NFL season, elite quarterbacks have repeatedly shown they can extend their primes with intelligence, anticipation, and accuracy.

The biggest offseason addition could also be the move that pushes the Rams over the top. Acquiring Myles Garrett instantly transforms an already dangerous defense into one capable of taking over games. Garrett is one of the NFL's most disruptive defensive players, and the Rams' stop unit could become even more intimidating if Aaron Donald ultimately decides to come out of retirement. While no guarantee it happens, the mere possibility speaks to the championship culture McVay has built.

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• Buffalo Bills (+1000)

The Buffalo Bills have spent nearly a decade knocking on the door of a Super Bowl appearance, and the organization made its boldest move yet to finally kick it down. After eight playoff appearances in nine seasons under Sean McDermott, ownership decided that consistent contention was no longer enough, replacing him with offensive mastermind Joe Brady in hopes of unlocking the final step of the franchise's championship pursuit.

Everything begins with reigning superstar quarterback Josh Allen, whose combination of arm strength, athleticism, and playmaking ability makes Buffalo a legitimate title contender every season. With Brady now calling the shots, the Bills are betting that a more aggressive, creative offense will maximize Allen's prime and make the unit even more difficult to defend.

General manager Brandon Beane also aggressively addressed Buffalo's biggest need by acquiring dynamic wide receiver DJ Moore, giving Allen another proven weapon capable of stretching defenses and creating explosive plays. On the defensive side, first-round selection T.J. Parker adds speed, youth, and pass-rushing upside to a unit looking to consistently pressure opposing quarterbacks.

The Bills possess one of the league's elite quarterbacks, an upgraded supporting cast, and a coaching staff built around maximizing their greatest strength. If Allen remains healthy and Buffalo's new-look offense reaches its potential, this could finally be the season the Bills break through, capture the AFC, and bring the Lombardi Trophy to Western New York for the first time in franchise history.

The Sleepers

• Detroit Lions (+1900)

The Detroit Lions have endured their share of postseason heartbreak, adversity that could ultimately fuel a championship breakthrough in 2027. After falling just short of the Super Bowl in 2023, exiting in the divisional round despite earning the NFC's top seed in 2024, and missing the playoffs following a disappointing 9-8 campaign in 2025, the Lions enter the season with something to prove.

Detroit's championship hopes begin with one of the NFL's most explosive offenses. Quarterback Jared Goff continues to thrive despite Ben Johnson moving on, while Jahmyr Gibbs has emerged as one of football's most dynamic running backs. Add in elite playmaker Amon-Ra St. Brown and deep-threat receiver Jameson Williams, and the Lions have the firepower to overwhelm any defense.

The biggest key is on the other side of the ball. If Detroit can improve a defense that struggled with consistency and surrendered too many explosive performances, the Lions have all the ingredients necessary for a deep postseason run. With an experienced core, battle-tested leadership under Dan Campbell, and one of the league's most dangerous offenses, Detroit has every reason to believe 2027 could finally be the year it captures the franchise's first Super Bowl title.

• Cincinnati Bengals (+2000)

The Cincinnati Bengals remain one of the NFL's most dangerous teams whenever Joe Burrow is healthy, and their aggressive offseason signaled that the franchise is fully committed to chasing another Super Bowl. After three consecutive seasons without a playoff appearance, Cincinnati returned to the blueprint that fueled its Super Bowl run in 2021 and AFC Championship appearance in 2022 — surrounding Burrow with a complete roster instead of relying solely on offensive firepower.

The offense remains one of the league's best, returning all of its starters and preserving the chemistry that has made Burrow one of football's elite quarterbacks. More importantly, the Bengals attacked their biggest weakness by overhauling a defense that had ranked among the NFL's least effective over the past three seasons.

The additions of Brian Cook, Kyle Dugger, Boye Mafe, and Jonathan Allen immediately strengthen every level of the defense, but the blockbuster acquisition of three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence could be the move that transforms Cincinnati into a legitimate championship favorite. If the revamped defense complements an offense led by a healthy Burrow, the Bengals have all the pieces necessary to reclaim the AFC and capture the franchise's first Super Bowl title in 2027.

The Longshot

• New York Giants (+7000)

The New York Giants enter the 2026 season as one of the NFL's biggest sleeper teams, thanks to a bold organizational reset built around proven leadership and a rising young core. The franchise made its biggest offseason splash by hiring John Harbaugh to restore a winning culture, signaling that the Giants are no longer interested in rebuilding — they're aiming to contend immediately.

Harbaugh inherited one of the league's most intriguing collections of young talent. Second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart has the arm talent, toughness, and leadership qualities to become a franchise cornerstone. He's surrounded by explosive playmakers, including dynamic running back Cam Skattebo, star wide receiver Malik Nabers, who is widely regarded as one of the top receivers in the league despite last season’s brutal ACL injury. On the other side of the ball is emerging defensive force Abdul Carter, adding to the team's impactful roster.

The Giants continued building for the future by adding two top-10 draft picks, linebacker Arvell Reese and offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa, strengthening both the defense and the protection around Dart. The formula resembles what New England accomplished when it paired an accomplished head coach (Mike Vrabel) with a talented second-year quarterback (Drake Maye) and quickly transformed into a Super Bowl contender.

There are no guarantees in the NFL, but the Giants possess the ingredients every sleeper needs: elite coaching, ascending young stars, and renewed organizational belief. If Dart takes the expected leap under Harbaugh's guidance, New York has the potential to surprise the league and make an improbable run to the Super Bowl in 2027.

Super Bowl LXI Prediction

It's time the Buffalo Bills celebrate a championship.

They believe they've assembled the pieces to break through after years of postseason heartbreak, and Allen has reached a point where he will rid himself of the playoff-heartbreak albatross. The front office decisions have made it clear it's now or never, and there's no reason to believe Allen needs a few years with Brady to set the wheels in motion. The time is now, and with Allen at the peak of his career, a more aggressive offensive philosophy under Brady, and a roster built to complement its franchise quarterback on both sides of the ball, the Bills are going to bring the Lombardi Trophy to Buffalo.

W.G. Ramirez is a veteran sports writer from Las Vegas and a Senior Staff Analyst at Ballislife Bets. Follow him on X at @WillieGRamirez