The Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens are the joint favorites to win Super Bowl LV. The Chiefs are the defending champions but the last back-to back winners were the New England Patriots in 2004 and 2005. The Ravens have lost at home in the playoffs in the last two seasons so there could be some mental scars.
The San Francisco 49ers have not made many changes to the squad that won the NFC but came up short in the Super Bowl. However, they are the stand out bet in the Super Bowl futures market with the big offshore sportsbooks for Americans and can win their first NFL championship title since 1989. At bigger odds in the betting we also like the Dallas Cowboys, who have changed coach.
The NFL season for 2020 is due to start on September 10 but arrangements have not been confirmed due to the disruption to live professional sport. The Super Bowl championship match is scheduled for February 7, 2021 and the host venue is the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. However, there are contingency plans for a reduced schedule if the start is delayed.
Trading began for the 2020 NFL season in March. Teams could take up options with players who had clauses in their contract. Qualifying offers for free agents whose contracts expired in 2019 were permitted from this month. Salary caps are in place and contract negations began with salary restrictions in mind. There were a number of key trades and free agent moves.
Six quarterbacks who were free agents changed teams. The most notable move involved Tom Brady leaving New England for Tampa Bay. The AFC East division looks an open betting heat and the Buffalo Bills are now contenders for the title. The offense could score the extra points that helps the Bills improve on their second place finish in 2019.
Brady could help to make Tampa Bay contenders for the NFC South. If he proves to be the right fit and can still perform at the highest level we could see his new team have a comeback season. The Buccaneers won seven of 16 regular season fixtures last season but only two at home. They will need to convert 2-6 to 6-2 at their own stadium to get in the mix for the divisional title.
The Cowboys could be the less fancied contenders to make the Super Bowl which would be for the first time since 1995. The five-time NFL champions had an excellent draft and the new coach but the dynamic is unproven. However, a fresh combination on the sidelines and the field could see San Francisco claim another championship 26 years after their last title.
The Chiefs roster will include the majority of players who won the Super Bowl in February. Their new running back, Clyde Edwards-Helaire gives quarterback Patrick Mahomes another player to find. The recruits include a veteran addition to the squad and a player who has the potential to be a successful rookie. However, it takes an exceptional squad to defend so the Chiefs may come up short.
The Ravens were the championship favorites ahead of the conference semi-finals. They went 14-2 in the regular season to win the AFC, losing just one match in their own stadium and one on the road. However, the Tennessee Titans beat them 28-12 in Baltimore at the play-off stage. The Ravens were the NFL’s highest scoring team and set a new record for rushing yards. However, those stats meant nothing as the Titans outplayed their opponents.
San Francisco lost to the Chiefs 31-20 in last season’s Super Bowl. They led by 10 points during the third quarter but then conceded 21 points without reply in the final seven minutes of the match. so, the 49ers were one bad quarter from winning their first championship in 21 years. There have been a number of significant purchases which could change the disappointment of last season to a sixth win in the NFL match that matters most.
Our Preview’s Super Bowl Predictions & Betting Picks
At the betting on offer, I fancy a couple of plays with my Super Bowl LV predictions, namely: