It’s never too early to start talking about NFL favorites for Super Bowl XLVI in 2012. We are hoping to get a great NFL season – even if that season is abridged. The plans are already underway to host the Super Bowl Indianapolis, Indiana, in the Lucas Oil Stadium, so you have to believe that the Indianapolis Colts are eyeing a team victory in their home arena. In fact, it’s the first time that an NFL Super Bowl is being held in the city of Indianapolis. So you can bet that football fans are excited regardless of whose name is on the ticket.
If the NFL owners come to an agreement with the players, the big game will take place on February 5, 2012. So provided these boys come to their senses and start thinking about the fans (come on guys…we want the 2012 Super Bowl and of course our kegs of beer) we are sure to see a fiercely competitive season. Websites like Bodog.net and BetUS.com have posted their odds for each and every NFL team, based on roster data and team performances in recent years.
According to the odds, the Panthers, the Bills, the Cardinals and the Broncos are all bottoming out. The sky also looks dim for the Bengals, Browns, Redskins, Rams and Jaguars. That leaves underdogs like the Tennessee Titans (who are still looking for a player to put them over the edge), the Oakland Raiders (one quarterback short of a great team) and the Seattle Seahawks who have a history of almost achieving greatness.
Some pundits are saying that it’s all about the quarterback this season, since several teams are having quarterback issues. Favorites for the season include the home team Colts, who did dominate the AFC South and has a power player in Peyton Manning, as well as the San Diego Chargers who have Marcus McNeill and Vincent Jackson, and the Dallas Cowboys, who have Jason Garrett, and who are undoubtedly hungry for Super Bowl spotlight again. Intense competition may exclude the Bears, the Giants and the Ravens, but then again, a short season tends to be unpredictable.
As far as favorites go, it’s hard to ignore past performances and New Orleans, Green Bay (last year’s winner), Pittsburgh Steelers, and the New England Patriots (who are the odds on favorite) are the teams to beat this year. The only other dark horse team is the Philadelphia Eagles, who are promising an aggressive strategy in signing free agents. If Super Bowls are determined by the players, then we may know the winner as early as training camp dates. What do you think? Is there an odds-on favorite in your mind?
Get your NFL tickets now for the 2012 season!
