Super Bowl 46 Predictions: NFL Schedules Unveiled, Who Will Win the Big Game?
There may not be an NFL season in 2011 due to labor unrest and an expired collective bargaining agreement, but at least we know who will be playing if there is a season.
A worst-case scenario: at least Madden 2012 will have an updated schedule.
Never wasting time to jump to conclusions, the oddsmakers in Las Vegas are ready with updated odds on who will win Super Bowl 46. We decided to also throw our odds in the mix.
Here is your super-early look at the winner of Super Bowl 46.
New England Patriots
1 of 32
Vegas Odds: 5-1
Miller Odds: 5-1
The Patriots still have Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, so they continue to dominate the odds as Super Bowl favorites.
The Patriots start the season off on Monday night in Miami, making a 1-0 start very likely.
Notable Games:
Week 5 vs Jets
Week 8 @ Steelers
Week 12 @ Eagles
Week 13 vs Colts
Green Bay Packers
2 of 32
Vegas Odds: 6-1
Miller Odds: 8-1
The Packers must replace two starters (if you count Johnny Jolly) on the defensive line and potential one at guard this offseason. Until they have done this their odds will drop on our board.
Aaron Rodgers and co. are fun to watch, but the offensive and defensive line will have to play better in 2011 for them to repeat as champs.
Notable Games:
Week 1 vs Saints
Week 5 @ Falcons
Week 9 @ Chargers
Week 16 vs Bears
Pittsburgh Steelers
3 of 32
Vegas Odds: 8-1
Miller Odds 8-1
Much like the Green Bay Packers, the Steelers must make improvements on the offensive line before we can consider them strong favorites for Super Bowl 46.
If Pittsburgh can add a top-flight cornerback, as well as a rookie starter on the offensive line, we will feel much better about them.
Notable Games:
Week 3 @ Colts
Week 8 vs Patriots
Week 9 vs Ravens
Week 12 @ Chiefs
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Baltimore Ravens
4 of 32
Vegas Odds: 12-1
Miller Odds: 10-1
We like the Ravens a little more than the boys in Vegas, probably because of our love for Ray Rice.
The Ravens are not without fault. They need a right tackle, help at cornerback and receiver and a healthy roster in 2011 to see themselves make a playoff run.
Notable Games:
Week 1 vs Steelers
Week 4 vs Jets
Week 12 vs 49ers in Harbaugh Bowl
Week 14 vs Colts
New York Jets
5 of 32
Vegas Odds: 12-1
Miller Odds: 12-1
The Jets look poised to make a Super Bowl push if they can re-sign several key free agents this offseason.
Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards and Antonio Cromartie are all big parts of the Jets' success. If they are not back in 2011, the odds will fall. Hard.
Notable Games:
Week 1 vs Cowboys
Week 4 @ Ravens
Week 5 @ Patriots
Week 16 vs Giants
Atlanta Falcons
6 of 32
Vegas Odds: 15-1
Miller Odds: 12-1
If we had to make a prediction on which NFC team would play in the 2012 Super Bowl it would be a close fight between the Falcons and Packers.
Matt Ryan and co. are back in 2011 with very little lost due to free agency. If they can add a defensive end and solid No. 2 wide receiver through the draft, watch out.
If you will note below, it's not unthinkable for Atlanta to start the year 0-3.
Notable Games:
Week 1 @ Bears
Week 2 vs Eagles
Week 3 @ Buccaneers
Week 16 @ Saints
Philadelphia Eagles
7 of 32
Vegas Odds: 15-1
Miller Odds: 12-1
The Eagles have Michael Vick and that's all they really need to remain competitive for the playoffs. Thankfully they have DeSean Jackson, LeSean McCoy and Jeremy Maclin to push them from playoff contenders to Super Bowl hopefuls.
Notable Games:
Week 8 vs Cowboys
Week 12 vs Patriots
Week 15 vs Jets
Week 16 @ Cowboys
New Orleans Saints
8 of 32
Vegas Odds: 15-1
Miller Odds: 15-1
The Saints are talented enough on paper to win another Super Bowl, but this is a veteran roster and injuries could limit their success.
Drew Brees has enough around him on offense to score points. The Saints defense might be what keeps them from a second Super Bowl ring.
Notable Games:
Week 1 @ Packers
Week 7 vs Colts
Week 9 vs Buccaneers
Week 16 vs Falcons
San Diego Chargers
9 of 32
Vegas Odds: 12-1
Miller Odds: 15-1
Why the geniuses in Las Vegas have the Chargers as 12-1 odds to win the Super Bowl we do not know, but we are betting against them.
The Chargers are historically slow starters, have more competition in the AFC West than ever before and are facing an offseason where the roster will be overhauled—if and when free agency begins.
With the No. 9 hardest schedule in 2011, the Chargers are fighting an uphill battle.
Notable Games:
Week 2 @ Patriots
Week 7 @ Jets
Week 8 @ Chiefs
Week 17 @ Raiders
New York Giants
10 of 32
Vegas Odds: 15-1
Miller Odds: 20-1
We were surprised to see the Vegas odds for the Giants at 15 to 1. Very surprised.
Do they remember that Eli, not Peyton, is quarterbacking in New York?
The Giants defense is superb and they were rocked by injuries in 2010, but this roster is overrated.
Notable Games:
Week 3 @ Eagles
Week 9 @ Patriots
Week 12 @ Saints
Week 17 vs Cowboys
Chicago Bears
11 of 32
Vegas Odds: 18-1
Miller Odds: 18-1
The Bears bring back every key player on the roster and should be able to add an offensive tackle and wide receiver through the draft.
If Jay Cutler and Mike Martz can stay as hot as they were down the stretch in 2010, the Bears' 18th-ranked schedule will lead them to the playoffs.
Notable Games:
Week 1 vs Falcons
Week 2 @ Saints
Week 16 @ Packers
Week 17 @ Vikings
Dallas Cowboys
12 of 32
Vegas Odds: 18-1
Miller Odds: 20-1
The Cowboys have changed coaches, are banking on a healthy Tony Romo and will most likely have a new starter at right tackle and cornerback.
And they play in the toughest division in football.
We will know by Week 8 what the Cowboys are made of.
Notable Games:
Week 1 @ Jets
Week 6 @ Patriots
Week 8 @ Eagles
Week 17 @ Giants
Indianapolis Colts
13 of 32
Vegas Odds: 18-1
Miller Odds: 20-1
Last year's Vegas favorites are snapped back to reality in 2011.
The Colts are facing an aging Peyton Manning, a bad offensive line and the fifth-hardest 2011 schedule.
Making the Super Bowl may be asking a lot for this Colts team that might struggle to make the playoffs.
Notable Games:
Week 3 vs Steelers
Week 9 vs Falcons
Week 13 @ Patriots
Week 17 @ Jaguars
Kansas City Chiefs
14 of 32
Vegas Odds: 30-1
Miller Odds: 30-1
The Chiefs face the seventh-hardest schedule thanks to a tough division and matchups with the NFC North this year.
Jamaal Charles and Matt Cassel are enough on offense; Kansas City now needs to add complementary pieces at wide receiver and outside linebacker to push farther in the playoffs.
Notable Games:
Week 3 @ Chargers
Week 5 @ Colts
Week 11 @ Patriots
Week 16 vs Raiders
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
15 of 32
Vegas Odds: 30-1
Miller Odds: 30-1
Can Josh Freeman continue to develop into a top-10 quarterback? Will young players Mike Williams and LeGarrette Blount experience a sophomore slump? Can Aqib Talib avoid jail long enough to contribute in 2011?
The Bucs are talented, but question marks are aplenty in 2011.
Notable Games:
Week 3 vs Falcons
Week 6 vs Saints
Week 15 vs Cowboys
Week 17 @ Falcons
Houston Texans
16 of 32
Vegas Odds: 35-1
Miller Odds: 35-1
The Texans are slowly putting together a formidable roster, but there are still missing pieces. A terrible secondary held them back in 2010. A change to a 3-4 defense will be a huge obstacle in 2011.
We will be impressed if the Texans can make it to the halfway mark at 4-4.
Notable Games:
Week 1 vs Colts
Week 3 @ Saints
Week 4 vs Steelers
Week 16 @ Colts
San Francisco 49ers
17 of 32
Vegas Odds: 40-1
Miller Odds: 35-1
Laugh it up, but the 49ers are closer than most think.
Give Jim Harbaugh consistent play at quarterback and he can manage this team to a winning season versus the 30th-ranked strength of schedule.
Notable Games:
Week 4 @ Eagles
Week 12 @ Ravens
Week 13 vs Rams
Week 15 vs Steelers
Miami Dolphins
18 of 32
Vegas Odds: 40-1
Miller Odds: 40-1
The Dolphins are a lot closer than you might think, too.
If they can get solid play from Chad Henne and find a replacement for Ricky Williams-Ronnie Brown, things could start to look up.
Overcoming the powerhouses in their own division, New England and the Jets, is step one.
Notable Games:
Week 1 vs Patriots
Week 6 @ Jets
Week 12 @ Cowboys
Week 17 vs Jets
Detroit Lions
19 of 32
Vegas Odds: 50-1
Miller Odds: 40-1
The Lions have the fourth-hardest 2011 schedule—a lot to overcome to reach the playoffs.
The thing in their favor is no one knows how good they can be if everyone is healthy.
Give the Lions a full season from Matthew Stafford and Jahvid Best, with Ndamukong Suh on defense, and this looks like a Wild Card team.
Notable Games:
Week 1 @ Buccaneers
Week 2 vs Chiefs
Week 13 @ Saints
Week 17 @ Packers
Oakland Raiders
20 of 32
Vegas Odds: 50-1
Miller Odds: 50-1
We agree with Vegas on this one.
If the Raiders get the type of play from their defense that they did in 2010, and a full season from Jason Campbell and Darren McFadden, they could realistically end the season 9-7 with a chance at the playoffs.
Replacing Nnamdi Asomugha has to be taken care of first.
Notable Games:
Week 1 @ Broncos
Week 4 vs Patriots
Week 16 @ Chiefs
Week 17 vs Chargers
Minnesota Vikings
21 of 32
Vegas Odds: 40-1
Miller Odds: 50-1
Until the Minnesota Vikings find a reliable quarterback, we might as well put their odds of winning the Super Bowl at 8,000,000-to-1.
This is a talented roster at almost every position, except quarterback. Going off today's roster, the Vikings have no chance of ever playing for the 2012 Super Bowl.
None.
Notable Games:
Week 6 @ Bears
Week 7 vs Packers
Week 12 @ Falcons
Week 17 vs Bears
Jacksonville Jaguars
22 of 32
Vegas Odds: 60-1
Miller Odds: 50-1
We were pretty surprised to find the Jaguars rated so low by Vegas.
They have a veteran quarterback, a top-five running back and a pretty good offensive line.
They also have a terrible defense, a huge need for cornerback and safeties and a lame-duck coach.
And the sixth-hardest schedule in 2011.
Notable Games:
Week 2 @ Jets
Week 6 @ Steelers
Week 15 @ Falcons
Week 17 vs Colts
Seattle Seahawks
23 of 32
Vegas Odds: 100-1
Miller Odds: 50-1
The Minnesota Vikings, with Joe Webb at quarterback, are 40-1 favorites in Las Vegas, but the Seahawks, who won a playoff game, are 100-1?
I don't get it either.
Seattle needs to replace or re-sign one player, quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. They also have a decent backup in Charlie Whitehurst, who might be able to carry the team if needed.
Notable Games:
Week 2 @ Steelers
Week 13 vs Eagles
Week 15 @ Bears
Week 16 vs 49ers
St. Louis Rams
24 of 32
Vegas Odds: 60-1
Miller Odds: 55-1
Give Sam Bradford a downfield threat at wide receiver, an option at tight end, and a little better pass rush on defense, and the Rams are a playoff team.
Never underestimate the importance of a good quarterback who can rally his teammates.
Notable Games:
Week 1 vs Eagles
Week 6 @ Packers
Week 16 @ Steelers
Week 17 vs 49ers
Cleveland Browns
25 of 32
Vegas Odds: 60-1
Miller Odds: 60-1
The Browns appear to be pretty far from contending for a Super Bowl. And they are. Hence the odds, but we do like them above other teams near the bottom of the pile.
Cleveland has an exciting young quarterback with a very good offensive line and a powerful running back. Give Colt McCoy a true No. 1 wide receiver and the Browns might surprise folks in 2011.
Notable Games:
Week 2 @ Colts
Week 9 @ Texans
Week 13 vs Ravens
Week 17 vs Steelers
Denver Broncos
26 of 32
Vegas Odds: 60-1
Miller Odds: 70-1
Getting Elvis Dumervil back in 2011 will help. Playing the third-hardest schedule will not.
The Broncos have no idea who their starting quarterback will be, where they will find two starting defensive tackles, or how they are going to match up at cornerback.
2011 will be a tough year, Denver fans.
Notable Games:
Week 1 vs Raiders
Week 4 @ Packers
Week 5 vs Chargers
Week 17 vs Chiefs
Cincinnati Bengals
27 of 32
Vegas Odds: 60-1
Miller Odds: 70-1
The odds with Carson Palmer are much different than the odds if he retires or the Bengals trade him.
With Palmer the Bengals have at least a shot at the playoffs. Without him they are screwed.
But look up Bengal fans, at least you will have a chance at Andrew Luck in the 2012 draft.
Notable Games:
Week 1 @ Browns
Week 6 vs Colts
Week 13 @ Steelers
Week 17 vs Ravens
Tennesee Titans
28 of 32
Vegas Odds: 60-1
Miller Odds: 80-1
The Titans must find a quarterback this offseason. Otherwise they are starting Rusty Smith in 2011.
Without a clear outlook on who the quarterback will be, it is hard to see a bright spot for the Titans this fall.
Notable Games:
Week 1 @ Jaguars
Week 5 @ Steelers
Week 11 @ Falcons
Week 17 @ Texans
Washington Redskins
29 of 32
Vegas Odds: 60-1
Miller Odds: 90-1
The Redskins defense is good enough to win a playoff game. Their offense is not.
Finding a quarterback is priority No. 1 this offseason in Washington.
With a rookie quarterback lining up behind a shaky offensive line in 2011, the Redskins will not be much fun to watch.
Unless you are a Cowboys fan.
Notable Games:
Week 1 vs Giants
Week 6 vs Eagles
Week 11 vs Cowboys
Week 17 @ Eagles
Arizona Cardinals
30 of 32
Vegas Odds: 100 to 1
Miller Odds: 100 to 1
The Cardinals are a quarterback away from contending in the NFC West. If they can add Kevin Kolb or even Matt Flynn in a trade this offseason we would feel much better about Arizona's chances in 2011.
Arizona is at least two years away from contending if they choose to add their next quarterback through the 2011 draft.
Notable Games:
Week 4 vs Giants
Week 7 vs Steelers
Week 16 @ Bengals
Week 17 vs Seahawks
Buffalo Bills
31 of 32
Vegas Odds: 200-1
Miller Odds: 1,000,000-1
The bad news:
When Las Vegas says you have a 200-in-1 chance of making the Super Bowl, they are trying to find a nice way of saying "you suck."
Add on the second-hardest schedule in the NFL and things look bleak in Buffalo. Well, more bleak than normal, anyway.
The good news:
You are our early favorite to land Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck in the 2012 NFL draft.
Notable Games:
Week 1 @ Chiefs
Week 4 @ Bengals (this may decide who picks No. 1 overall in 2012)
Week 15 vs Dolphins
Week 17 @ Patriots
Carolina Panthers
32 of 32
Vegas Odds: 300-1
Miller Odds: ∞ to 1
Listen folks, there is no way in hell the Panthers will win the Super Bowl. And not in a "2001 Patriots" kind of way, either.
There is literally no way, at all, the Panthers could win Super Bowl 46. Unless the other 31 teams shut down and the league awards Carolina the winners. Kind of like a green ribbon thing.
Notable Games:
Week 1 @ Cardinals
Week 10 @ Titans (this may decide who picks No. 1 overall in 2012)
Week 12 @ Colts
Week 13 @ Buccaneers
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