Super Bowl Odds 2015: Best Long Shots to Bet On

If we have learned anything about the NFL over the past few years, it's to never assume anything, especially when it comes to the playoffs.

While the Seattle Seahawks certainly appeared to be the best team in football last season, the Baltimore Ravens and New York Giants seemingly came out of nowhere to win their respective titles.

Heading into the final week of the season, there are definitely a few teams that stand above the rest. However, this doesn't necessarily mean they will be raising the Lombardi Trophy at the end of the year.

There are plenty of teams still in the running to win a Super Bowl, but a few longshots represent quality bets at this stage of the year. Here is a look at odds for all remaining squads and a breakdown of some smarter picks.

Team	Odds
Arizona Cardinals	73-2
Atlanta Falcons	75-1
Baltimore Ravens	75-1
Carolina Panthers	100-1
Cincinnati Bengals	47-1
Dallas Cowboys	233-20
Denver Broncos	61-10
Detroit Lions	53-2
Green Bay Packers	137-20
Houston Texans	300-1
Indianapolis Colts	41-1
Kansas City Chiefs	200-1
New England Patriots	13-4
Pittsburgh Steelers	45-2
San Diego Chargers	41-1
Seattle Seahawks	11-4

Best Value Bets

Detroit Lions (53-2)

Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

Although the Detroit Lions have not always been as dominant as they should be against inferior opponents, they are definitely a contender in the NFC.

Thanks to the NFL's No. 2 defense in both yards and points allowed, this team barely resembles the organization that has been little more than a joke for the past 20 years.

Of course Detroit still has to get over the hump for supremacy in its own division. The team can win the NFC North with a road win over the Green Bay Packers, but it has been awhile since this occurred, as noted by Andrew Siciliano of NFL.com:

Still, the Lions are a team that no one will want to play in the postseason, regardless of seed. The great defense is matched by an offense that features some dangerous talent, like Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate.

This team is built to win either with a lead or by coming from behind, making it a squad that can beat anyone in the playoffs.

Pittsburgh Steelers (45-2)

We don't yet know what seed the Pittsburgh Steelers will be, but they will definitely be in the postseason. Based on how they have performed against top competition this season, this is a bad thing for the AFC.

Although the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos appear to be the two best teams in the conference, the Steelers are 5-1 against opponents with a winning record. In three of those wins, the offense scored at least 40 points.

The offense has carried this squad throughout the year, thanks to the play of Le'Veon Bell, Antonio Brown and others making plays while Ben Roethlisberger is performing as well as he has throughout his career.

Meanwhile, the defense has improved lately, especially in the Week 16 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL.com discussed the strong play on that side of the ball:

The struggles against the pass might be an issue, but Roethlisberger's playoff experience and the talent on both sides of the ball will help the Steelers compete for a title. 

Atlanta Falcons (75-1)

It's hard to think about a team that was 5-9 even making the playoffs, let alone playing for a Super Bowl. However, the miserable NFC South has allowed the Atlanta Falcons to actually become favorites in the division.

After a road win against the New Orleans Saints, the Falcons now only have to win a home game against the Carolina Panthers to clinch the division. This would give a home playoff game to a team that has played much better in the second half of the year.

Since the bye in Week 9, Atlanta has gone 4-3, with each loss being within a single score. The defense has improved, with the exception of the matchup against the Packers, and the entire team has a lot more confidence.

Head coach Mike Smith discussed the different mindset of the players after the win over the Saints:

"

We think that we are playing with a lot more consistency. We are playing with a lot of confidence. I believe that we are attacking much better over the last two weeks in terms of defending the run. That, in turn, allows us to transfer into our pass rush. I think that we have done a very good job. The coaching staff put together a very good plan. Mike [Nolan] and his staff did a great job.

"

With plenty of talent and some new momentum, the Falcons could be a pesky opponent to face in January. 

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