Super Bowl 2015 Predictions and Odds, Post-Wild Card Weekend
Wild Card Weekend is officially in the books, and only eight NFL teams remain in pursuit of the Lombardi Trophy and Super Bowl glory.
While the four teams that earned first-round byes—Green Bay, Seattle, Denver and New England—possess the best odds to win the Super Bowl, it's important to remember that three of the last four world champions have come out of Wild Card Weekend, meaning that it's not a lock for the top seeds to advance.
Vegas is currently projecting an NFC Championship Game of Green Bay at Seattle and Denver at New England, and while both would be awesome, there's absolutely a chance for an upset (or upsets) this weekend. Even Carolina, which has the worst Super Bowl odds of any of the remaining teams, could find a way to advance to the next round.
Here are the post-Wild Card Weekend predictions and odds, courtesy of OddsShark, for every playoff team to win Super Bowl XLIX.
Carolina Panthers
1 of 8
Odds: 25/1
For Carolina Panthers fans, the good news is that your team advanced to the divisional round of the NFC playoffs by virtue of winning its fifth straight game, a 27-16 home triumph over the Arizona Cardinals.
The bad news is that if the Cardinals had started a competent quarterback—and yes, their regular backup quarterback, Drew Stanton, would fit that criteria—they would have won by 10. And not to be the bearer of more bad news, but the victory set up a date in Seattle with the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks.
But before we move to Seattle, let's focus on the good: Carolina's defense was once again terrific, shutting down a (muted) Cardinals offense. While it's true that Arizona started a hapless Ryan Lindley at quarterback, you can only beat who's on your schedule. The Panthers did just that, with a ferocious defensive effort keyed by star linebacker Luke Kuechly and end Charles Johnson.
The win also marked the fourth time in five games that Carolina has gone for more than 175 yards rushing, so its formula for success has remained intact. Coach Ron Rivera was surely hoping for a sharper effort from quarterback Cam Newton (18-of-32 passing for 198 yards, two touchdown tosses and an interception), but Newton was good enough to secure the win.
The next stop on Carolina's magic carpet ride is the Pacific Northwest. Per OddsShark, the Seahawks are listed as 11.5-point favorites, so Vegas is expecting the defending champs to roll.
But with the way the Panthers have come together as a team, it shouldn't surprise anyone if Newton and company keep Carolina in the game. But pulling an upset against the team with arguably the best home-field advantage in the league might be too tall of an order.
Next Game: at Seattle Seahawks (Saturday, 8:15 p.m. ET)
Baltimore Ravens
2 of 8
Odds: 18/1
Wait, what year is it?
With the Baltimore Ravens clicking at the right time and looking like an extremely dangerous dark-horse candidate to come out of the AFC, it feels like 2012 all over again. Two years ago, the Ravens completed an improbable run toward the Super Bowl with road victories against the Patriots and Broncos.
Now, coach John Harbaugh, quarterback Joe Flacco and company could have the chance to repeat that feat, starting with Saturday's game in Foxborough against Tom Brady and New England.
Let's face facts: The last team that the top-seeded Patriots wanted to see in the divisional round was the Ravens. Baltimore is clearly unafraid of New England, having beaten the Pats twice in Gillette Stadium in the postseason since 2009, including in the 2012 AFC Championship Game. The Ravens have the pass-rushers on defense—think linebackers Elvis Dumervil and Terrell Suggs—to harass Brady, and Flacco looks as if he's once again saved his best football for when it matters the most.
Over the course of his last seven postseason games—including last Saturday's road victory that knocked out the rival Pittsburgh Steelers—Flacco has tossed 17 touchdown passes against only one interception. It's reached the point where Flacco is now expected to dominate in January, and that's a scary proposition for the rest of the AFC.
Just consider what Harbaugh said about Flacco in the wake of the wild-card win over Pittsburgh (h/t Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com): "He's the best quarterback in football. We'll take him any day of the week, twice on Sunday or Saturday if that be the case."
With Flacco slinging the ball at a (dare we say) elite clip and the Ravens defense flashing signs of dominance, Baltimore looms as a major threat to both the Patriots and Broncos for AFC supremacy.
Next Game: at New England Patriots (Saturday, 4:35 p.m. ET)
Indianapolis Colts
3 of 8
Odds: 18/1
Stop us if you've heard this one before: Spearheaded by the overwhelming greatness of quarterback Andrew Luck, the Indianapolis Colts knocked off an AFC rival at home.
Luck was majestic in Indianapolis' wild-card win over the Bengals, completing 31 of 44 passes for 376 yards and a ridiculously impressive touchdown pass to rookie receiver Donte Moncrief. Simply put: Luck is good enough to carry the Colts deep in the postseason, an idea explored recently by B/R's Ty Schalter.
The problem, of course, is that the team around Luck isn't of a Super Bowl quality. While the defense played well against Cincinnati, the Bengals clearly weren't at full strength, as they were without star receiver A.J. Green (among others). It's a tall order to expect a repeat performance this Sunday when the Colts play old friend Peyton Manning and the Broncos in Denver.
Ah, yes. On Sunday, football fans will be treated to another chapter of Luck versus Manning, as Indianapolis' current star passer meets its former signal-caller. The Colts and Broncos squared off in Week 1, with Denver jumping out to a huge lead before holding on to a 31-24 victory. While Luck has proved quite adept at the second-half comeback, it's safe to say that if Manning and company jump out to a huge lead, the Colts will be sunk.
Let's not mince words: The Broncos are the far superior team to the Colts and should win fairly easily. But the potential fly in the ointment is Luck, who is capable of staggering feats of greatness. As long as he's on the field, the Colts remain firmly in the Super Bowl hunt and cannot be counted out.
Next Game: at Denver Broncos (Sunday, 4:40 p.m. ET)
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Dallas Cowboys
4 of 8
Odds: 7/1
How 'bout them Dallas Cowboys?
The Cowboys won their first playoff game since 2009, coming from behind to beat the Lions 24-20. While the victory came in dubious fashion (what with a picked up pass-interference flag and all), a win is a win is a win. The Cowboys put themselves in a position to advance, and they did, so anything said to the contrary is sour grapes.
Tony Romo continued to debunk the myth that he isn't a big-time clutch quarterback, leading Dallas on a game-winning drive that culminated in a touchdown toss to receiver Terrance Williams. Despite being under duress for most of the game, Romo was at his best when it mattered the most, giving Cowboys fans hope that the best is yet to come. And indeed, Cowboys fans should feel great about the fact that their team won without vintage performances from running back DeMarco Murray, receiver Dez Bryant or the heralded offensive line.
Even Dallas' defense came to play. After allowing 14 first-quarter points, Rod Marinelli's group stiffened, only permitting a pair of field goals the rest of the way. Plus, coach Jason Garrett showed tremendous guts in going for it on a critical pair of fourth downs, and he came up aces on both occasions.
Up next for Romo and company? Oh, just an Ice Bowl rematch at Lambeau Field against quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, in a game that will surely get a monster television rating.
The Cowboys have a real shot to beat Green Bay, and don't believe anyone who tells you otherwise. Their likely formula—control the football with Murray and keep it out of Rodgers' hands—is a viable one and could be pulled off successfully. The fact that Dallas is 8-0 on the road this year also helps.
One game separates the Cowboys from their first NFC Championship Game since January of 1996. It'll be up to Romo and Garrett to get them there.
Next Game: at Green Bay Packers (Sunday, 1:05 p.m. ET)
Denver Broncos
5 of 8
Odds: 6/1
The Denver Broncos monitored the AFC Wild Card Round from the comfort of their living rooms, and they watched as the Indianapolis Colts earned a trip to the Mile High City for the right to advance to the AFC Championship Game.
For quarterback Peyton Manning and the offense, there has to be a level of excitement at the prospect of facing Indianapolis' overmatched defense. In Week 1, Manning and company dropped 31 on the Colts in a home victory, and it really could (and should) have been more, had coach John Fox not pulled his foot off the gas pedal. In theory, the Broncos should score 35-plus on Sunday against the Colts.
But as Manning can attest, things don't always go according to plan in the postseason. Two years ago, the Broncos lost a heartbreaker in the divisional round to Baltimore. Last year, they were blown out by Seattle in Super Bowl. They were the favorite in both games. So while Denver should beat the Colts, it's likely that Broncos fans are a bit nervous for the upcoming game.
One thing for Broncos supporters to hang their collective hats on has been the improved performance of the defense. Keyed by pass-rushing linebackers Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware—along with stud cornerbacks Aqib Talib and Chris Harris—Denver's defense has flashed the form of a championship unit, so it's not outside the realm of possibility that it'll contain Colts star quarterback Andrew Luck.
Ultimately, if Manning and the offense does their job, the Broncos will win and advance.
And that's usually a pretty good bet.
Next Game: Indianapolis Colts (Sunday, 4:40 p.m. ET)
Green Bay Packers
6 of 8
Odds: 11/2
The Green Bay Packers got a much-needed week of rest—and with their bye now in the books, they'll host the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday for a chance to advance to the NFC Championship Game.
For the Packers, everything starts and ends with celestial quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the NFL's answer to Galactus. Rodgers is coming off a season for the ages, one in which he tossed 38 touchdown passes against only five interceptions. Green Bay's offense is absolutely loaded at the skill positions, with running back Eddie Lacy and receivers Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb making life easy for Rodgers.
The offense shouldn't (and likely doesn't) concern Packers fans. What should concern Packers fans is the defense, which has let the team down over the past few postseasons. It's worth noting that coordinator Dom Capers' unit performed better this year (finishing ranked 15th overall), but the prospect of going up against Dallas' offense likely proves worrisome.
If Green Bay's defense can pressure Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo and slow down running back DeMarco Murray, the Packers should emerge victorious. It's tough to envision a scenario in which the Cowboys defense can slow down Rodgers and the high-octane Packers aerial assault, so Dallas will need to score (and score in bunches) to hang in the game.
As is usually the case for the Packers: They'll advance if their defense can get the job done.
And oh yeah, the team's unblemished (8-0) record at Lambeau Field this year won't hurt, either.
Next Game: Dallas Cowboys (Sunday, 1:05 p.m. ET)
New England Patriots
7 of 8
Odds: 10/3
Given that they advance deep into the playoffs seemingly every season, it's hard to believe that it's been 10 years since the New England Patriots last won a Super Bowl. But it can be argued that this Patriots team is the best equipped to get back to the big game since the undefeated 2007 squad.
This team is absolutely loaded. Quarterback Tom Brady leads an offense that's capable of winning either on the ground or through the air, and his top weapon is undoubtedly tight end Rob Gronkowski. The man known as "Gronk" proved unstoppable in the regular season, hauling in 12 touchdown receptions.
And this defense is better than what it's been over the last few seasons, with cornerback Darrelle Revis being the primary difference-maker. Coach Bill Belichick has to feel confident about his defense, which allowed fewer than 20 points per game in the regular season.
With home-field advantage through the AFC playoffs, a star-studded roster and a Hall of Fame coach and quarterback, it's fair to say the Patriots are the favorites to represent the conference in the Super Bowl. But it's also fair to say that they wanted no part of Saturday's opponent, the Baltimore Ravens, in the divisional round.
After all, the Ravens have beaten the Patriots at Foxborough twice in the postseason since 2009, and it would have been three if not for a famous drop by former Baltimore receiver Lee Evans. The Ravens clearly don't fear the Patriots and should prove to be stiff competition.
But even though the Ravens have had past success against the Patriots, New England must still be considered the favorite to survive and advance. And if the Patriots do advance to their fourth consecutive AFC Championship Game, they'll be considered the favorite to play for their first Super Bowl title since 2004.
Next Game: Baltimore Ravens (Saturday, 4:35 p.m. ET)
Seattle Seahawks
8 of 8
Odds: 2/1
According to Las Vegas, the team with the best odds of winning the Super Bowl is the defending world champion Seattle Seahawks—and given that fact, it's no coincidence that they have the easiest matchup of the divisional round, as they host the 8-8-1 Carolina Panthers.
That's no slight against a red-hot Panthers team that has proved it belongs in the postseason. It's just that the Seahawks are better and appear to be on a second consecutive championship arc.
Over the final few weeks of the season, Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson really elevated his level of play, and with running back Marshawn Lynch serving as the fulcrum of the offense, the unit is dangerous. And everyone knows about the greatness of cornerback Richard Sherman, safety Earl Thomas and the Seattle defense.
In the three seasons that Wilson has started for Seattle, the Seahawks have played quarterback Cam Newton and the Panthers three times—and emerged triumphant in all three games, allowing fewer than 10 points per game over that span. That doesn't bode well for a Carolina offense that would never be described as explosive.
When and if the Seahawks move on to the NFC Championship Game, they'd host either the Packers or Cowboys. And while that would prove a significantly tougher task than beating the Panthers, there's no question that the Seahawks will continue to hold the best Super Bowl odds for as long as they remain alive in the tournament.
Next Game: Carolina Panthers (Saturday, 8:15 p.m. ET)
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