NFL Power Rankings: Examining Latest Super Bowl Odds Before Week 1

Power rankings are anything but a meaningless exercise.

It's Week 1 of the 2015 NFL season, meaning power rankings are not only a necessity, but a resourceful tool for fans to use. If someone managed to miss out on the year-round news machine, rankings can help get one back up to speed on the happenings of the league and where things stand.

Even better, one can pair rankings with Super Bowl odds out of Las Vegas to find the proverbial diamonds in the rough when it comes to favorable odds.

Let's do so below with rankings based on league-wide changes as a whole and good old-fashioned projections.

Pre-Week 1 NFL Power Rankings and 2015-16 Super Bowl Odds

Rank	Team	SB Odds
1	Seattle Seahawks	13-2
2	Green Bay Packers	11-2
3	Baltimore Ravens	20-1
4	Dallas Cowboys	14-1
5	Arizona Cardinals	40-1
6	New England Patriots	9-1
7	Denver Broncos	14-1
8	Indianapolis Colts	17-2
9	Cincinnati Bengals	50-1
10	Philadelphia Eagles	17-2
11	Detroit Lions	40-1
12	Pittsburgh Steelers	20-1
13	Kansas City Chiefs	33-1
14	Miami Dolphins	25-1
15	Carolina Panthers	50-1
16	New Orleans Saints	40-1
17	San Diego Chargers	40-1
18	Minnesota Vikings	28-1
19	Buffalo Bills	50-1
20	St. Louis Rams	66-1
21	Houston Texans	50-1
22	Atlanta Falcons	40-1
23	San Francisco 49ers	66-1
24	New York Jets	100-1
25	Cleveland Browns	100-1
26	Oakland Raiders	75-1
27	New York Giants	50-1
28	Jacksonville Jaguars	200-1
29	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	100-1
30	Tennessee Titans	200-1
31	Chicago Bears	75-1
32	Washington	125-1

Odds courtesy of Odds Shark.

Odds Sure to Change Soon

Miami Dolphins (25-1)

Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press

Sometimes, it's not hard to see when a set of odds will make a jump. 

For one reason or another, Las Vegas doesn't seem 100 percent sold on the Miami Dolphins. Bettors, though, might want to take a closer look and slap down a reasonable amount of coin.

Things start at quarterback, of course. Miami has a budding great one, too, thanks to Ryan Tannehill, who completed 66.4 percent of his passes last year with 4,045 yards and 27 scores. Call it a first successful campaign under the guidance of offensive coordinator Bill Lazor.

Try to keep in mind lead running back Lamar Miller had a breakout year, too, rumbling for 5.1 yards per carry with 1,099 yards and eight scores. For Tannehill, the team dumped Mike Wallace (who caught just 67 of 115 targets) and added Greg Jennings, Kenny Stills, rookie DeVante Parker and tight end Jordan Cameron to join Jarvis Landry.

As Nick Mensio of Rotoworld.com pointed out, the moves have already paid off on the field:

It doesn't stop on offense.

Folks might recall the Dolphins were the winners of free agency by inking defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh to a deal to join a freakish defensive front also including Cameron Wake, Olivier Vernon and more.

To top it all off, the Dolphins meet Washington in Week 1, a team drowning in more drama than an episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians. This sweet spot when it comes to odds won't last long.

New Orleans Saints (40-1)

Brynn Anderson/Associated Press

The NFC has its own set of odds sure to disappear in a quick manner. 

While the New Orleans Saints don't have an opener as simple as Miami's—they play the Arizona Cardinals on the road first—the blueprint for success is there.

It should go without saying, but Drew Brees is one of the main reasons. He may have lost the aforementioned Stills and tight end Jimmy Graham, but sophomore Brandin Cooks looks ready to step into the limelight, as does the underrated Brandon Coleman.

Along the offensive line, left tackle Terron Armstead continues to look like a force, and it's easy to forget the Saints received center Max Unger in the Graham trade. Last year, Unger ranked as the league's fourth-best center at Pro Football Focus.

The Saints haven't been shy in heaping praise on the new addition, who continues to have a sweeping impact on the offense. Tackle Zach Strief put it best, per ESPN.com's Mike Triplett: "He’s a stud. Seeing a guy that can move like him in the zone game, a guy that can legitimately reach twos, which is not easy to do in this league, and can also stop a bull rush in pass-rush drill, it’s pretty unusual. There’s not a lot of 'em."

Where to start with the defense? Kevin Williams is an interesting addition in the trenches. Dannell Ellerbe will help boost the linebackers. Brandon Browner will help better combat the league's pass-happy ways. Try not to forget about safety Jairus Byrd, either, who missed most of last season but will take the field this year.

While the Saints looked like a team somewhat throwing in the towel in the hopes of a better financial future, in reality, the team has made some savvy, low-key moves to help better contend in the NFC South and beyond.

With Brees under center, anything is possible. Grab these odds while they last.

Stats courtesy of NFL.com and are accurate as of September 6. All advanced metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus.