Super Bowl LI Odds: Patriots, Packers Top Betting Board as Preseason Starts

As the start of the 2016 NFL preseason officially kicks off with the Hall of Fame Game on Sunday, the Green Bay Packers will suit up as one of two favorites to win Super Bowl LI in Houston on February 5.

The Packers are listed as the +850 second choice (bet $100 to win $850) to win the big game at sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark behind two-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers, who is trying to bounce back from a down year.

According to ESPN.com's Jason Wilde, Rodgers is not expected to play against Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts in the Hall of Fame Game, which is probably a good thing considering his favorite receiver Jordy Nelson has already been placed on the PUP list because his surgically repaired knee is still bothering him.

Luck’s Colts are more of a long shot to win the Super Bowl this season at +2500 despite the fact that he is now fully healthy and was one game away from reaching it two years ago. Indy was stopped then by the New England Patriots, who are the favorites to win their fifth Super Bowl at +600.

The Patriots were accused of cheating that year with the Deflategate scandal taking place during the AFC Championship Game. They routed Indy 45-7 and went on to win their fourth Vince Lombardi Trophy with a 28-24 victory against the Seattle Seahawks.

However, New England is paying the price now with Tom Brady suspended for the first four games of the regular season. Brady is also a two-time league MVP and three-time Super Bowl MVP who was accused of deflating balls during his team’s last title run.

Two other top Super Bowl contenders this year must deal with the loss of key running backs.

The Seahawks are +1000 and saw Marshawn Lynch retire in the offseason, but they have a viable replacement in second-year player Thomas Rawls, who is still recovering from an ankle injury suffered last season.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are +1200 along with the defending NFC champion Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals. The Steelers are expected to be without Le’Veon Bell for the first four games due to a repeat violation of the NFL’s substance abuse policy.

In addition, the defending Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos are +1800 after upsetting the Panthers 24-10 last year, but they will be without future Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning for the first time since 2011.