SBLVI Odds Tracker: Why AFC Teams Trail NFC Teams

• The Buffalo Bills have the shortest odds of any AFC team at (+600) to win the Super Bowl.
• The Baltimore Ravens are (+1000) with the second-shortest odds in the AFC.
• The Kansas City Chiefs (+1000) and Tennessee Titans (+1200) are next on the odds board.

LOS ANGELES – The AFC teams are not being as heavily represented in the Super Bowl odds in comparison to the NFC teams.

AFC Teams Trail Behind NFC Counterparts

The odds available on legal sports betting sites show a disparity between the AFC and NFC teams in the Super Bowl futures. The Buffalo Bills are tied with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the shortest odds in the league, but after that, the NFC teams hold an edge over the AFC.

After the Bills, who just lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars, come the Baltimore Ravens who have the third-best point differential in their division alone. Following, are the Kansas City Chiefs who are currently third in their divisional standings.

Arguably the most impressive looking team in the AFC, the Tennessee Titans have the fourth-shortest odds in the conference despite being the AFC’s No. 1 overall seed.

A couple of the teams ahead of them in odds aren’t even in that good of shape to make the playoffs which makes it an interesting line if nothing else.

Why Do NFC Teams Have Shorter Odds?

The NFC is much easier to dissect. While the AFC has multiple divisions that are close between a couple of teams, the NFC playoffs seem more or less set already with only a spot or two truly up for grabs. Making the playoffs is half the battle and those betting on the NFL can already lock in their NFC picks while the same cannot be said for the AFC.

Two of the four AFC divisions have all four teams separated by a single game or less. The NFC has just two divisions where first and second place are separated by a single game.

The AFC has four teams with a 5-4 record currently outside of the playoff picture while the NFC has teams at 4-4 inside the playoff picture.

AFC playoff picture (through Week 9)

1. Titans (7-2)
2. Ravens (6-2)
3. Chargers (5-3)
4. Bills (5-3)
5. Raiders (5-3)
6. Steelers (5-3)
7. Patriots (5-4)

— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) November 9, 2021

As the weeks start to pass and the AFC playoff race becomes more clear, expect AFC teams to start overtaking the NFC teams, or at the very least evening out a little more.

News tags: AFC NFC | Baltimore Ravens | Buffalo Bills | Kansas City Chiefs | NFL | Super Bowl 56 | Tennessee Titans