Everyone knows who the top Super Bowl 53 favorites are but they probably won’t see these three sneaky sleepers coming.
The 2018 NFL season is just around the corner, as training camps have started and pretty soon preseason play will be underway.
One of the main things on everyone’s mind, with all 32 teams starting off undefeated, is who could emerge from the depths of the league to win the title.
The Philadelphia Eagles came out of nowhere last year and that’s followed a recurring theme of bad teams rising up the ranks to improve quickly.
That doesn’t mean the NFL is destined to again produce a surprise title contender, but it’s something all fans and sports bettors alike are wondering aloud.
If you’re new to the sports betting game, consider diving into a football betting strategy guide to help you win consistently. If you’re just down for taking a stab at some deep Super Bowl 53 sleepers, consider these three teams that nobody will see coming:
David Johnson (Photo by si.com)
I was pretty surprised to see Arizona graded so low in terms of Super Bowl 53 odds, but they’re tied with a few teams for the second-worst price in football.
That arguably shouldn’t be the case, as this team has pretty good balance with some nice pieces on both sides of the ball. Not only that, but Arizona has been pretty competitive over the last two years, despite dealing with some pretty brutal injuries.
The year before that? Arizona was a game away from the Super Bowl.
Carson Palmer’s retirement has Arizona’s betting value hitting the proverbial wall in 2018, but it’s not all bad for the Cards. David Johnson’s return gives Arizona a dynamic rushing attack, Larry Fitzgerald and Sam Bradford team up for a viable passing game and Arizona’s defense is paced by elite pass rusher, Chandler Jones.
It seems the Cardinals aren’t getting much respect even though they have a pretty good core and have at least remained in the playoff picture for several years now.
None of this means they’ll win Super Bowl 53, but at their current price, they certainly are a team to monitor.
Jay Gruden (Photo by cbssports.com)
The same goes for the Redskins, who are another team hovering around .500 over the past few years.
Kirk Cousins got this team to the playoffs two years ago, but Washington has at least been in the mix pretty much ever since Jay Gruden came to town.
The Redskins could get a sizable boost under center this year, as the savvy Alex Smith aims to pick up where Captain Kirk left off. In theory, Smith gives Washington a more reliable quarterback and one that has solid experience in getting to postseason play.
Smith doesn’t enter 2018 without help, either.
Rookie rusher Derrius Guice figures to lead a much-improved running game, while explosive targets such as Paul Richardson, Jordan Reed, Jamison Crowder and Josh Doctson make Washington’s air attack dangerous.
Washington’s defense is even tough, with Josh Norman shutting down wide receivers and Ryan Kerrigan getting after the quarterback.
On paper, Washington is another team with disgusting odds, yet has the balance and veteran leadership to potentially make a title run.
Mitchell Trubisky (Photo by bleachernation.com)
If you’re not game for a veteran team exiting the murky waters of mediocrity and ascending the ranks, perhaps a bad team like the Bears can blast off like the Jaguars and Eagles did a year ago.
Just 3-13 a year ago, Chicago isn’t a bad bet at this price, as offensive guru Matt Nagy comes to town to help second-year quarterback Mitch Trubisky reach new heights.
The Bears’ 2018 run almost certainly hinges on Trubisky’s rapid development, but he’s a deadly dual-threat passer with plenty of weapons to work with on offense.
Allen Robinson and Trey Burton look like stellar free agency additions that add spice to the passing game, while Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen could combine to give Chicago one of the more dynamic running games in the NFL.
As alluring as Chicago’s young offense could be, their defense gives even more cause for optimism.
The Bears slowly turned back the clock to their dominant days on that side of the ball in 2017 and project to be even better this year.
Should the Bears possess the balance they seem to, they could follow Philly’s blueprint and be one of the bigger surprises in all of football.
All three of these teams are interesting and if you plan on betting on the Super Bowl, they’re at least worth a look. That being said, it’s probably safe to say that one of the top teams will win in 2018.
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