Super Bowl odds, best bets entering Week 1: Ravens-Chiefs opener will set an early tone for the season

When the 2024 NFL season kicks off Thursday night, two of the league’s three biggest favorites to win Super Bowl LIX (59) will take the field. And barring a tie, one will start the new campaign with a loss.

While an 0-1 start for the Baltimore Ravens or Kansas City Chiefs will hardly exclude either from recovering to make a deep run to and through the playoffs, it would likely paint how we view the loser in relation to the contender they just lost to.

That’s why if you think the Chiefs (+500) or Ravens (+1000) are superior to the other and destined for a title this year, you might as well bet them now. The winner’s odds are only going to shrink after Thursday.

That’s especially the case for the Ravens at +1000. Though both teams are among my favorites, and I like the Chiefs a little more in the long run, I think the Ravens are a better bet in Week 1. Their +1000 odds simply aren’t a proper reflection of how close I believe they are to KC at +500.

The Ravens are only 3-point underdogs in Arrowhead after all.

Besides, even if the Chiefs win and their already short odds shrink a little more, it’s not like they’ll go undefeated. We’d likely see their odds rise back to +500 or longer before the season is over. There’s plenty of time to bet on the Chiefs… I think.

Now for my other favorite Super Bowl odds entering Week 1:

Green Bay Packers (+1600)

As 2-point dogs in Philadelphia, the Packers could very well lose this week. So, why bet on their odds now? Because as the spread suggests, they are very evenly matched with the Eagles, whose title odds are only slightly better at +1200. So even if the Packers lose as expected, I don’t expect these odds to budge much — as long as they play it tight. If they win, though, you’ll wish you grabbed them at this price.

Dallas Cowboys (+2000)

Everyone is down on the Cowboys after all their departures (and contract disputes) this offseason. That includes oddsmakers, who give them just the fifth-best odds to win the NFC after Dallas tied for the conference’s best record a year ago. I understand the skepticism, but I think it’s gone a little too far. These odds will slowly drop over the course of the season, and that can start with a season-opening road win over the tough Cleveland Browns.

Los Angeles Rams (+3000)

I’m a big believer in the Rams. They shouldn’t be favored over teams like the 49ers or Detroit Lions — who they play in Week 1 — but they have the right pieces to pull off an upset over those elite teams on the right day. They very nearly knocked off Detroit in last year’s playoff meeting. That’s why I’d take their odds now ahead of Sunday’s rematch. A close loss won’t hurt them much, but a win should shrink this number.