The Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers, who clashed in Super Bowl LVIII, are expected to win their respective conferences once again. Both teams’ odds improved following their triumphant matches in Week 1 against predicted Super Bowl competitors. As of Sept. 10, FanDuel Sportsbook listed the odds to win each conference title, with Chiefs leading AFC at +280 and 49ers topping NFC at +230.
In Week 1, the Chiefs won against the Ravens, while the 49ers bested the Jets, both securing their positions at the top of oddsboards. New potential contenders also emerged. The Eagles, who had previously fallen out of favor, surprised many after acquiring star running back Saquon Barkley who then scored three touchdowns in their win against Green Bay in Week 1.
Bucky Brooks from FOX Sports attributes the Eagles’ success to Nick Sirianni’s strategic coordinator choices. Among Sirianni’s top hires were Kellen Moore and Vic Fangio, both of whom played crucial roles in the 34-29 victory over the Packers. The addition of Saquon Barkley has added a new dimension to the Eagles’ offense, where he amassed 132 scrimmage yards on 26 touches with three scores against Green Bay.
In the AFC, the Texans have climbed up the oddsboard, tying with Baltimore at second place. Brooks praised the performance of the Texans after their 29-27 win over the Colts in Week 1, asserting that they are a real contender for the Super Bowl. The performance of Joe Mixon and Stefon Diggs was singled out, highlighting that they posted over 400 yards, with Mixon totaling 159 rushing yards and Diggs scoring two short touchdowns.
Brooks further noted that if the Texans defense maintained its current performance level, it would be incredibly difficult to beat them further into the season. He said, “With Nico Collins posting a 100-yard day to complement the impressive work of the newbies, the Texans offense looked like a runaway train rumbling down the tracks. If the defense can get a few stops each week, H-town’s favorite squad will be hard to knock off down the stretch.”
As the NFL season progresses, fans and betting enthusiasts are encouraged to keep a close eye on the odds and follow FOX Sports for the latest news concerning the NFL and other sports.