HOUSTON – The Texans have the third-best odds to make it to the Super Bowl out of the AFC, according to popular Vegas sportsbook Bovada.
Let that sink in.
The casinos believe in the Texans, most likely more than most of you.
The Patriots (+500) and Steelers (+1400) are the only AFC teams with better odds to win the Super Bowl than the Texans (+2500).
The return of Deshaun Watson and J.J. Watt is sure to help Houston, which won four games last season. Other issues with the Texans include, but are not limited to, the offensive line (allowed 54 sacks last season), lack of a second target besides DeAndre Hopkins (Will Fuller V was second on the team with 28 catches, and Stephen Anderson led the TE group with 25 catches) and an inconsistent secondary.
Jadeveon Clowney has progressed nicely, and Whitney Mercilus should be ready for the start of the season after suffering a season-ending shoulder injury last year.
Of note, the Texans have the same chance of capturing the franchise's first title as the Jaguars. Jacksonville lost to the Patriots in the AFC Championship game two weeks ago.
The Texans have never been to an AFC Championship game.
The San Francisco 49ers (+1800) have a better chance to win the Super Bowl than every team in the AFC besides Pittsburgh and New England.
The Panthers (+2500) and Seahawks (+2500) have the same odds as the Texans.
Ten of the 14 highest-favorited teams are in the NFC.
Here is a complete list of the odds and a link to the site.
- New England Patriots +500
- Green Bay Packers +900
- Philadelphia Eagles +900
- Minnesota Vikings +1200
- Pittsburgh Steelers +1400
- Dallas Cowboys +1800
- Los Angeles Rams +1800
- New Orleans Saints +1800
- Atlanta Falcons +1800
- San Francisco 49ers +1800
- Carolina Panthers +2500
- Houston Texans +2500
- Seattle Seahawks +2500
- Jacksonville Jaguars +2500
- Kansas City Chiefs +2800
- Denver Broncos +3300
- Indianapolis Colts +3300
- Los Angeles Chargers +3300
- Oakland Raiders +3300
- Baltimore Ravens +4000
- Detroit Lions +5000
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers +5000
- Arizona Cardinals +5000
- New York Giants +5000
- Tennessee Titans +5000
- Washington Redskins +5000
- Buffalo Bills +6600
- Cincinnati Bengals +6600
- Miami Dolphins +6600
- New York Jets +6600
- Chicago Bears +7500
- Cleveland Browns +10000