3 reasons the Eagles are being overlooked in latest Super Bowl odds
By Jovan Alford
After their thrilling 38-31 victory over the Washington Commanders in Week 8, the Philadelphia Eagles have the best record in the NFL and NFC at 7-1. With the Eagles having the best record in the NFL, one would think they would be the favorite to win the Super Bowl.
However, as we head into Week 9, the Eagles are surprisingly tied with the San Francisco 49ers for the second-best odds to win the Super Bowl (+600) behind the Kansas City Chiefs. It makes sense why the Chiefs are still the favorites, as they have Patrick Mahomes and are the defending Super Bowl champions.
But for the Eagles to be sharing second place with the 49ers, who have lost three consecutive games, it doesn’t make sense, especially when Philadelphia has the best odds to win the NFC (+250).
Nevertheless, we’ll discuss three reasons why the Eagles are being overlooked in the latest Super Bowl odds and if bettors should wager on the defending NFC champions.
1. Strength of schedule
Out of the seven wins the Eagles have this season, the only two teams above .500 are the Miami Dolphins (6-2) and New York Jets (4-3). The five other teams that the Eagles played have a combined record (15-24). Now granted, that isn’t the Eagles' fault, as you can play who is on your schedule.
However, the betting public might be uncertain whether this team is good or just had easy competition. Most fans can’t wait to see how the Eagles play in their next six games, where they will face the Cowboys (twice), Bills, 49ers, Chiefs, and Seahawks. If Philadelphia can make it through those games above .500, their odds will quickly shorten.
2. Jalen Hurts not playing at an MVP level
Hurts isn’t having the MVP-caliber season we saw from him last season, where he racked up 35 total touchdowns, 4,461 total yards, and six interceptions. At this time last year, Hurts had 18 total touchdowns, 2,368 total yards, and only two interceptions.
This season, things have been slightly different for Hurts, who has completed 68.4% of his passes for 2,140 yards, 13 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. The amount of turnovers has some fans alarmed, but Hurts showed last week against the Commanders that he’s one of the best QBs in the league when he’s locked in playing his game.
3. The likelihood of returning to the Super Bowl in consecutive years
It’s rare for a team to play in the Super Bowl for two straight years, whether they won or lost the previous season. The Bengals almost pulled it off last season but lost in the AFC title game to the Chiefs. Philly’s road back to the Super Bowl is not easy, as many fans believe that the 49ers, Cowboys, or Lions could derail them.
The Lions and Cowboys have the second-best records in the NFC (6-2), while the 49ers are right there at 5-3. For the Eagles to accomplish this feat, they need to prove that they can beat Kansas City, Buffalo, etc, in the second half of the season. Philly also must stay healthy, which has been tough this season and wasn’t a major issue in 2022. If those two things happen, the Eagles will not be a bad bet to win the Super Bowl.
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Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.