Best Value Bets for Super Bowl 51 After 2016 NFL Draft

With both the Free Agency and NFL draft pretty much done and dusted, we have a better outlook of how teams will be lining up in the 2016-17 NFL season and which franchises are likely to have the strongest runs in the NFL odds to win Super Bowl. As always, the more things change in the NFL, the more they stay the same, but after last year’s Carolina Panthers made it to the National Final despite opening as +5000 odds to win Super Bowl 50, you can’t rule out other long-priced teams from doing the same. Keeping that in mind, here are our hottest Super Bowl 51 value picks.

A Look at the Best Value Bets for Super Bowl 51 After 2016 NFL Draft

Oakland Raiders

Here it is, Raider Nation.

Check out the full 2016 season schedule: https://t.co/pQxRXs4haE pic.twitter.com/wE4RftiUkm — OAKLAND RAIDERS (@RAIDERS) April 14, 2016

The guys in Vegas are seemingly buying everything that the Raiders are selling in this offseason. After starting as distant favorites (at 66/1 odds) to win Super Bowl LI, the Raiders saw their odds rise in the betting boards following a flurry of moves in the Free Agency, highlighted by the acquisition of offensive lineman Kelechi Osemele, cornerback Sean Smith and linebacker Bruce Irvin. The rise to the odds to 28/1 after Free Agency, of course, made tons of sense, considering second-year QB Derek Carr shined the in 2015 season, throwing for 3,987 yards and 32 touchdowns, a feat that saw him make the Pro Bowl list on the season. And now after the draft saw Oakland get some much-needed capital on the defensive side of the ball, the men in Vegas are pricing the Raiders at 25/1 odds to win Super Bowl LI– good for 12th best in the NFL and even with the New York Giants and Kansas City Chiefs. Obviously, it is a long way to go and it remains to be seen if the Oakland draftees– West Virginia safety Karl Joseph, Illinois defensive end Jihad Ward, Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook, Michigan State defensive end Shilique Calhoun, Texas Tech running back DeAndre Washington, LSU offensive guard Vadal Alexander and Colorado State linebacker Cory James—will impact the team greatly as is suggested by the odds, but from the outlook of things, the Raiders have the makings of a team worthy of your consideration as strong sleepers in the Super Bowl 51 odds.

Houston Texans

The Texans have been on the upswing over the last couple of seasons and the fact that they beat heavy favorites, the Indianapolis Colts, to last year’s AFC South crown (despite not having a solid QB) is proof that this was always going to be a team to watch in 2016. Back on February 1st, Vegas had Houston pegged at 40/1 odds to win the 2017 Super Bowl, but all that changed when the Texans boldly acquired the coveted services of QB Brock Osweiler from the world champions (Denver), along with the stellar services of free-agent running back Lamar Miller from Miami. Instantly, Houston’s price went up from 40-1 to 20-1, eighth-best odds in the nation at the time. And now, the Texans have the prized services of their top-three picks Will Fuller, Nick Martin and Braxton Miller, who are all but guaranteed to feature in their team from as early as Week 1, especially in the case of star center Martin. Meanwhile fifth-round picks K.J. Dillon and D.J. Reader, along with fourth-round pick Tyler Ervin, will possibly play some crucial roles in the coming season. Andrew Luck and Indy may be poised for a big bounce-back season that may limit Houston’s ceiling, but if the new additions can gel with established veterans in the already-solid Texans squad; this Houston (currently spotting a price of 28/1 to win it all) will hold some sweet value in the 2017 Super Bowl lines.