Rams Surge to Top of Super Bowl LXI Betting Board

Los Angeles enters the 2026 NFL season as the clear favorite, while Buffalo, Baltimore and defending champion Seattle lead the pursuit

By Sports Desk | August 20, 2026

The Los Angeles Rams have pushed all their chips toward the center of the table—and oddsmakers have taken notice.

Los Angeles enters the final weeks of the NFL preseason as the clear favorite to win Super Bowl LXI, carrying odds of approximately +500 to +550 at major sportsbooks. A successful $100 wager at +550 would produce $550 in profit, plus the original stake.

The Buffalo Bills are the second choice at approximately +1000, while the defending champion Seattle Seahawks follow at +1100. Baltimore sits near +1200, forming a tightly packed group of challengers behind the Rams.

FanDuel’s August 5 board listed Los Angeles at +550, followed by Buffalo at +1000, Seattle at +1100 and Baltimore at +1200. More recent reporting has shown the Rams as short as +500, with the other three teams maintaining similar positions. CBS Sports’ Super Bowl LXI futures board

Rams Go All-In Again

The Rams’ rise to the top accelerated after their blockbuster acquisition of Myles Garrett from the Cleveland Browns. Los Angeles traded former Defensive Rookie of the Year Jared Verse and three draft selections for Garrett, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

Garrett recorded an NFL-best 23 sacks last season and now joins a Rams team led by reigning league MVP Matthew Stafford. The combination makes Los Angeles the first team to begin a season with the previous year’s MVP and Defensive Player of the Year on the same roster, according to CBS Sports research.

The Rams also strengthened their secondary by acquiring All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie from Kansas City, reinforcing an aggressive, championship-or-bust approach.

There are short-term health concerns. Garrett has been dealing with a knee injury during training camp, while receiver Puka Nacua has been sidelined by a hip-muscle injury. Neither issue has pushed Los Angeles from the top of the market, but both will be monitored as Week 1 approaches.

The potential return of retired defensive tackle Aaron Donald adds another extraordinary possibility. Donald has worked out with the team but had not announced a decision as of August 20.

The Rams will also enjoy a rare incentive: Super Bowl LXI will be played at their home stadium. The championship game is scheduled for February 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. NFL announcement

Buffalo Still Chasing Its Breakthrough

Buffalo remains the leading AFC candidate at approximately +1000, although the Bills enter the season under considerable pressure.

Quarterback Josh Allen ensures that Buffalo will remain dangerous in any postseason matchup. The larger question is whether the Bills can finally turn years of regular-season success into the franchise’s first Super Bowl championship.

Buffalo has attempted to strengthen its defense under coordinator Jim Leonhard after another frustrating playoff departure. The Bills’ odds suggest that sportsbooks still believe the roster is capable of reaching the championship game, even with questions surrounding the team’s coaching transition and postseason history.

Baltimore occupies a similar position. The Ravens are generally available between +1000 and +1200, making them either the second- or fourth-shortest choice depending on the sportsbook.

Lamar Jackson remains one of the league’s most dangerous quarterbacks, but Baltimore must rebound after missing the playoffs last season. Oddsmakers appear to view that disappointment as an aberration rather than the beginning of a decline.

Seahawks Attempt to Defend Their Crown

Seattle enters the season at approximately +1100, a substantial change from the long odds attached to the Seahawks before their championship run.

The Seahawks defeated New England 29-13 in Super Bowl LX and became the first preseason long shot of more than 40-1 to win the championship since the 2001 Patriots. Seattle had opened last season around 60-1 before completing its unlikely run.

Repeating will be difficult, particularly in an NFC West division that includes the favored Rams and a San Francisco team priced near +1800. Seattle, however, returns much of its championship roster and remains close to the top of the market.

The Seahawks opened as the +800 favorite immediately after winning the title, but the Rams’ aggressive offseason pushed Seattle down the board. Yahoo Sports’ opening Super Bowl LXI odds

Familiar Contenders Fill the Second Tier

Several established contenders appear between approximately +1600 and +2200, a range that could attract bettors who believe the gap between the Rams and the rest of the league is smaller than the odds suggest.

Kansas City remains a notable presence at approximately +1600. The Chiefs missed the playoffs last season, but a team led by Patrick Mahomes cannot be dismissed after years of championship success.

Philadelphia is also listed near +1600 or +1700. The Eagles are adjusting after the departure of receiver A.J. Brown, placing additional responsibility on quarterback Jalen Hurts, running back Saquon Barkley and receiver DeVonta Smith.

New England, last season’s AFC champion, occupies the same general price range. The Patriots must demonstrate that their run to Super Bowl LX was sustainable, but the development of quarterback Drake Maye keeps them in the championship conversation.

The Los Angeles Chargers are another intriguing option around +1600. New offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel has been tasked with building a more explosive attack around Justin Herbert, giving the Chargers a potentially higher ceiling than in recent seasons.

Dallas Leads the Value Conversation

Dallas is listed near +2200, placing the Cowboys outside the primary group of favorites. Their offense gives them postseason potential, but a defense that struggled badly last season must improve before Dallas can be regarded as a trustworthy championship selection.

The Cowboys have also gone nearly three decades without reaching an NFC Championship Game. That history does not directly determine what will happen in 2026, but it explains why the market remains cautious.

Chicago at approximately +2700 and Jacksonville near +3000 represent the next group of potential value choices. Minnesota is generally available around +4000, while Tampa Bay and Indianapolis sit near +5000.

Long Shots Search for Another Seattle Surprise

Seattle’s championship changed the way bettors may approach the bottom half of this year’s board. The Seahawks proved that a team carrying preseason odds of approximately 60-1 could survive the NFL’s postseason tournament.

The Giants are available near +6500, while Atlanta, Carolina and New Orleans have appeared around +8000. Tennessee and Las Vegas sit near +12500, with Cleveland, the Jets, Miami and Arizona occupying the longest-odds portion of the market.

Those prices offer enormous potential returns, but also reflect severe roster, quarterback or organizational uncertainty. Seattle’s accomplishment was historically unusual, not evidence that every long shot provides genuine value.

For the moment, the market has delivered an unmistakable verdict. The Rams are the NFL’s team to beat, and their pursuit of a championship in their own stadium will be one of the defining stories of the 2026 season.

Odds are approximate as of August 20, 2026, and may vary by sportsbook and location. Futures prices can change because of injuries, transactions and betting activity. Gambling should be limited to legal jurisdictions and treated as entertainment. If gambling becomes a problem, call or text 1-800-GAMBLER.