National Football League

Super Bowl Favorites

Updated May. 13, 2020 9:10 p.m. ET

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Super Bowl 55 will be played in Tampa next February, and given how the Bucs reshaped their roster this offseason, the potential is there for a real home field advantage in the final game of the season. The Tom Brady-led Bucs have the fifth best odds to get to the Super Bowl — and on that note, we thought it would be fun to explore the five best Super Bowl 55 matchups.

They're ranked below from the most anticipated to the least, but honestly, options two through four or all pretty appealing; it really comes down to a matter of taste.

Oh, and one last note. Our friends over at FOX Bet were kind enough to provide the point spread for each of these hypothetical matchups, so I've also added my two cents on which side of the line I'd be on if the game were to take place.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-7.5) vs. New England Patriots

With two weeks between conference championship weekend and the Super Bowl, I can say this with some certainty: This would be the most anticipated football game of my lifetime.

The storylines write themselves in this one. Teacher (Bill Belichick) vs Student (Tom Brady). From two decades of greatness, to rumored friction, to one of the most popular football questions this century: Did the Patriots win more because of Belichick or Brady? Toss in Rob Gronkowski — retiring, but then coming back a year later because he loved football, but just didn’t want to play with Belichick — and you’ve a game dripping with drama. At the risk of further hyperbole, if the Patriots get here (+2500), it may be one of the finest coaching jobs in league history.

And yes, I’d pound the Patriots getting over a touchdown. You’re giving me the better coach and what I project as the better defense, and a touchdown? Against a QB they’ve seen in practice for years? Thank you.

Kansas City Chiefs (-2.5) vs. New Orleans Saints

The sentimental choice here would obviously be Drew Brees, playing in his final game, and hoping to go out like John Elway and Peyton Manning did, with a Super Bowl win.Chiefs fans travel well, but Tampa is just a Taysom Hill heave away from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, and familiarity is always a good thing.

I couldn’t take the bait. The Saints defense in recent history has thrived in the regular season; then in the playoffs, they can’t stop a nose bleed.

I’d ride with Patrick Mahomes in an attempt to capture back-to-back Super Bowl titles. It certainly would spark discussion about how’s he’s only 25 (in September), and on track to possibly become the greatest QB in NFL history.

Baltimore Ravens (-1) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Good luck finding a Super Bowl with a bigger contrast in styles. In 18 seasons, Tom Brady has rushed for 1,037 yards; last season, Lamar Jackson rushed for 1,206 yards.

As eye-opening as that stat is, I’m stunned the Ravens would only be a 1-point favorite here. Perhaps it’s because Baltimore defensive coordinator Wink Martindale has been with the team for nearly a decade and Tom Brady has seen him plenty.

Again, the Bucs would have the home field advantage, but even if the Ravens slide back a little from 2019, I project them to remain in the Top 10 defensively. Don’t let the stunning playoff loss to the Titans fool you; last year, the Ravens were the only NFL team in the Top 10 for efficiency for offense, defense, and special teams.

Kansas City Chiefs (-2) vs. San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers led the Chiefs by 10 with eight minutes left in the 4th quarter in January’s Super Bowl. My prop bets were doing well, and I was on the verge of spending my soon-to-be 49ers winnings. And then they collapsed, giving up a 21-0 run in the stunning final seven minutes. That one hurt.

And I’d bet the 49ers again. I don’t see a significant drop-off coming for the 49ers defense, and with healthy running backs and Kyle Shanahan now having been a part of two blown 2nd half Super Bowl leads (who can forget Falcons 28, Patriots 3, when he was the OC in Atlanta), there’s just no way he gets conservative again. Right? Right?

The NFL hasn’t had a Super Bowl rematch since the Cowboys beat the Bills handily in 1993 and 1994.

Pittsburgh Steelers (-.5) vs. Philadelphia Eagles

The battle of Pennsylvania doesn’t have the national juice of any of the other potential matchups, but from a gambling standpoint, it’s tough to not love the Eagles here.

Ponder, just for a moment, the career of Carson Wentz: Four seasons in the NFL, three playoff trips, zero playoff wins. But he has a Super Bowl ring! I’d lean toward the Eagles just a bit here. With nobody healthy at the skill positions, they still managed to win nine games and the NFC East last season. The Eagles thumped the Steelers 34-3 back in 2016, and they meet again on October 11th in Pittsburgh.

The Steelers have the better defense, and a QB who has won two Super Bowls. If you like storylines, how about Ben Roethlisberger? From suffering the biggest injury of his career, only paying two games last year, and then making a run to the Super Bowl is fun for everyone.

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