Week 5 of the NFL season officially consummated when the San Francisco 49ers dismantled the Cleveland Browns 31-3 on Monday Night Football.
With the first chunk of the season in the books, updated divisional, conference and Super Bowl odds have been posted at several sportsbooks. Some teams have performed as expected, but many have plummeted or skyrocketed in the opening act.
New England has picked up where it left off last year, opening the season with a 5-0 record. The Patriots were a 7/1 ‘chalk’ to repeat as champions, but they are now up to 3/1 at Bovada after looking the part once again.
Due to a lack of parity in the AFC East, New England is a heavy -2500 to win the division. Buffalo is the only other team with a realistic chance, but the Bills still have generous 8/1 odds despite starting the year 4-1.
There are also specialty props for the Patriots listed at 5Dimes. New England is +625 to go unbeaten in the regular season, +1150 to win the AFC with an 18-0 record and 13/1 to have an immaculate 19-0 season.
A mixture of injuries and confusing performances have left multiple teams bunched up behind the Patriots on the Super Bowl futures sheet. Kansas City was cruising along during its first four games, but the Chiefs’ stunning loss to Indianapolis as double-digit home favorites has left several question marks.
Patrick Mahomes has been dominant, but he was limping around the field during most of the second half on Sunday. Kansas City is still 6/1 to win Super Bowl LIV, however, which is an upgrade from its 8/1 preseason odds.
New Orleans has been without Drew Brees as he recovers from thumb surgery, but Teddy Bridgewater has helped the Saints get off to 4-1 start. There has been no movement regarding New Orleans’ Super Bowl odds, as they opened the season at 9/1 and currently sit at the same price.
The Rams opened the year with the fourth-shortest odds to win it all at 11/1. Los Angeles has now dropped two straight games and have a 3-2 record, falling to 16/1 in the futures market.
Green Bay and Dallas — who played Sunday with the Packers winning at Jerry World — have both impressed oddsmakers thus far. The Packers’ 4-1 start has caused a jump from 19/1 to 12/1. Despite losing to Green Bay, the Cowboys have shifted from 25/1 to 15/1.
Several teams have seen their odds plummet. Cleveland has gone from 15/1 to 33/1 after losing again on Monday night. Atlanta has fallen even further, moving from 32/1 to 100/1.
Pittsburgh has dropped from 19/1 to 100/1 after losing Ben Roethlisberger and starting the season 1-4. The Steelers are starting undrafted rookie QB Devlin Hodges when they play Sunday night at the Chargers. Hodges, who played well in relief of Mason Rudolph in an overtime loss to Baltimore, went to Samford and is the FCS all-time leader in career passing yards.
Week 6 begins when New England plays host to the New York Giants as 16.5 point favorites on Thursday night. RBs Saquon Barkley and Wayne Gallman, in addition to WR Sterling Shepard, are ‘doubtful’ with injuries, and TE Evan Engram is ‘questionable’ with a sprained MCL.