NFL Super Bowl odds: Long shot Titans down to 8-1
Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.
In Week 7 of the regular season, the 2-4 Tennessee Titans replaced quarterback Marcus Mariota with backup and veteran, Ryan Tannehill. As the four-team field gets set for the conference championship round this weekend, the Titans are now just two wins away from being one of the most improbable stories in NFL history.
With the Titans slated to play the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers hosting the Green Bay Packers, here's how the Super Bowl odds stack up.
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Chiefs | 5-4 |
| 49ers | 3-2 |
| Packers | 7-1 |
| Titans | 8-1 |
Titans' odds history
Nobody gave Tennessee much of a shot before the season. The Titans were as high as 80-1 to win the Super Bowl over the summer. With mainstays in the AFC such as Kansas City and New England, high-ceiling teams in Baltimore, Los Angeles, and Houston, and public attention all over Cleveland, Tennessee was an afterthought. Even when the Titans clinched a playoff spot in the final week of the season, they were given the worst odds on the board at 50-1. Following a win over the Patriots in Foxborough in the wild-card round and another impressive victory over No. 1 seed Baltimore away from home, the Titans are now right in the thick of things.
Tannehill, who was traded from Miami before subsequently signing a one-year deal, put up MVP-type numbers during the regular season once he replaced Mariota. He hasn't exploded on the stat sheet so far in the playoffs - he's posted a modest 160 passing yards over two games - but has gotten back-to-back brilliant performances from running back Derrick Henry. Meanwhile, the defense has surrendered just 25 points.
49ers, Chiefs favored to move on
Both the Titans and Packers are behind the eight ball heading into the weekend. The two clubs are currently 7.5-point underdogs before the market comes in and shapes the numbers. Green Bay and San Francisco met during the regular season, with the Niners' defense holding quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Co. to just 198 total yards in a 29-point drubbing. Tennessee got the better of KC in its Week 10 matchup, winning 35-32.
Prior to the playoffs, the Chiefs and 49ers had odds of 3-1 and 4-1, respectively. If all goes right this weekend, those two will meet at Hard Rock Stadium for the Super Bowl.
But given how the postseason's played out so far, nothing's a surefire lock.
Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 12 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AJKoIodziej.