Bengals Super Bowl 57 Odds Falling As Offseason Nears
By Joe Summers
The Bengals were the darling of the NFL postseason, overcoming significant odds to reach their first Super Bowl in over 20 years and nearly pulling off the upset victory over the Rams. After the defeat, WynnBET Sportsbook listed Cincinnati at +1200 to win the 2022 Super Bowl as bettors were anxious to bank on an improved roster and another leap from Joe Burrow to lead the Bengals to the promised land next season.
However, the Bengals' odds are dropping as the markets have begun to stabilize. What is causing this drop? And is it presenting value on Cincy as we progress through the offseason?
Bengals Super Bowl Odds
As of today, WynnBET has the Bengals at +1500 to win Super Bowl 57. These are the fourth-lowest odds in the AFC and sixth-lowest overall, with the Bills, Chiefs, Rams, 49ers, and Titans listed ahead.
Odds of +1500 give Cincinnati implied odds of 6.25% to hoist the Lombardi Trophy, but they've got some tough decisions to make with a number of key players now free agents.
Their offensive line woes are well-documented as Burrow was running for his life all postseason. They need reinforcements badly, but guard Quinton Spain and tackle Riley Reiff are both without a contract, leaving an already-thin group even more desolate.
Further, star safety Jesse Bates is a free agent and while I believe they'll get a deal done to resign him, they also have decisions to make about defensive backs Eli Apple, Vernon Hargreaves, Tre Flowers, Clark Harris, and Ricardo Allen. It's possible we'll see an entirely different secondary in Cincy next year after the group was a strength for them in the playoffs.
Finally, tight-end C.J. Uzomah, who emerged as a red-zone favorite of Burrow, will likely hope to cash in on a big payday as a 29-year old with an injury history. It's unlikely the Bengals can make the cap work to keep the gang together so we'll see some unfamiliar faces as they try to repeat as AFC Champions.
And all of that is before you get to the improvements the rest of the AFC is making. Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and Justin Herbert are all ready to pounce, and with chatter that Aaron Rodgers could be headed to Denver it appears the conference is only going to get stronger.
Put it all together and it's going to be very difficult for the Bengals to make a second-consecutive Super Bowl, let alone win it. Even at +1500, you're banking on a lot to go right this offseason and I'd rather wait to see what happens before committing my dollars to Burrow and company.