Super Bowl Predictions 2026: Lions (+1500) Lead Two Picks

Below, bettors can find my Super Bowl predictions for 2026 based on Super Bowl odds.

Oddsmakers price the Los Angeles Rams as the preseason favorites. Los Angeles leads a set of four teams, including the defending champion Seattle Seahawks, priced at +1000 or shorter.

A dropoff occurs after the Buffalo Bills (+1000). Next on the odds board are the Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles (all +1500).

Let’s dive into the predictions. Odds are reflective at time of writing and are subject to movement.

2 Best Super Bowl Predictions for 2026 NFL Season

Detroit Lions (+1500)

Outside of the offensive line, not many concerns exist about a team that reached the NFC Championship two years ago.

Detroit, after finishing at the bottom of the NFC North, benefits from an extremely easy schedule. By 2026 NFL win totals, the Lions face the league’s easiest strength of schedule.

Dan Campbell’s team possesses the clearest path to the NFC no. 1 seed in 2026. Detroit owns a six-win strength-of-schedule gap over the next NFC team with a double-digit win total.

Offensively, I love how this team profiles in 2026. Ben Johnson departed as offensive coordinator last year and the unit largely stayed the same.

Detroit still finished as a top-seven DVOA offense after placing third in 2024. This year, Drew Petzing arrives to supplement Campbell’s playcalling, which improved late last season.

While Detroit traded David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs remains a capable RB1. He also begins the season as the NFL OPOY favorite.

Defensively, the Lions profile as a sizable positive regression candidate. Last year, Detroit ranked 10th in non-adjusted defensive DVOA.

The rank rises to ninth after opponent adjustments. Next season, the Lions project to face the league’s 26th-hardest set of offenses. Over a two-year average: the 28th-hardest.

Given those factors, I predict the Lions win the Super Bowl more times than their 6.3% implied probability suggests.

Cincinnati Bengals (+2500)

Cincinnati spent aggressively on defense and gets a fairly easy schedule. If Joe Burrow stays healthy and the offense returns to 2024 levels, the Bengals offer Super Bowl candidacy.

Dexter Lawrence, Bryan Cook and Boye Mafe all arrived in the offseason. The Bengals supplemented those veteran transactions by drafting Cashius Howell at edge.

Over the last two years, Cincinnati rated near the bottom of most defensive categories. This year, it’s reasonable to expect the unit to look slightly better.

By 2025 offensive DVOA ratings, Cincinnati projects to face the league’s easiest set of offenses. Combine ‘25 and ‘24 ratings, and it’s still the third-easiest schedule for any defense.

Incredibly, the Bengals stayed 13th in offensive DVOA last year despite Burrow missing time. Two years ago, the offense placed fifth in offensive DVOA.

Chase Brown, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins complete the best skill group within the AFC North. Plus, the Bengals benefit from playing the league’s third-easiest schedule next year.

Most importantly, one misleading factor suggests the Bengals played better than its -78 point differential last year.

Cincinnati surrendered 63 points due to special teams or defensive scores. Their -49 point differential within that category accounts for 63% of the final point differential.

Expect better close-game luck for the Bengals as the team contends for a Super Bowl.