There are hundreds of factors to consider when NFL betting but, when it comes to the Super Bowl, examining schedules can be a big help.
Use Pittsburgh, last year's Super Bowl champion, as an example. The Steelers dealt with an almost unfair schedule, facing the always-tough NFC East (Giants, Cowboys, Eagles); the AFC South (Colts, 13-win Titans, high-scoring Texans); and their own AFC North, which meant two games against the 11-5 Ravens. Before the season, many argued the Steelers had no chance because of their schedule. Once they were able to get through this gauntlet, however, they were battle-tested and ready for anything they might see in the NFL playoffs.
After going through hell to make the postseason, why should the 8-8 Chargers, the Ravens (who Pittsburgh beat twice) or 9-7 Cardinals scare them? Pittsburgh wasn't going to blink. When applying the logic to this season, someone to keep an eye on is the Bengals. Cincy has already knocked off Pittsburgh and Baltimore twice, not to mention the playoff-contending Packers. Upcoming matchups against Minnesota and San Diego should reveal more about their sportsbook chances.
Making it through the year despite a target on your back can be telling, too. New England's back-to-back titles in 2004-2005 were impressive largely because everyone was gunning for the Patriots—they were obviously the cream of the crop in the NFL, so everyone wanted to slay the beast, so to speak. Yet, New England prevailed. Two candidates for a similar run are Indianapolis and New Orleans. Both remain undefeated late in the season and neither has crumbled.
The Colts and Saints are getting the absolute best effort from every opponent—even teams destined for a top-five pick are hanging around, staying competitive. Indy, for example, has won its last four by a total of 10 points. The Saints, meanwhile, have let teams like the Rams give them a scare. The important thing to note is, neither stumbled. Clearly, they are taking the season on a game-by-game approach—which is critical come playoff time and, yes, the Super Bowl.
So if you are sports betting this season and already thinking about the Super Bowl, keep the schedules of your favorites in mind—and not just quality wins, but gusty wins over bad teams too. It all adds up in the end. Oh, and you might want to look into this week's Patriots Saints picks—you could be staring at a Super Bowl preview right there.