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Maybe the Bengals' free agency period wasn't as bad as we thought. According to famed oddsmaker Bovada, Cincinnati has increased their chances to win the Super Bowl next year from just a month ago.
It might be the retaining of Rey Maualuga and Clint Boling that helped, along with veteran additions in Michael Johnson and A.J. Hawk. February's odds had the Bengals as a 1/40 shot, while the most recent release has them at 1/33.
Not a huge jump, but baby steps, people. At 1/33, that puts the Bengals as the No.13-ranked team on the list. Here's a look at the odds for all 32 NFL teams now compared to where they were in early February:
|
Odds on 2/2/15 |
Current Odds |
|
|
5/1 |
6/1 |
|
|
8/1 |
7/1 |
|
|
7/1 |
7/1 |
|
|
14/1 |
8/1 |
|
|
10/1 |
12/1 |
|
|
14/1 |
16/1 |
|
|
20/1 |
18/1 |
|
|
25/1 |
20/1 |
|
|
33/1 |
25/1 |
|
|
33/1 |
25/1 |
|
|
New York Giants |
40/1 |
25/1 |
|
66/1 |
33/1 |
|
|
Cincinnati Bengals |
40/1 |
33/1 |
|
33/1 |
33/1 |
|
|
40/1 |
33/1 |
|
|
San Francisco 49ers |
20/1 |
33/1 |
|
40/1 |
40/1 |
|
|
40/1 |
40/1 |
|
|
Kansas City Chiefs |
40/1 |
40/1 |
|
New Orleans Saints |
22/1 |
40/1 |
|
San Diego Chargers |
40/1 |
40/1 |
|
St. Louis Rams |
40/1 |
40/1 |
|
40/1 |
50/1 |
|
|
40/1 |
50/1 |
|
|
40/1 |
50/1 |
|
|
New York Jets |
100/1 |
50/1 |
|
66/1 |
75/1 |
|
|
200/1 |
75/1 |
|
|
100/1 |
100/1 |
|
|
100/1 |
150/1 |
|
|
200/1 |
200/1 |
|
|
100/1 |
200/1 |
Aside from the usual AFC North suspects on their schedule, the Bengals also face the NFC and AFC West divisions in the 2015 regular season. Between those three divisions, that pits Cincinnati against five 2014 playoff teams (Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Seattle, Arizona, Denver) and five other squads who were sniffing a postseason berth late in the season (Buffalo, Cleveland, San Diego, Houston, San Francisco).
The road won't be easy, but the tables will be turned on those squads as well, given that they are facing a Bengals team that has made the playoffs five out of the last six seasons, including four straight appearances.