--- title: "NFL Preseason Favorites Often Fail to Deliver in Super Bowl" url: https://newscentral.site/nfl-preseason-favorites-often-fail-to-deliver-in-super-bowl/ language: en publisher: "News Central Site" section: "Sports" published: 2026-10-23T18:08:38.000Z updated: 2026-10-24T15:03:24.473Z id: 3b9f8ff7-2d28-4329-8001-ebf6630be7f0 source: "Yahoo Sports https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/article/the-rams-were-super-bowl-favorites-now-theyre-fighting-a-30-year-curse-180838386.html" attribution: "Link to https://newscentral.site/nfl-preseason-favorites-often-fail-to-deliver-in-super-bowl/ and name News Central Site when you quote or summarize this story." --- # NFL Preseason Favorites Often Fail to Deliver in Super Bowl The Los Angeles Rams' chances of winning the Super Bowl have taken a hit after six weeks of play due to injuries and uncharacteristic performances. The Los Angeles Rams were a hot favorite to take home the Super Bowl trophy this season, but their chances have taken a hit after just six weeks of play. As of the preseason, the Rams were given odds of +500 to win it all, which translates to 5-1 against them. However, their current record stands at a disappointing 2-4, with injuries and uncharacteristic performances contributing to their slide. A closer look at NFL history reveals that teams who enter the season as strong favorites often fail to deliver when it matters most. In fact, over the past three decades, no team has successfully won the Super Bowl after starting the season with odds of +500 or better. The Rams are now part of an unfortunate group of teams that have fallen short of expectations, joining a lineage of 20 teams who entered the season as heavy favorites but ultimately came up empty-handed. Twenty teams that entered the season as heavy favorites have fallen short of expectations over the years. This unfortunate group includes some high-profile teams that dominated their regular seasons but failed to deliver when it mattered most in the playoffs and Super Bowl. Some of these teams were eliminated early on, while others came agonizingly close to winning the championship, only to fall just short in the final seconds of the game. The 2007 Patriots are a prime example, as they won every regular season game before their loss to the Giants in the Super Bowl. The list of teams that failed to live up to expectations is long and includes some notable franchises like the Seahawks and Chiefs. The Seahawks, who were favored at +450 in 2014, were coming off a Super Bowl victory and seemed poised for another championship run before Malcolm Butler's interception sealed their fate. The NFL's unpredictability is a significant factor in why preseason favorites often falter when it comes to winning the Super Bowl. According to experts, there are very few certainties in football, and even the most skilled teams can fall short of expectations. One reason for this unpredictability lies in the way sportsbooks calculate preseason odds. They start with a baseline expectation based on prior-year results, assuming that good teams will continue to perform well unless they suffer significant losses. However, as fans and bettors begin to favor one team over others, sportsbooks adjust the line accordingly. This group psychology can have a profound impact on the actual chances of a team winning the Super Bowl. While preseason odds may suggest that a particular team is heavily favored, these numbers don't necessarily reflect the true chances of winning. In fact, experts argue that the odds being offered by sportsbooks often overstate the likelihood of success. A closer examination of past seasons reveals a clear trend: when bettors flock to familiar teams with star players or recent successes, they tend to ignore potential pitfalls and weaknesses in these rosters. This phenomenon is evident in teams like the Chiefs, Patriots, and Seahawks, all of which have been preseason favorites that ultimately fell short. As we look at this list of teams, it becomes clear that there's often a disconnect between what fans believe will happen and the actual outcome on the field. By understanding these dynamics, sportsbooks can adjust their lines to reflect more accurately the true chances of each team winning the Super Bowl. When it comes to sports betting, familiarity often breeds contempt among bookmakers. They tend to adjust the odds for teams that are frequently bet on, making it less likely for them to win a significant amount of money in a single event. This phenomenon is evident in the way sportsbooks have treated LeBron James and Tiger Woods over the years. Even when Woods was severely injured and unable to participate in tournaments, his low odds made him an unappealing choice for bettors who wanted to minimize their losses. Conversely, teams that surprise everyone by performing exceptionally well often pay off big time for those who bet on them. The 1999 Rams and the 2017 Eagles are prime examples of this phenomenon. The Rams' situation is a classic case of a team being favored due to its past performance, but ultimately facing an unexpected outcome. Despite their impressive season last year, they fell just four points short of making it to the Super Bowl. The Rams' fortunes have taken a significant turn for the worse, with their Super Bowl prospects now looking increasingly uncertain. The team's value as a betting proposition has plummeted, from an initial +900 to its current +1200, indicating that bookmakers are no longer convinced of their chances. Despite still boasting high ticket and handle percentages, Los Angeles' inability to maintain momentum stems in part from the accumulation of injuries and the resulting lack of depth within the squad. If they fail to turn things around, the Rams will join a select group of teams who have struggled with consistency over the years, leaving their fans eagerly awaiting a turnaround. --- Source: [Yahoo Sports](https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/article/the-rams-were-super-bowl-favorites-now-theyre-fighting-a-30-year-curse-180838386.html) Published by News Central Site: https://newscentral.site/nfl-preseason-favorites-often-fail-to-deliver-in-super-bowl/