New England Patriots favourite to win NFL Super Bowl in 2016-17

A NEW year brings a new NFL season, but where on earth are the reigning Super Bowl winners in the market?

The Denver Broncos, minus retired superstar quarterback Peyton Manning, are are way down at ninth on the line of Super Bowl betting, equal with the Dallas Cowboys.

It’s clear the bookies – and punters for that matter give the Broncos absolutely no hope of winning the title again, despite the fact they still possess one of the best defensive lines in the game.

The season kicks off on Friday, September 9, so we’re only a few weeks away, and it looks like the New England Patriots, as they have so often been, are the team to beat.

Beaten in last year’s Super Bowl by the Broncos, 24-10, have reloaded again and are the red hot favourites at +600 to go one better at Super Bowl 51.

Their superstar quarterback Tom Brady will have to sit out the first four games of the season, thanks to the suspension over deflate-gate being upheld, but they have his heir apparent in Jimmy Garoppolo to fall back on.

It will be the first time since way back in 2001 that a quarterback other than Brady will start the season opener for the Patriots.

Brady won’t be allowed to train, or even talk football with his team mates during his suspension, with NFL vice president of communications saying that Brady can’t “engage in any team football-related activities or discussions with teammates, even if away from the club facility.”

As far as super coach Bill Belichick is concerned, the Patriots will prepare for the season with Jimmy G as the number one, but Brady will assume the mantle as soon as he is allowed to return to the action.

“We finally have some definition with Tom’s situation, so our priority is to get Jimmy ready for the start of the season, for the Arizona game,” Belichick said.

“So that will be a comprehensive process.

“Tom will return as the starting quarterback when he comes back.

“In the mean time, we have to prioritise the first part of our schedule, and that will be getting Jimmy ready to go.”

Rookie Jacoby Brissett will also put his name up in lights, should Garoppolo struggle – he only threw four in-game passes all last season.

“I think we have a good situation,” Belichick said.

“We have three players we want to work with.

“Look, in some other years I’ve seen teams that probably don’t feel like they have anybody, or maybe they have one.

“I think we’re in a good situation.”

That might be an understatement. With absolute superstars like Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski in that line up, there’s no doubting they are the favourites to win it all again.

But the Green Bay Packers will no doubt think they should have a say in matters.

And so does online bookmaker Bovada.lv and its punters, rating the Packers a +850 second favourite behind the Patriots.

Any side with Aaron Rodgers running the show has to be a chance.

He is one of the great quarterbacks and, coach Mike McCarthy says his superstar is “in the best shape I’ve seen”.

“I would say Aaron’s vibe, and really his offseason participation and performance, looks to line up for a great year,” McCarthy said.

“He’s in great shape.

“I would say this is the best shape I’ve seen him in.

“I would say he’s ready to go.

“I know he’s excited.

“Just in communication with him he’s excited to get started.”

That’s bad news for the rest of the competition.

His Packers might be the second favourite, but he is the man when it comes to the NFL Most Valuable Player Award.

He is a very tight +425 to take out that title for the third time, after winning it previously in 2011 and 2014.

His nearest challenger for the NFL’s highest individual honour is the Pittsburgh Steelers’ star Ben Roethlisberger.

Bovada has him at +750, ahead of guns Russell Wilson and Cam Newton, both at +800.

2016-17 NFL Super Bowl winner market

New England Patriots +600

Green Bay Packers +850

Seattle Seahawks +1100

Pittsburgh Steelers +1200

Carolina Panthers +1200

Arizona Cardinals +1200

Minnesota Vikings +1600

Indianapolis Colts +1600

Denver Broncos +1800

Dallas Cowboys +1800

Cincinnati Bengals +2000

New York Giants +2200

Oakland Raiders +2500

Kansas City Chiefs +2800

Houston Texans +3300

Baltimore Ravens +4000

Jacksonville Jaguars +4000

Washington Redskins +5000

New York Jets +5000

Atlanta Falcons +5000

Chicago Bears +5000

Philadelphia Eagles +6600

Buffalo Bills +6600

Los Angeles Rams +6600

Miami Dolphins +6600

San Diego Chargers +6600

Detroit Lions +6600

New Orleans Saints +6600

Tennessee Titans +6600

Tampa Bay Buccaneers +10000

San Francisco 49ers +10000

Cleveland Browns +10000

Odds provided by Bovada.lv

2016-17 NFL Most Valuable Player winner market

Aaron Rodgers +425

Ben Roethlisberger +750

Cam Newton +800

Russell Wilson +800

Tom Brady +1000

Andrew Luck +1200

Carson Palmer +1600

Eli Manning +2500

J.J. Watt +2500

Tony Romo +2500

Drew Brees +3300

Adrian Peterson +3300

Todd Gurley +5000

Andy Dalton +5000

Derek Carr +5000

Khalil Mack +5000

Blake Bortles +6600

Rob Gronkowski +6600

Matt Ryan +6600

Brock Ostweiler +6600

Antonio Brown +6600

Tyrod Taylor +6600

Philip Rivers +7500

David Johnson +7500

Odds provided by Bovada.lv