Super Bowl 56 odds: Bears, Washington offer early value in 2021

A year ago, the Buccaneers were 60-1 long shots to win the Super Bowl coming off their 12th consecutive campaign without a postseason berth. Then they signed Tom Brady, saw their odds slashed to a front-runner price, and rewarded initial bettors with a handsome sum Sunday.

It pays to buy early, and that's never been truer than ahead of this potentially unprecedented offseason for quarterback movement. We've already seen the Rams' price tighten dramatically after acquiring Matthew Stafford; could L.A. or another team follow Tampa Bay's script?

Here are the updated odds at theScore Bet to win Super Bowl 56, along with a few of our favorite early values for 2021-22:

Los Angeles Rams (+1200)

Call me a sucker for being a believer, but this feels too similar to what we just watched unfold over the last 12 months.

Remember when the Buccaneers had an elite defense and talent-rich offense that were held back by their quarterback, only for everyone to call them overrated when they upgraded at that position? That's how this feels with the Rams, who ended the regular season ranked fourth in DVOA in defense and rushing offense but 20th in passing offense.

I was high on the Bucs entering last season, and I can already see myself buying into Los Angeles, which is just three years removed from a Super Bowl berth with a comparable roster. The future may be dicey with all those picks traded away, but it's easy to see the Rams' path to a title in 2021.

Chicago Bears (+5000)

If the Rams are what the Bucs were in March, the Bears are what the Bucs were last February. Chicago has made the playoffs just twice in the last 10 years and has been saddled with shaky quarterback play for that entire stretch, but the pieces are there for a Super Bowl run if things break right.

The Bears posted a top-10 defensive ranking in DVOA for the third straight year and are loaded with talent behind Khalil Mack, Roquan Smith, Kyle Fuller, and Eddie Jackson, among others. They're also clear buyers in the signal-caller market - they were in on Matthew Stafford and are seemingly front-runners for Carson Wentz.

The Eagles passer would be a step down from, say, Deshaun Watson, but he'd still raise the ceiling for a team that desperately needs more punch at that position. Wentz has played like an MVP before, and any quarterback upgrade this summer will tighten this price. Now is the time to buy.

Washington Football Team (+6000)

When over half the league could be starting a new quarterback in September, why not take a swing on a long shot like Washington, which already has a dominant defense and gets to play in the NFL's easiest division?

Ron Rivera's group ranked second in yards allowed per game (304.6) and fourth in points allowed (20.6) this past season, but that effort was wasted by an offense that struggled to move the ball and ranked fourth in giveaways (27). That was the issue with the Buccaneers in 2019 before stable offensive play maximized their sky-high potential.

Taylor Heinicke breathed some life into Washington's offense in the wild-card round against Tampa Bay - which subsequently held the Saints, Packers, and Chiefs to equal or worse performances. Bringing in even an above-average starter to unlock Terry McLaurin and Antonio Gibson would be massive for a team priced like a title afterthought.

(Odds source: theScore Bet)

C Jackson Cowart is a betting writer for theScore. He's an award-winning journalist with stops at The Charlotte Observer, The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Times Herald-Record, and BetChicago. He's also a proud graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, and his love of sweet tea is rivaled only by that of a juicy prop bet. Find him on Twitter @CJacksonCowart.