Ranking the Remaining Contenders for Super Bowl 2021

The stage for Super Bowl 55 is now set, with the Kansas City Chiefs taking on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the final game of the year.

One look at the early Super Bowl 55 odds shows you the Chiefs are mild favorites, while the Bucs instantly make history as the first team ever to host a Super Bowl.

When I started rankings every team’s chances of winning Super Bowl 55, the Chiefs were #1, and the Buccaneers were near the bottom. Going into the AFC and NFC title games, Tampa Bay was specifically ranked four out of four teams.

Yet, here they are, with Tom Brady trying to secure his 7th ring.

To get an idea of what to expect if you plan on betting on Super Bowl 2021, let’s look at my updated Super Bowl 55 rankings one last time.

Tom Brady did his best to give the Green Bay Packers a win in the NFC title game, as he basically collapsed under three interceptions.

Tom Brady 4-for-9 with three interceptions in the second half.

— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) January 24, 2021

The Buccaneers had built an insurmountable 28-10 lead over the favored Packers, however, and a curious decision to kick a field goal late helped Tampa Bay to advance.

While Tampa Bay’s entrance into Super Bowl 55 is somewhat controversial, this is still an extremely talented team that deserves to be playing for a title.

Brady’s presence keeps the Buccaneers poised, and if he can shake off his NFC title game meltdown, he should have a reasonable shot at winning his 7th championship.

He’ll have to do so as an underdog, of course, with almost every Super Bowl 55 betting site listing KC as the favorites.

That keeps Brady and the Bucs from the #1 spot, as they’ll have to take it to knock the Chiefs from their pedestal.

Another game has passed, yet nothing has changed for the mighty Chiefs. Patrick Mahomes sliced his way through the Buffalo Bills, as Kansas City easily dispatched the team many said would be their kryptonite.

Not so much, as Mahomes had his way with Buffalo’s solid defense, and Josh Allen simply couldn’t keep up on the other side.

Mahomes and co. have a different challenge going into Super Bowl 55, as they have to take on the Bucs in a true road game.

That hasn’t been a problem so far this year, of course, as Kansas City has gone a perfect 8-0 on the road. It might play well for bettors, too.

+ Andy Reid's dominance on the road.
+ Tom Brady's losing ATS record deep in the playoffs. @MattFTheOracle on why he likes the Chiefs to cover as favorites in SB55: https://t.co/084ijj1uYO pic.twitter.com/3uU2xECVCn

— The Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) January 26, 2021

Mahomes and co. also abused the Buccaneers in an earlier meeting during the regular season.

The final score (27-24) made the game look closer than it actually was, as Tyreek Hill dominated down the field and did so rather easily.

If the matchup plays out in a similar fashion on Super Bowl Sunday, the Chiefs will have no problem holding on to the top spot in my Super Bowl 55 rankings.

Ranking every team’s chances of winning the 2021 Super Bowl has gone roughly as planned. Kansas City was my top pick to win again before the season began, and they began this journey atop my Super Bowl 55 rankings.

They won the first meeting, own the league’s best passing offense, and have looked like the team to beat in the NFL all year long.

When comparing Super Bowl 55 defenses, it’s easy to see the dangers that lurk in a date with the Bucs. However, I’ve seen a shaky Tom Brady in these playoffs, and Tampa Bay’s stout run defense may not be so useful against a team that prefers to pass.

The perfect storm could lead to a Buccaneer’s upset, but I’ll stand my ground and stick with the Chiefs. Of course, regardless of how Super Bowl 55 actually plays out, the end result doesn’t change the way these teams had to be ranked coming in.

Kansas City was rightfully the top dog when the season began, and I don’t see any reason to stray from that line of thinking now.

Want to take a side and bet on who wins Super Bowl 55? Before you do, make sure you cover all of the bases with our detailed Super Bowl 55 betting guide below.

Super Bowl 55 Betting Guide for Beginners - How and Where to Bet on the Super Bowl in 2021

The Super Bowl is the biggest game in the biggest sport in America. It’s no wonder that Super Bowl betting breaks new records every year. Placing wagers on the big game is easy if you know how, especially when using gambling apps or online sportsbooks....

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