Browns, Niners Among Biggest Payoffs on Odds to Make NFL Playoffs

Of course there are the favorites to get back to the postseason this year like the New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks. But what about the longshots that can make you the most money by betting on them to make the playoffs?

A Super Bowl matchup between the NFC’s San Francisco 49ers and AFC’s Cleveland Browns would be the most unlikely of them all, with both facing very long odds to even get to the postseason according to the sportsbooks.

The 49ers are still trying to figure out what to do with their quarterback situation with Colin Kaepernick still on board after signing a six-year contract extension worth $114 million following the 2014 season. New head coach Chip Kelly comes to San Francisco from the Philadelphia Eagles, where he gutted the roster and underachieved with his guys.

Kelly has a difficult choice to make between Kaepernick and former first-round pick Blaine Gabbert, who started at the end of last season. The Niners are listed at +750 (bet $100 to win $750) to make the playoffs and have a steep price of -1500 (bet $1,500 to win $100) that they won’t get to the postseason in Kelly’s first year there.

The Browns are not in much better shape, especially at the quarterback position. They signed Robert Griffin III to take over under center and have no idea if he will ever return to the form from early in his career. RGIII has suffered numerous injuries, and new head coach Hue Jackson will be tasked with keeping him upright and in the lineup on a weekly basis.

Jackson was an assistant coach of the Cincinnati Bengals for the past four years and helped develop the running backs in addition to quarterback Andy Dalton. He served as head coach of the Oakland Raiders in 2011 as well, and his new team is +600 to make the playoffs for the first time since 2002.

Other teams paying off nicely if they surprisingly qualify for the postseason include the Tennessee Titans (+400), San Diego Chargers (+350), Los Angeles Rams (+300), Chicago Bears (+275) and Detroit Lions (+275).

Of that group, the Bears and Lions are the most intriguing teams because they both lost major weapons on the offensive side of the ball. Chicago let running back Matt Forte go to the New York Jets, opting to let younger players fight for the starting job. Detroit saw wide receiver Calvin Johnson retire in the offseason and replaced him with free agent Marvin Jones.

If either of those NFC North teams can overcome their key losses, they could possibly make the playoffs.

On the positive side, the Patriots, Packers and Seahawks are all listed at -500 to get to the postseason. It would be shocking if any of them did not, but you can get +350 on that scenario happening. New England’s situation is the most uncertain due to Tom Brady’s four-game suspension. A winless start would be very difficult for the Pats to overcome, as only one percent of 0-4 teams have made the playoffs since 1990.