A single six-figure wager at the Westgate SuperBook has helped propel the Detroit Lions to the top of the Super Bowl 61 odds board, tying them at 10-1 with the Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills.
Westgate vice president of risk Ed Salmons confirmed that a house customer placed a large bet on the Lions Saturday night, pushing Detroit from its opening 14-1 line to co-favorite status. “One of our house customers made a really big bet on the Lions (on Saturday) night. It was to win six figures,” Salmons said. “I tried to keep a low number on it, and this guy bet it anyway.”
The Lions, who haven’t won an NFL championship since 1957 and have never appeared in a Super Bowl, went 9-8 this season after posting a combined 27-7 record in 2023 and 2024. Salmons pointed to their 2026 schedule as a key factor. “For the last month, I’ve been telling everyone to bet the Lions (to win the) conference and Super Bowl, because they have one of the easiest schedules I’ve ever seen,” he said.
Detroit will face nine teams that finished with losing records in 2025, including five last-place finishers: the Arizona Cardinals (3-14), New York Jets (3-14), Tennessee Titans (3-14), New York Giants (4-13) and New Orleans Saints (6-11).
The Westgate’s 10-1 co-favorites mark a rarity in sports betting. “It’s the first time I can ever remember opening a Super Bowl future book where every team is double digits,” Salmons said. “You never see that in any sport. It just shows you where the league is right now.”
Seattle and the Rams are 9-1 co-favorites at STN Sports, with Buffalo at 10-1. At Caesars Sportsbook, the Rams lead at 9-1, followed by the Bills and Seahawks at 10-1. The San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots are tied at 14-1.
Salmons noted that the Rams’ odds shifted after they lost a key player. “Our original thinking was the Rams 8-1, then they lost,” he said. “(Quarterback Matthew) Stafford’s older. He could retire theoretically.”
The Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans and Los Angeles Chargers are next at 16-1. Salmons singled out the Chargers as a team he likes. “I’m really high on next year is the Chargers. They’re going to get both their starting tackles back, and they’ve got a new offensive coordinator. I like (Mike) McDaniel. I think he’s a really sharp offensive mind.”
The Cincinnati Bengals are 18-1, followed by the Denver Broncos at 20-1 and the Chicago Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars at 25-1. Salmons expressed skepticism about the Broncos. “We both can’t wait to bet the Broncos under wins next year,” he said. “They have a really difficult schedule next year.”
The longest shots at 200-1 include the Cardinals, Jets, Titans, Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins. The Las Vegas Raiders are 100-1 at the Westgate and 150-1 at STN Sports, with Klint Kubiak expected to be their next head coach and quarterback Fernando Mendoza projected as the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft. “It seems like he’s the first piece you can add and actually have some hope to see some light at the end of the tunnel,” Salmons said. “Mendoza’s a really good runner, and that could really open some things up. But they’re just starting so far behind everyone else.”
