— At the NFL season’s midpoint, analysts have revised their preseason predictions for which franchises are likeliest to win Super Bowl LX on Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, California. DraftKings Sportsbook odds, current as of 11:00 a.m. ET on Thursday, Nov. 6, show seven teams emerging as the consensus favorites. Our midseason tally records votes from NFL.com analysts and pairs them with the sportsbook lines to highlight which clubs command momentum and market confidence heading into the second half.
Key takeaways
- Buffalo tops the midseason poll with 6 analyst votes and a DraftKings line of +590 as of 11:00 a.m. ET on Nov. 6, 2025.
- Kansas City follows with 5 votes and a +600 odds line, reflecting belief in Patrick Mahomes’ playoff ceiling despite an uneven start.
- The Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Rams are tied at 4 votes each; the Ravens carry +1800 odds while the Rams show +850.
- Seattle sits at 3 votes and +1200 odds, credited by some analysts for late-season roster upgrades.
- Detroit received 2 votes and is listed at +850, representing optimism about a deep playoff run and potential franchise first.
- Analysts generally cited quarterback play, coaching depth, and late-season trajectories as the primary drivers of updated picks.
- All odds referenced are courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook and reflect the market snapshot taken at 11:00 a.m. ET on Nov. 6.
Background
The 2025 NFL season reaches its halfway point with teams separated by small margins in many divisions, prompting prognosticators to revisit preseason projections. Historically, midseason recalibrations blend on-field form with health, roster moves and strength of remaining schedules; this year’s update is no different. Analysts on NFL.com cast votes for likely Super Bowl LX contenders and paired those judgments with DraftKings lines to present both an expert consensus and a market assessment.
Several franchises that began the year with high expectations—Buffalo and Kansas City among them—remain in the conversation, while clubs such as Baltimore have attempted dramatic turnarounds from early-season struggles. Meanwhile, teams that have invested in midseason trades or seen role players emerge factor into the updated lists. The Super Bowl will be played on Feb. 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, setting a fixed target for teams plotting late-season surges and playoff positioning.
Main event (midseason consensus and reasoning)
Buffalo received the most analyst support (6 votes) and sits at +590 in the DraftKings market, reflecting broad belief that Josh Allen will carry the team through a deep postseason run and potentially deliver the franchise’s first Super Bowl title. Voters who stayed with Buffalo emphasized improved situational offense and a defense capable of key stops in high-leverage moments.
Kansas City remains a close second with five votes and +600 odds; contributors noted that while the Chiefs experienced bumps early, Patrick Mahomes’ track record of late-season elevation and postseason comebacks keeps Kansas City among the favorites. Several analysts specifically pointed to coaching continuity and depth at skill positions as stabilizing factors for a long playoff push.
The Ravens and Rams split third place with four votes apiece but divergent DraftKings lines: Baltimore at +1800 and Los Angeles at +850. Baltimore’s backstory—climbing from an early 1–5 stretch in some scenarios to a contender—drives a narrative of resilience centered on Lamar Jackson. The Rams attract support based on veteran leadership from Matthew Stafford and a playmaking receiving corps that can tilt a single-game outcome.
Seattle and Detroit round out the seven favorites, with the Seahawks at +1200 and the Lions at +850. Support for Seattle hinges on recent personnel moves and defensive schematics that could peak come January; Detroit’s votes reflect optimism that the team can translate regular-season milestones into a first Super Bowl appearance and victory.
Analysis & implications
The market lines and analyst votes together illustrate a split between teams perceived as steady contenders (Bills, Chiefs) and clubs seen as potential momentum-based entrants (Ravens, Rams, Seahawks, Lions). Shorter odds for Buffalo and Kansas City indicate both analyst confidence and heavier market wagering, which can shift if injuries or roster changes occur. For contenders, managing quarterback workloads and protecting key pieces will be decisive in the stretch run.
For the Ravens, the narrative is one of turnaround: rebounding from early setbacks to become a postseason threat carries both psychological momentum and risk if the climb required difficult road games. The Rams’ outlook is tied closely to veteran performance in high-pressure moments—Matthew Stafford’s experience is a factor analysts repeatedly cited as a tiebreaker in tight contests.
Teams like Seattle and Detroit demonstrate how midseason roster moves and the emergence of role players influence perception. Those clubs are being rewarded in votes for trajectory rather than season-long dominance; sustaining form through January will be critical. For the league, a spread of viable title contenders supports competitive balance but also means playoff seeding, tiebreakers and single-elimination variance will shape the eventual path to Santa Clara.
Comparison & data
| Team | Analyst votes | DraftKings odds (Nov 6, 11:00 a.m. ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Bills | 6 | +590 |
| Chiefs | 5 | +600 |
| Ravens | 4 | +1800 |
| Rams | 4 | +850 |
| Seahawks | 3 | +1200 |
| Lions | 2 | +850 |
The table consolidates the midseason vote count alongside the sportsbook snapshot. It highlights where expert sentiment and betting markets align (Bills/Chiefs) and where they diverge (Ravens’ longer odds despite four votes). These discrepancies often reflect differing weights placed on recent form versus underlying roster metrics.
Reactions & quotes
Analysts offered concise rationales that emphasize quarterback play and late-season trajectory rather than categorical guarantees.
“Josh Allen finally getting Buffalo over the hump is a viable storyline; they have the pieces to make a deep run if health holds.”
NFL.com analyst (Nov. 6, 2025)
“You can’t count out Patrick Mahomes’ playoff resume—he has a way of elevating Kansas City when it matters most.”
NFL.com analyst (Nov. 6, 2025)
“Baltimore’s climb from an early hole speaks to coaching and resilience; if the roster clicks, they’re dangerous in single-elimination play.”
NFL.com analyst (Nov. 6, 2025)
Unconfirmed
- Future injuries or roster moves could materially change odds and playoff projections; those developments are not predictable at midseason.
- Analyst selections reflect current form and opinion, not guaranteed outcomes—single-game variance in the postseason can overturn midseason expectations.
- Any subsequent shifts in DraftKings lines after 11:00 a.m. ET on Nov. 6 are not included in this summary and could alter market rankings.
Bottom line
At midseason, Buffalo and Kansas City emerge as the leading favorites in both expert votes and market lines, but a cluster of teams—including Baltimore, Los Angeles, Seattle and Detroit—remain viable challengers. The next two months will be decisive: injuries, matchup luck and end-of-season form are likely to reshape the Super Bowl landscape ahead of the playoffs.
Readers should treat midseason snapshots as informed guidance rather than predictions set in stone. With Super Bowl LX slated for Feb. 8, 2026 in Santa Clara, teams and bettors alike will watch how health, schedule and in-season adjustments determine which of these seven favorites will be holding the Lombardi Trophy in February.