The Los Angeles Rams outperformed the Cincinnati Bengals at Super Bowl LVI, resulting in an NFL title returning to the City of Angels for the first time in close to 40 years. In addition, the San Francisco 49ers reached the playoff semi-finals, giving football fans of California a significantly higher probability of witnessing an NFL trophy return to the Golden State.
Will the California-based teams achieve another successful season? The oddsmakers believe so, as all three Cali teams – Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, & Los Angeles Chargers – are positioned inside the top 7 Super Bowl future odds of 2023.
The Buffalo Bills season finished in heartbreak, but we’re seeing multiple sportsbooks position them as the best team in football heading into the new season as they’ve taken the Super Bowl 2023 most favorable betting position. However, we take these expectations with a pinch of salt, as last season, we saw the Kansas City Chiefs crumble before reaching the Super Bowl. Notably, top Super Bowl sportsbooks have the L.A. Rams and the L.A. Chargers amongst the mix of teams expected to reach the playoffs, showing faith in the Golden State’s chances of taking consecutive Super Bowl trophies.
Training camps in preparation for the pre-season games are underway as we slowly approach the 2022/23 NFL season, but what do the Californian teams really offer for the season ahead?
The Los Angeles Rams
Super Bowl 2023 Odds: +1100
It wouldn’t come as a surprise to watch another battle of L.A. commence in the NFC West, as the defending champions and their California rivals San Francisco 49ers, will resume battle in September. Post Kyler Murray drama, the Arizona Cardinals shouldn’t be ignored. Still, the Seattle Seahawks aren’t posing any threats under Drew Lock after a losing season and the trade of their franchise quarterback.
The Rams are undoubtedly the most talented team in their division, but it’s difficult enough to win one Super Bowl without attempting to win it in consecutive years. In addition, the strength of schedule for their season ahead is arguably the most challenging in the NFL.
It’s been close to 20 years since a team has managed to win back-to-back Super Bowls. When the New England Patriots achieved this in 2004, it was an unpredictable moment in NFL history that is so difficult to replicate because a level of luck is undoubtedly required. The NFL’s strengths and weaknesses alter on a season-to-season basis. It’ll be intriguing to see if the defending champions can handle the most challenging schedule following a season where they had the second-toughest strength of schedule.
LA Rams 2022/23 Schedule
September 8th: vs. Buffalo Bills
September 18th: vs. Atlanta Falcons
September 25th: at Arizona Cardinals
October 3rd: at San Francisco 49ers
October 9th: at Dallas Cowboys
October 16th: vs. Carolina Panthers
October 23rd: BYE week
October 30th: vs. San Francisco 49ers
November 6th: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
November 13th: vs. Arizona Cardinals
November 20th: vs. New Orleans Saints
November 27th: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
December 4th: vs. Seattle Seahawks
December 8th: vs. Las Vegas Raiders
December 19th: vs. Green Bay Packers
December 25th: vs. Denver Broncos
January 1st: vs. L.A. Chargers
January 8th: vs. at Seattle
Sportsbooks have lined the Rams’ win total at 10.5 games, and I’d happily take the over, despite the intimidating and most difficult strength of schedule they have ahead. It should be noted their championship-winning season had the second-toughest schedule, and they still won 12 games.
With that said, winning the Super Bowl could be a tall order, especially when looking at the Rams’ brutal road schedule. They’ll visit the Packers, Bucs, Chiefs, and the Saints, which will undoubtedly be the most challenging stretch of games that any other team will receive all season.
San Francisco 49ers
Super Bowl 2023 Odds: +1300
Should Trey Lance take his first season as the 49ers starting quarterback, it could be difficult for San Fran to emulate the success they stumbled on during the 2021/22 NFL season. However, ‘never say never’, and if Lance can steadily adapt during a light schedule in the opening weeks, it’s highly possible the Niners can take advantage of the five home fixtures they’ll play in the final seven games of the season, as a postseason push shouldn’t be counted out.
San Francisco 2022/23 Schedule
September 11th: at Chicago Bears
September 18th: vs. Seattle
September 25th: at Denver Broncos
October 3rd: vs. L.A. Rams
October 9th: at Carolina
October 16th: at Atlanta
October 23rd: vs. Kansas City
October 30th: at L.A. Rams
November 6th: BYE
November 13th: vs. L.A. Chargers
November 20th: at Arizona
November 27th: vs. New Orleans
December 4th: vs. Miami Dolphins
December 11th: vs. Tampa Bay
December 15th: at Seattle
December 24th: vs. Washington
January 1st: at Las Vegas
January 8th: vs. at Seattle
Sportsbooks have set the 49ers’ win total at ten games, the exact number of games they won last season before their impressive postseason run. It wouldn’t be crazy to anticipate another 10-game winning regular season, but it’s still difficult to make a solid judgment when dealing with an unproven quarterback.
Los Angeles Chargers
Super Bowl 2023 Odds: +1400
Five prime time games and a fierce tag team of Justin Herbert and Khalil Mack will give Chargers fans hope, but they haven’t reached the playoffs since 2018, and their season-opening games could start their year in a slump.
A revenge spot for the Chargers’ season-opener puts them against the Raiders, the team who knocked them out of the playoffs last term. Raider Nation is still alive and well in Los Angeles, so expect the Silver and Black to see this as a home game, and in the same week, the Chargers will have to visit the Chiefs.
LA Chargers 2022/23 Schedule
September 8th: vs. Las Vegas Raiders
September 18th: at Kansas City
September 25th: at Jacksonville Jaguars
October 2nd: at Houston Texans
October 9th: at Cleveland
October 17th: vs. Denver
October 23rd: vs. Seattle
October 30th: vs. BYE
November 6th: at Atlanta
November 13th: at San Francisco
November 20th: vs. Kansas City
November 25th: vs. Arizona
December 4th: at Las Vegas
December 11th: vs. Miami
December 18th: vs. Tennessee Titans
December 26th: at Indianapolis Colts
January 1st: vs. L.A. Rams
January 8th: vs. at Denver
The Chargers’ win total was set at ten, but those first two games of the season could be crucial. Winning both games will put the Chargers as serious contenders, splitting the games would be acceptable, but losing those openers will put them in a difficult position to overcome.
