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Oddsmakers have decreed the San Francisco 49ers the new team to beat five weeks into the season.
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The 49ers surpassed the Los Angeles Rams as betting favorites to win Super Bowl 61 amid an impressive 5-0 start. DraftKings Sportsbook lists them at +680, ahead of the Rams (+700), Buffalo Bills (+800), Baltimore Ravens (+800), Kansas City Chiefs (+900), and Seattle Seahawks (+1100).
They began the season with third billing in their own division, but the 49ers are now -260 favorites to win the NFC West over the Rams (+425) and Seahawks (+495). They’re given +280 odds to make their third Super Bowl appearance under head coach Mike Shanahan.
No team has looked as strong as San Francisco to start the 2026 season.
Right out of the gate, the 49ers made a massive statement in the campaign’s first game. They throttled the Rams, who entered the year with major Super Bowl buzz, with a 27-7 win in Melbourne.
The 49ers defeated their other formidable NFC West foe on Sunday, winning 32-29 at Seattle. Meanwhile, the Rams dropped to 2-3 with a gutting overtime loss to the Bills on Monday night.
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San Francisco boasts the NFL’s best scoring differential, outscoring the opposition by 61 points in five wins. The 49ers rank third in points scored and allowed.
Brock Purdy is second to Josh Allen in the MVP odds with a stellar 119.5 quarterback rating. The quarterback has quickly developed a rapport with offseason addition Mike Evans, who leads the team with 326 receiving yards.
Fred Warner has returned strong from a season-ending ankle injury, collecting 50 tackles and three forced fumbles. The defense has remained stout without star pass rusher Nick Bosa, who could return from a calf injury for Monday night’s game against the Washington Commanders.
ESPN’s Football Power Index suggests the betting shift was long overdue. The model gives the 49ers a 25.7% chance to win the Super Bowl, considerably more than the runner-up Bills (11.0%). The 49ers are projected for 13.8 wins and a whopping 91.9% chance to win the division.
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This story was originally published October 13, 2026 at 2:32 PM.