The eagerly awaited start of the 2017/18 National Football League (NFL) campaign is set for next Thursday (September 7), and as usual there are going to be known and unknown factors that will significantly impact the season. Make no mistake, unknown factors like the Dallas Cowboys tandem of Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliot brought unexpected excitement to the league last season, but those are X-factors and are not easily calculated.

On the subject of Prescott and Elliot, the Dallas Cowboys’ season currently hangs in the balance as Elliot, who was suspended for six games following an investigation into domestic violence allegations, is appealing his suspension. If unsuccessful in his appeal, the Dallas team may find themselves shorthanded for most of the first half of the season without the defending rushing champion and may start off in a hole that may be too deep to climb out of. That being said, their superb offensive line and receiver Dez Bryant provide a big target for quarterback Prescott may be just enough for them to ride the storm.

Defending champions, the New England Patriots will start the season as favourites in almost everyone’s book. Their exploits in last February’s Super Bowl cannot be understated although, from our perspective, that had more to do with the Atlanta Falcons losing focus and providing a window of opportunity for the Patriots’ quarterback, Tom Brady and company to jump in and make the most of it.

This year, Brady will be without his third down security blanket Julian Edelman, who they lost to a season-ending knee injury during the pre-season game against the Detroit Lions. Edleman’s shoes will be hard to fill, but Brady still has Danny Amendola and a big target in Brandin Crooks. However, if they don’t find an above-average running game, the receivers may find themselves with very little wiggle room. The Kansas City Chiefs, who finished 6-2 both home and away last season, should provide a very good test on opening night.

The Houston Texans finished number one in total defence last season without J J Watt (three-time Defensive Player of the Year). He returns this year following back surgery and appears to have picked up exactly where he left off.

A healthy Watt combined with Jadeveon Clowney and Whitney Mercilus will be a devastating force and all opposing offences will be on alert but that may not be the only defence to watch. J J Watt’s younger brother, T J Watt, is with the Pittsburgh Steelers and is slated to alleviate the workload from James Harrison who will have more freedom to take on quarterbacks with extreme prejudice.

The Seattle Seahawks’ defensive unit ranks among the best defences of all time after leading the league in points allowed for four straight seasons. This feisty defensive unit has enviable speed and experience and has, on a few occasions, befuddled even the great Tom Brady-led offence from New England. The 2016 season was seen as a ‘let-down’ year because they finished third in points allowed. However, the core group of Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor, Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril, K J Wright and Bobby Wagner remains intact and is poised for another great run.

The Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has proven to be ‘Mr Reliable’ ever since taking the reins from Brett Favre in 2008. He is the NFL’s all-time career leader in passer rating during the regular season, with a rating of 104.1 and fourth all-time in the post-season with a rating of 99.4 (among passers with at least 1,500 and 150 pass attempts, respectively).

He is the only quarterback to have a career passer rating of over 100.0 in the regular season as well as the best touchdown-to-interception ratio in NFL history at 4.13 touchdowns per interception. He also holds the league’s lowest career passing interception percentage for quarterbacks during the regular season at 1.5 per cent and the single-season passer rating record of 122.5. With all that said, and despite the likes of receiver Jordy Nelson and line-backer Clay Matthews III on the team, the Packers will fall short again this season, even with moments of brilliance along the way.

Standout wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons Julio Jones is returning from offseason foot surgery. He participated sparingly in pre-season play and is reportedly “feeling good”. If he returns this season in good shape to the high-flying Falcons offence, expect Matt Ryan to target him often and be prepared for the spectacular. The Atlanta team will be out to prove a point and put the Super Bowl disaster behind them.

The ‘surprise team’ of the 2016/17 season, the Oakland Raiders is back with Derek Carr and his reinforcements. The Oakland team brought Marshawn Lynch out of retirement and he is looking as good as advertised. Additionally, they will employ a three-pronged running attack with Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington, the other point of the triangle. Carr will work with a relatively young core of receivers but, based on what transpired last year and what was previewed in pre-season play, don’t sleep on the Raiders.

JustBet has the New England Patriots as the pre-season favourite to win the Super Bowl at odds of 4.75, the Dallas Cowboys at 12.00 and the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers at 10.00. The Pittsburgh Steelers come in at 11:00 and the Atlanta Falcons at at 12.00. Attractive odds and bet options were offered on pre-season games and the same will continue throughout the regular season, playoffs and Super Bowl LII on February 4, 2018.

Place your bets often and early for the best odds – A bet on the reigning champions (New England Patriots) this time last year would have offered odds of 8.50 and for the reigning NFC champion (Atlanta Falcons) 20.00.

JUSTBET ODDS ON SUPERBOWL WINNERAS AT AUGUST 31, 2017

NE PATRIOTS 4.75

DAL COWBOYS 12.00

SEA SEAHAWKS 10.00

GB PACKERS 10.00

PIT STEELERS 11.00

ATL FALCONS 12.00

OAK RAIDERS 15.00

DEN BRONCOS 18.00

KC CHIEFS 20.00

ARI CARDINALS 25.00

HOU TEXANS 22.00

CAR PANTHERS 22.00

MIN VIKINGS 25.00

NY GIANTS 20.00

IND COLTS 35.00

BAL RAVENS 35.00

TB BUCCANEERS 35.00

TEN TITANS 35.00

CIN BENGALS 40.00

PHI EAGLES 40.00

WAS REDSKINS 40.00

NO SAINTS 40.00

DET LIONS 50.00

MIA DOLPHINS 50.00

LA CHARGERS 50.00

BUF BILLS 75.00

JAC JAGUARS 60.00

NY JETS 100.00

CHI BEARS 100.00

LA RAMS 100.00

CLE BROWNS 100.00

SF 49ERS 100.00

ALL JustBet BETTING ODDS ARE

SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE