With just 24 hours or so until the 2018 NFL season gets underway, many NFL experts are chiming in on which teams they believe will do well, which teams will underachieve, and which two teams could end up playing in Atlanta next February at the Super Bowl 53. Week 1 odds have also been revealed.

While it is easy to pick one of the top favorites on the Las Vegas odds board, it is much more difficult to find that diamond in the rough. The parity in the NFL heading into the 2018 season has never been so high - especially in the NFC. The proof is in the pudding, as the NFC has sent nine different teams to the Super Bowl over the last ten seasons.

The Seattle Seahawks were the only team to head to the big game in back-to-back seasons in 2013-14.

Below are five teams that have some serious high early season odds heading into Week 1 that have the ability to shock the world seven months from now.

G-Men worth the risk

The New York Giants are coming off of an awful 2017 season, however, the silver lining of that bad year has led them to draft running back Saquon Barkley. Time will tell if Barkley can live up to his hype, however, he seems to have the skills running the ball that the Giants desperately need.

Adding longtime Patriots offensive lineman Nate Solder and rookie Will Hernandez should give this team a whole new look this fall. Eli Manning has the weapons, now it is up to him to deliver.

According to NFL Mocks.com (via Oddsshark) the Giants are listed at +6600 to win Super Bowl 53. At those odds, they are well worth a $100 wager.

Lions den

The Detroit Lions are a riddle. Fans in Motown are hoping new head coach Matt Patricia holds the answer to their longtime suffering. Detroit has talent, that can’t be argued.

Matt Stafford at quarterback, and wideouts Golden Tate and Marvin Jones Jr. can hold their own with anyone in the league. Add to that, second-year WR Kenny Golladay, and the signing of Luke Willson from Seattle, and Stafford has a lot to work with.

The key to Detroit competing is simple. They have to run the ball. The Lions have been in the bottom third in rushing for years, and that makes it all the much harder for Stafford and the offense to get more creative.

Signing LeGarrette Blount and drafting Kerryon Johnson out of Auburn are great moves - on paper. If they play to their potential on the field, Stafford will lead this team to the postseason. Detroit is currently +4500 to win the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Bolts have energy

The Los Angeles Chargers are one of the worst and best teams in 2017. If you caught them in September or early October last season, you were lucky. L.A. lost their first four games in 2017 and suffered four losses by three points or fewer. That is a tough pill to swallow. Even though they started 0-4 and lost six of their first nine, L.A. finished the season red-hot as they won six-of-seven down the stretch and almost became one of the rare teams in NFL history to make the postseason after starting the year 0-4.

Why could they shock the world? Philip Rivers and Keenan Allen are one of the best quarterback-wide receiver duos in the league when healthy, and Melvin Gordon is a beast, that's why! Plus at a nice +3500, they would be a nice a selection if lightning happens to strike!

Two other teams with some seriously long odds are the Denver Broncos and New Orleans Saints, and they both have the talent to do some damage in 2018.

The Broncos are not far removed from their Super Bowl 50 title team and at +4000, they could be a bit more than fools gold. The only problem? Can Case Keenum repeat his great performance form 2017? If he plays half as well as he did for the Vikings last season, the Broncos will be in the running for a playoff spot.

Now to the Saints. The offensive firepower may be one of the best in the league. Drew Brees seems not to age, Michael Thomas is one of the best wideouts in the game and their running game of Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram Jr. could be the best one-two punch in football today. At +2000 the Saints are a top-notch risk at the Vegas window.
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