Who Will Be the Next First-Time Champion in Major U.S. Sports? Latest Odds Reveal Top Contenders

The Oklahoma City Thunder bounced the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 to win their first NBA championship – at least when they called Oklahoma City home. 

The forerunner of the Thunder was the Seattle Supersonics. That team won the 1979 NBA championship, beating the then-Washington Bullets. 

The Pacers are a former ABA entry that has yet to win an NBA title. Indiana joined the NBA in 1976 as part of a merger that also brought the New Jersey Nets, Denver Nuggets, and San Antonio Spurs into the Association. The Pacers won 3 ABA titles before that league was dissolved. 

Which Team Will Claim Its First Championship?

Fans of the Buffalo Bills believe they have the answer to that question with the dawn of each new NFL season. The Bills famously went to 4 straight Super Bowls, losing each by a greater margin than the previous game. The Bills won back-to-back AFL titles in 1964-65.

This past season, the Bills were beaten by the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game. It was the fourth time that a Chiefs’ team led by Patrick Mahomes had bested Josh Allen and the Bills in the postseason.

The Bills are co-favorites along with Baltimore and Philadelphia to win Super Bowl 60. Each team is +650. 

Here are the odds on the next major (MLB, NFL, NHL, NBA) sports league team to win its first championship. 

** These odds are set by bookies.com and do not reflect any odds that may be available at legal betting sites or betting apps.

Here’s a look at some of the teams favored to be the first major North American pro sports team to win a championship. 

Buffalo Bills (+650): The Bills and Ravens are each +330 to win the AFC this season. The Bills have not been to a Super Bowl since January of 1994.

San Diego Padres (+1000): Long an also-ran in the National League West, the Padres only reached the World Series twice – in 1984 and 1998. They’re a combined 1-8 in the Fall Classic. 

Seattle Mariners (+1000): Despite posting the best regular season in MLB history back in 2001, the Mariners have never reached the World Series. They’re +2500 to win the 2025 Fall Classic.

Winnipeg Jets (+1100): This version of the Winnipeg Jets is a descendant of the NHL expansion Atlanta Thrashers. The Jets have played in Winnipeg since 2011.

Cincinnati Bengals (+1250): The Bengals reached the Super Bowl three times, most recently losing to the Rams in Super Bowl 56. This year, the Bengals are +2000 to win Super Bowl 60. 

Minnesota Timberwolves (+1400): The ‘Wolves joined the NBA as part of an expansion push late in the 20th century. Despite launching the franchise in 1989, Minnesota has yet to reach the NBA Finals.

Indiana Pacers (+1400): The team appeared on track to possibly upset the Thunder in Game 7 before Tyrese Haliburton tore his Achilles. That injury put the Pacers’ title hopes on pause until at least the 2026-27 season. 

Los Angeles Chargers (+1750): An original AFL franchise begun in San Diego, the Chargers won that league’s championship in 1963. During their NFL tenure starting in 1970, the Chargers reached the Super Bowl just once, losing 49-26 to San Francisco. They moved to LA in 2017. 

Orlando Magic (+2000): The Magic began in the same season as the Timberwolves. Orlando reached the NBA Finals in 1995 and 2009. They won just 1 game between the 2 appearances. The Magic have an opening in the East next season, given the injuries suffered by Boston (Jayson Tatum) and Indiana (Haliburton). 

Minnesota Vikings (+3000): Minnesota is winless in four Super Bowl appearances and 32 playoff tries. Their 14 regular-season wins didn’t help last season, as they were eliminated in the Wild Card round. 

Here’s the rundown of all the major pro sports league teams (MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL) that have yet to win a championship. 

🏒 NHL (10): Buffalo Sabres, Columbus Blue Jackets, Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, Ottawa Senators, San Jose Sharks, Seattle Kraken, Utah Mammoth, Vancouver Canucks, Winnipeg Jets

🏀 NBA (10): Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz

⚾️ MLB (5): Colorado Rockies, Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners, Tampa Bay Rays

🏈 NFL (9): Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Chargers, Minnesota Vikings, Tennessee Titans

Notes: The original Winnipeg Jets (who later became the Arizona Coyotes and are now the Utah Mammoth) won three WHA titles but none in the NHL. 

The Nets and Pacers won ABA titles, but none in the NBA. The Bills, Chargers, and Titans (as the Houston Oilers) won AFL titles but none in the NFL. 

The Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, and Detroit Lions have never won a Super Bowl, but because they all won NFL championships before the Super Bowl era, they are not included on this list.