Super Bowl Odds: Matchup Predictions and Betting Picks
by Darin Zank - 9/7/2011
Picking the winner of the Super Bowl five months in advance is hard enough as it is. Picking both Super Bowl finalists is doubly tough. But according to the Super Bowl Finalists betting board at Intertops, it could also be very rewarding. Here's a quick look at just some of the many offerings on potential Super Bowl matchups at Intertops.
Keying New England
The New England Patriots posted the best record in the league last year at 14-2 (before stumbling in their playoff opener), and it looks like they got better this off-season, bringing in WR Chad Ochocinco, DT Albert Haynesworth and DE Shaun Ellis. That's why Intertops is listing them as a 6/1 favorite to win Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis in February.
New England is also the leading team on Intertops' Super Bowl Finalists board. The Patriots pairing with the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers is the top choice at odds of 18/1; New England teamed with the Philadelphia Eagles is lined at 20/1; the Pats' combination with the Super Bowl champs of two seasons ago, the New Orleans Saints, is listed at 26/1; a Patriots-Atlanta Falcons matchup is getting 34/1; and a Pats-Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl is being offered at 38/1 for Super Bowl odds.
The Champs
Green Bay entered last season as a popular pick to go all the way, but injuries to several starters almost derailed their efforts. Then the Packers got hot at the end, won their last couple of regular-season games and three on the road in the NFC playoffs, then stormed to a Super Bowl victory over Pittsburgh. And this year the Pack might be even better, with the return of guys like RB Ryan Grant and TE Jermichael Finely.
Green Bay paired with the San Diego Chargers is listed at 29/1 on Intertops' Super Bowl Finalists board; the Packers combined with the New York Jets is lined at 31/1; A Super Bowl rematch between Green Bay and the Steelers is also listed at 31/1 for Super Bowl odds; and a Packers-Indianapolis Colts Super Bowl is being offered at 41/1, although with the uncertainty about Indy QB Peyton Manning, those odds should go up.
Don't Forget the Bolts
Last year San Diego led the NFL in both total offense and total defense and outgained opponents by a league-best 124 YPG. However, the Chargers didn't even make the playoffs. This off-season the Chargers brought in LB Takeo Spikes and S Bob Sanders, so it's hard to believe they won't return to the postseason, and may even make a run at the top seed in the AFC.
A San Diego-Philadelphia Super Bowl is listed at 33/1 at Intertops; a Chargers matchup with their former QB Drew Brees and the Saints is getting 56/1; a San Diego-Atlanta bout is also lined at 56/1; and a Chargers-Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl is being offered at 61/1.
Other Interesting Possibilities
The dreamy Eagles, with all of their off-season acquisitions, are lined at 35/1 vs. both the Jets and Steelers.
The Baltimore Ravens matched with Green Bay is lined at 38/1, and the Ravens and Eagles at 43/1.
A rematch of Super Bowl XLII between the Patriots and Giants is getting 44/1.
A possible fourth Super Bowl matchup between the Steelers and Cowboys is priced at 66/1.
An all-New York Super Bowl between the Jets and Giants is listed at 76/1.
The longest odds matching two teams that made the playoffs last year is the 201/1 being offered on a Patriots-Seahawks Super Bowl.
Super Bowl XLVI Finalists Predictions
We'll take three shots at hitting this proposition. Since the Patriots are such favorites, we'll take them in one combo, but pair them with someone that will give us a price. We like Dallas to rebound this year, so we'll play a Patriots-Cowboys Super Bowl at 38/1. Then, we love Green Bay again this year, and we're liking San Diego. So we'll back a Packers-Chargers championship game at 29/1. And we've got to take one flyer bet, so we'll take a shot on a Baltimore-Minnesota Super Bowl at 221/1.
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