The Seattle Seahawks were the talk of New York at media day on Tuesday, either for what they did or did not do. Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos mostly stayed on the down-low, but that won’t be the case come Sunday’s kickoff of Super Bowl XLVIII. Manning is a considerable favorite to win MVP of the game.

All odds provided by Sportsbook.ag


Super Bowl MVP 

Peyton Manning (+120) – Mariano Rivera won MLB All-Star Game MVP last season simply for walking on the field. As long as the Broncos win on Sunday, it’s hard to imagine Manning not bagging the honor. Let’s be honest; he would have to be spectacularly bad in order not to receive it…and if he is bad, Denver won’t win.

Russell Wilson (+400) – Channeling the Ask Russell Wilson app: “Will you win MVP of Super Bowl XLVIII?” Wilson probably wouldn’t give a definitive answer right now, but he certainly has a chance. Twenty-six quarterbacks have won the award, 19 more times than any other position.

Mawshawn Lynch (+500) – Lynch hardly made noise at media day, but it would come as no surprise to see him do some serious talking with his performance on the field. So far in these playoffs he has rushed 50 times for 249 yards and three touchdowns. In cold weather, Lynch should continue to get tons of carries.

Knowshon Moreno (+1500) – Seven running backs have won Super Bowl MVP—second most behind the dominant quarterbacks. Knowshon would really have to go off in order to steal the individual award from Manning in a Broncos’ victory. He has a much better chance of crying during the “National Anthem”.

Peyton Manning

Will he play a down in the 2014 regular season? (-2000) – Manning will undergo tests on his neck sometime after the Super Bowl; tests that may determine his future. Not surprisingly, he vows to keep playing—even if he wins another title—if health allows. The 37-year-old is +1000 to retire prior to next season.

Super Bowl passing yards (“over/under” 287.5) – Something will have to give on Sunday. Manning has exceeded 287.5 passing yards in 15 of 18 games during the 2013-14 campaign. He is averaging 290 yards through the air in two Super Bowl appearances. The Seahawks, however, ranked first in pass defense this season (172.0 ypg).

Super Bowl touchdown passes (over/under 1.5) – Manning has thrown at least one touchdown in every game this season, and he has tossed at least two in 17 of 18 outings. In two Super Bowls, though, he has only two total scoring strikes. Seattle ranked second in touchdown passes allowed (16) during the regular season.

Will he score a rushing touchdown in the Super Bowl? (+800) – Manning has only one touchdown run this season, in an Oct. 6 shootout win at Dallas. He is -1800 to not find the end zone with his feet, which is not great value but also not terrible value given Manning’s running prowess—or lack thereof.

Winter Olympics: Most Gold Medals

Norway (+150) – Norway notched the third-most golds at the Vancouver Olympics in 2010, tying with the United States. It last captured the most golds at the Salt Lake City games in 2002. The Norwegians consistently rack up medals in cross-country skiing, Nordic combined, speed skating, and ski jumping.

United States (+300) – Team USA dominated the 2010 medal count with 37, but it trailed Canada and Germany in the gold department. There are a few notable American absences this year, such as skier Lindsey Vonn, but 230 athletes represent the largest delegation ever in the Winter Olympics.

Russia (+450) – The Russians struggled in the medal count at both the 2002 and 2010 games, but they were fourth in golds (eight) and earned just seven fewer medals than chart-topping Germany in the overall count at the 2006 Turin Olympics. How big of an advantage could it be for the host nation? Canada dominated the gold count with 14 in Vancouver.

Germany (+450) – Germany flat out gets the job done at almost all international competitions: Winter Olympics, Summer Olympics, World Cup, etc. It won the medal count in 2002 and 2006, topped the gold list in 2006, and finished second in both golds and overall medals at the Vancouver Olympics.

Waste Management Phoenix Open

Phil Mickelson (+1200) – Avoid Mickelson like the plague this week. He may be the defending champion in Phoenix, but Lefty withdrew from last week’s event in Torrey Pines prior to Saturday’s round due to a back injury. Mickelson did not play in Wednesday’s pro-am in order to rest his back.

Webb Simpson (+1500) – Who will thrill the crowds at the raucous 16th hole at the TPC at Scottsdale? Don’t be surprised if it’s Simpson, who finished eighth in his last appearance at this event in 2012. Dating back to the 2013 Tour Championship, the former Wake Forest Demon Deacon has five Top-10 performances in six tournaments.

Keegan Bradley (+2000) – Bradley has been in solid-if-unspectacular form of late. He has finished 18th or better in eight straight events dating back to the second leg of last year’s FedEx Cup Playoffs. Bradley fired a second-round 63 en route to a 24th-place showing last season in Phoenix.

Graham DeLaet (+2000) – DeLaet may not be the biggest name, but he has been showing some serious game. The Canadian recorded a pair of top-three finishes during last fall’s playoffs, and he has three consecutive Top-10 performances dating back to late October. DeLaet is coming off a runner-up at Torrey Pines.

Read more articles by Ricky Dimon