SUPER BOWL XLII
N.Y. Giants (13-6) vs. New England Patriots (18-0)
6:17PM EST - 2/3/2008
As with most Super Bowls, the 2008 Super Bowl has divided fans into two distinct factions.  The first believe that the Patriots are unstoppable and will complete their undefeated season without much of a challenge from their NFC foe.  The second contingent believe the Giants are the perfect underdog.  New York is coming into the came on an impressive run through the playoffs, not to mention a noble effort against the Patriots in their final regular season game, a game that had no real meaning for the Giants, and that performance won a lot of casual fans over.  I, for one, am not buying the David versus Goliath match-up.  It works great for marketing and inspiring discussion about the game, but that perception really clouds what really matters: Who is the better football team?  Don’t think about it too much, your first inclination is most likely the correct one.  Yeah, it’s the undefeated New England Patriots.  

That part is easy enough, now you have to consider the 12.5 spread.  I think too many people are making too big of a deal about a double digit spread in the Super Bowl.  It’s not the first time, and it’s not even the biggest spread ever in a Super Bowl.  The 49ers -18 vs. Chargers in 1995 for Super Bowl XXIX has been the largest margin so far.  Note that the 49ers covered that spread, as have the majority of teams that have been double-digit favorites in the Super Bowl. 

I don’t see this game being close for several reasons.  I still don’t see Eli Manning as a big-game quarterback.  I obviously can’t deny that he’s played well in his last two games, but the idea that he’s suddenly come of age and that he’s now a seasoned and poised QB with nerves of steal is smoke and mirrors at best.  E. Manning ranked 25th in QB rating this year, completing just 56% of his passes (one of the lowest percentages in the league) and tossing 23 TDs to 20 interceptions (tied for most INTs by any QB in the NFL this year).  Forgive me if I’d rather look at the entire body of work than a small stretch of decent play.  That being said, I do realize that the Giants are primarily a running team.  The only problem there?  New England fields a top 10 rushing defense.  Whatever strengths the Giants have, the Patriots have a counter for it. 

The fact is that the Patriots are the better team, they are rested, they have a chance to make history, and they still play like a team that has something to prove.  I’m not drinking the kool-aid that 67% of the “public bettors” are and taking the underdog.  In the Super Bowl this year, I’ve got the Patriots by a landslide.

Super Bowl XLII Pick:  New England Patriots -12.5

Popularity: 15% [?]

Proposition bets have become somewhat of a tradition in the Super Bowl.  What is a proposition (prop) bet?  Basically, a sportsbook will present a proposition and give you to bet on the outcome based on the odds they set.  A classic example would be betting on the Player to be named MVP of Super Bowl XLII.  You could take the favorite (most likely to win) with Tom Brady at 4/9, or you have the option to take other, less likely to win candidates like Kevin Faulk at 11/1 or Donte Stallworth at 25/1.  You also have the option to take “The Field” which is representative of all players not listed.  In some situations this might be a good option, but for the Super Bowl you’re most likely going to bet on one of the bigger names playing in the game.  It’s really pretty cut and dry.  If the player you bet on ends up winning the MVP, you win, if they don’t win, you don’t win.  These days online sportsbook have taken prop bets on the Super Bowl to a new level.  You can bet on traditional props like “Who will have the most rushing yards?” or “Which player will score the first touchdown in the game?”.  One proposition that has gained a lot of popularity over the past decade or so has been the coin flip.  Yes, you can bet on heads or tails, take your 50/50 odds and hope for the best.  Bettors can find a wide variety of propositions at any number of online sportsbooks, however, I set out to find the most oddball, offbeat, ridiculous Super Bowl Pro bets I could for Super Bowl XLII, and I’m confident I’ve found the best book to place those bets, if you were so inclined. 

BetUS.com has the most creative Super Bowl XLII bets you’re likely to find online.  Sure, they have hundreds of regular prop bets, but you can find those just about anywhere else.  Check out some of the hilarious options they have for you to bet on this year’s Super Bowl and our picks on them:

Pre-Game Prop
The length, in seconds, of the National Anthem - Over/Under 103.5 seconds 
Pick:  Take the over.  Singing at a normal pace the Anthem comes in at around 80 seconds, the Super Bowl version is always longer.

Fox Commentary
Number of times Joe Buck mentions Peyton Manning - Over/Under 5.5
Pick:  Easily an over.  With Eli playing there will be no shortage of comparisons and passing comments on his big bro.

Half-Time Show (note:  this is where it really starts to get ludicrous)
Odds that Tom Petty smokes a joint on stage during his half-time performance - 100/1
Pick:  There’s really no chance of this happening, but it’s funny that there is actually an option out there to bet on the situation.

“Wacky Props”
Bet on the color of the liquid to be dumped on the winning coach:
Transparent 3/1
Orange 2/1
Red 3/1
Purple 16/1
Pick:  Transparent.  I don’t really know why, it’s just a feeling.  I like how Orange is the favorite.  How did they come up with that?  Is that the most popular flavor of Gatorade in the NFL?  Did they do a study on past Super Bowls that showed the majority were orange?  Sorry, Purple, looks like you’re the big underdog this year!

And my favorite prop bets of Super Bowl XLII…

Britney Spears
To bring her kids to the game 50/1
To streak the field 100/1
Pick:  You obviously don’t want to bet on either of these, but I think someone over at BetUS either has a great sense of humor or way too much time on their hands.  Probably both.

That’s going to do it for our look at Super Bowl XLII Proposition Bets.  We’ll be back soon with more on the actual game, including our pick for this year’s winner!  Good luck and thanks for reading!

Popularity: 13% [?]

Have you ever been to a really rancid Super Bowl party?  Have you ever hosted one? Odds are you’ll be able to answer yes to at least one of those questions (whether you know it or not is another question).  In today’s  article we’ll give you a few tips to make sure your Super Bowl XLII party is a monster hit.

I’ll get #1 out of the way quickly.  Don’t plan to meet a bunch of friends at a bar for the Super Bowl and call that your Super Bowl party, that’s weak.  Plus it sucks.  It’s usually way too crowded, you can’t have a conversation with anyone, and most people do have to work the next day and you don’t need to add to your odds of getting a hangover. (more…)

Popularity: 23% [?]

Super Bowl XXLI - AFC Champion vs. NFC Champion
February 3rd, 2008 - Glendale, AZ - University of Phoenix Stadium

The Super Bowl might not be until February 3rd, but you can still wager on who you think is going to win the game based on the four remaining teams.  The New England Patriots are the obvious favorite, but when you are talking about betting future events, you are looking more for value than an easy winner.  For example, New England is at 2/7 right now.  What that means is that for every $2 you want to win, you need to wager $7.  So to win a $100 bet on the Pats to win Super Bowl XLII, you’d need to wager a total of $350!  It may seem like the most logical bet to you, and that’s fine, but I wouldn’t advocate that risk.  Taking a team like San Diego at 10/1, you’d only need to make a wager of $10 to win $100.  Is it very likely to win?  No.  But that’s why the odds are so greatly in your favor.  Take a good look at all of the teams in the field, and determine which you think has the best chance to win and also who you think gives you the best value for your money.  Good luck to you if you decide to go with the Patriots as they will probably win the game, but if they don’t you could be out a big chunk of change. (more…)

Popularity: 11% [?]