800 million viewers are expected for the Super Bowl on Sunday between the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans saints. As 2007 champions, the Colts can be backed at 1/2 odds. The Saints are attractive as well at 17/10.
Both are the top seeds from their conference. Be careful on taking the Colts at 10/11 to win by five points or more since only three of the last 10 Super Bowl favorites have covered the spread. The over/under of 56.5 points suggests a high scoring affair and rightfully so. The Saints are #1 in the NFL at 32 points per game and the Colts average 26 points per game. Saints quarterback Drew Brees led the NFL with 40 touchdown passes and Colts quarterback Peyton Manning was right behind with 39 touchdown passes. 4/6 odds on more than four touchdown passes in the game looks to be a safe bet. Look out for Colts receivers Reggie Wayne or Marques Colston to score first. Running back Reggie Bush is a multi-tool threat on the ground, in the air and as a punt returner.
In this one, the saying “defense wins championships” never rang so true. The Saints defense was 20th overall, allowing 21.3 points per game. The Colts defense was 8th, allowing 19.2 points per game. Colts leading defensive end Dwight Freeney has a torn ligament in his right ankle and is listed as questionable, but reports said he is improving. The Colts started at -6 but dipped to -4.5, possibly because of Freeney’s injury. Both have high-powered offenses with great quarterbacks and a solid core around them. It may come down to the defense and which team can keep their emotions in check at one of the biggest sporting events in the world. In their last nine games as 6-point favorites or less, the Colts are 8-1 straight up and 7-2 against the spread.
Just ask the “Psychic Nun,” Sister Jean Kenny of St. Francis Borgia Parish. The nun, who relies on her subscription to Pro Football Weekly and statistical knowledge, has an 18-6 record on Super Bowl predictions. Kenny predicts only winners and scores and not the spread, since gambling is the “eighth deadly sin.”
As she does every year, she presents her prediction in rhyme and verse as follows:
“Manning’s Miami Masterpiece”
Welcome back fans to the Sunshine State
See the galloping Colts sprint out of the gate
Sean Payton’s “Who Dat” team is dealt their bridesmaid fate
While the BLUE Dat winners go on to celebrate
The penalty-prone Saints are confused and slow
Drew Brees experiences a knockout blow
Gentleman Jim Irsay’s team is focused and ready to go
Coach Caldwell’s game plan unfolds well at the NFL’s biggest show
Freeney shows “Hoosier Hospitality” as he inflicts some pain
The saddened Saints fall from grace and are sore and lame
They played hard, but could not live up to their name
The Colts stampede in Miami again and win the big game!
Sister Jean Kenny’s prediction: Colts win 31-22.