Colts draw Saints for Super Bowl XLIV
The Colts had to rally from an 11-point deficit in the second quarter to beat the Jets. The Saints needed overtime to push past the Vikings and into their first Super Bowl. Now comes the long two week wait before we get to see Indy and New Orleans battle for the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Just to keep us from being bored, the NFL drops the Pro Bowl in this week with the league's best, minus players from the two best teams.
God bless the New Orleans Saints.
Considering the Saints represent a city that went through a modern scene from the Book of Job only four years ago, it’s great to see them finally get to the Super Bowl for the first time in their history.
Next up for New Orleans: Arguably the greatest team in NFL history, give or take a 1972 Miami Dolphins here or a 2007 New England Patriots there.
I know what you’re thinking. How in the name of Bourbon Street can you consider the current version of the Indianapolis Colts to be among the best teams of all-time?
It’s not a far-fetched idea. First off, Peyton Manning is the most decorated football player ever. After running amok on the SEC at Tennessee, Manning now has the most NFL MVP awards on his mantle after pocketing his fourth his season.
On top of that, the Colts put up the most impressive year of any team in league history this season – both on the field and at the window – of any elite club in recent memory.
With its 30-17 win as eight-point favorites over the New York Jets on Sunday afternoon, Indianapolis is now 16-0 SU and an extremely profitable 12-3-1 ATS when its starters play the entire game.
Yes, the Colts lost to the Jets and Buffalo Bills in the regular season, but neither game should count in the eyes of bettors because Indy essentially tanked both contests.
The Colts’ win over the Jets on Sunday was more impressive than you’d realize at first glance. Indy put up 30 points against the league’s best defense, which had held opponents to under 10 points per game in its last eight heading into the AFC Championship Game.
New York was 7-1 SU and ATS rolling into its meeting with Indianapolis, which wore down the underdogs over four quarters. The Colts racked up 461 yards offense against the Jets, who led 17-6 in the first half before Indy’s offense got on track.
Tossing aside their losses to the Jets and Bills in the regular season when they couldn’t care less, the Colts have covered in seven straight games, all SU wins. Indianapolis comes into Super Bowl XLIV without an ATS defeat since its 20-17 win against Houston (+7½) on November 8.
Oddsmakers opened the Colts as five-point chalk against the Saints for the big game on February 7 in Miami (6:25 PM ET, CBS), but the spread had moved as of early on Monday morning.
Indy was available from -4½ to -5½ depending on the outlet, while the total was also worth a gander at both offshore and Vegas shops. The total opened at 55, but 55½ points was the consensus number in the aftermath of New Orleans’ 31-28 overtime win over the Minnesota Vikings (+4) on Sunday night. The number was as high as 56½ points at some venues.
Expect the spread to fall in the coming week because of the amount of money that’ll pour in on the Saints. The Colts are on a collision course with history, but that won’t stop bettors from falling in love with New Orleans and the feel-good story that accompanies the NFC champions heading into the Super Bowl.
Luck appears to be on the Saints’ side. New Orleans battled Minnesota to a draw on its home turf on Sunday night, but it won the beacon of objectivity that is the coin toss to take the football at the beginning of overtime.
The Saints made no mistake, gradually marching down the field before Garrett Hartley drilled a 40-yard field goal 4:45 into the extra period to send New Orleans to Miami.
Being the underdogs should help the Saints, who have been overvalued since starting the season 13-0 SU. New Orleans is only 1-6 against the number in its last seven games (4-3 SU) including the postseason, so it’ll help Saints backers that their team is dogged against the Colts.
The Super Bowl matchup is the first involving the two top seeds from their respective conferences since 1993, when the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Buffalo Bills. That won’t stop square bettors and the mainstream media from depicting New Orleans as the underdog, even if a ton of action is sure to come in on the Saints.
The Colts had to rally from an 11-point deficit in the second quarter to beat the Jets. The Saints needed overtime to push past the Vikings and into their first Super Bowl. Now comes the long two week wait before we get to see Indy and New Orleans battle for the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Just to keep us from being bored, the NFL drops the Pro Bowl in this week with the league's best, minus players from the two best teams.
God bless the New Orleans Saints.
Considering the Saints represent a city that went through a modern scene from the Book of Job only four years ago, it’s great to see them finally get to the Super Bowl for the first time in their history.
Next up for New Orleans: Arguably the greatest team in NFL history, give or take a 1972 Miami Dolphins here or a 2007 New England Patriots there.
I know what you’re thinking. How in the name of Bourbon Street can you consider the current version of the Indianapolis Colts to be among the best teams of all-time?
It’s not a far-fetched idea. First off, Peyton Manning is the most decorated football player ever. After running amok on the SEC at Tennessee, Manning now has the most NFL MVP awards on his mantle after pocketing his fourth his season.
On top of that, the Colts put up the most impressive year of any team in league history this season – both on the field and at the window – of any elite club in recent memory.
With its 30-17 win as eight-point favorites over the New York Jets on Sunday afternoon, Indianapolis is now 16-0 SU and an extremely profitable 12-3-1 ATS when its starters play the entire game.
Yes, the Colts lost to the Jets and Buffalo Bills in the regular season, but neither game should count in the eyes of bettors because Indy essentially tanked both contests.
The Colts’ win over the Jets on Sunday was more impressive than you’d realize at first glance. Indy put up 30 points against the league’s best defense, which had held opponents to under 10 points per game in its last eight heading into the AFC Championship Game.
New York was 7-1 SU and ATS rolling into its meeting with Indianapolis, which wore down the underdogs over four quarters. The Colts racked up 461 yards offense against the Jets, who led 17-6 in the first half before Indy’s offense got on track.
Tossing aside their losses to the Jets and Bills in the regular season when they couldn’t care less, the Colts have covered in seven straight games, all SU wins. Indianapolis comes into Super Bowl XLIV without an ATS defeat since its 20-17 win against Houston (+7½) on November 8.
Oddsmakers opened the Colts as five-point chalk against the Saints for the big game on February 7 in Miami (6:25 PM ET, CBS), but the spread had moved as of early on Monday morning.
Indy was available from -4½ to -5½ depending on the outlet, while the total was also worth a gander at both offshore and Vegas shops. The total opened at 55, but 55½ points was the consensus number in the aftermath of New Orleans’ 31-28 overtime win over the Minnesota Vikings (+4) on Sunday night. The number was as high as 56½ points at some venues.
Expect the spread to fall in the coming week because of the amount of money that’ll pour in on the Saints. The Colts are on a collision course with history, but that won’t stop bettors from falling in love with New Orleans and the feel-good story that accompanies the NFC champions heading into the Super Bowl.
Luck appears to be on the Saints’ side. New Orleans battled Minnesota to a draw on its home turf on Sunday night, but it won the beacon of objectivity that is the coin toss to take the football at the beginning of overtime.
The Saints made no mistake, gradually marching down the field before Garrett Hartley drilled a 40-yard field goal 4:45 into the extra period to send New Orleans to Miami.
Being the underdogs should help the Saints, who have been overvalued since starting the season 13-0 SU. New Orleans is only 1-6 against the number in its last seven games (4-3 SU) including the postseason, so it’ll help Saints backers that their team is dogged against the Colts.
The Super Bowl matchup is the first involving the two top seeds from their respective conferences since 1993, when the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Buffalo Bills. That won’t stop square bettors and the mainstream media from depicting New Orleans as the underdog, even if a ton of action is sure to come in on the Saints.