Tips for the office pool: Everything you need to know to talk trash at the water cooler after Super Bowl Sunday
Vs. the spread: Colts by 5 1/2. With Peyton Manning(notes) and Drew Brees(notes) running two explosive offenses, it will be difficult for either Indianapolis or New Orleans to pull away.
Although it figures to be a close game, this is a tricky one to call because a late-possession score could quickly change the spread from more than a touchdown to less than a field goal. There have been thrilling photo finishes the past two years, and the combined quality of quarterbacks is at an even higher level this season. Pick: Saints.
Over/under: 56 1/2 points. This is why Vegas mathematicians belong in the same room as those card-counting kids from MIT. Based on the teams’ average offensive outputs, something like 30-27 looks like a reasonable final score. That’s an "over" right there, and chances are the teams will produce more points than usual, even if takes scoring on defense or special teams to do it. Pick: Over.
Prop 44
A look at the 44 best proposition bets for Super Bowl 44:
1. Total points scored by Colts (31)?
Under. Their season average isn’t that high.
2. Total points scored by Saints (25 1/2)?
Over. Their season average isn’t as low.
3. Total points scored by both teams?
The best bet is between 56-60, which comes in at 6-1.
4. Double result: First half winner and game winner.
The Saints-Colts combination at 7-1 has the most potential.
5. Any score within the first 5 1/2 minutes of the game?
With these offenses, someone will strike before then.
6. First scoring play of the game?
A Colts or a Saints touchdown pass looks good at 7-2.
7. Any score in the last 2 minutes of the first half?
Someone will go into the locker room with fresh points.
8. Longest successful field goal (42 1/2 yards)?
Under. This hasn’t been the postseason for kickers.
9. Total successful field goals by both teams (2 1/2)?
Under. With Manning vs. Brees, it will be an end zone fest.
10. Will there be overtime?
No. There’s hasn’t been one in 43 years—why start now?
11. Longest touchdown of the game (49 1/2 yards)?
Over. Manning or Brees will connect on a deep ball.
12. Shortest touchdown of the game (1 1/2 yards)?
Over. These teams are too loaded inside the red zone.
13. Team to have first penalty?
Saints. The Colts were the second-least penalized team.
14. Total sacks by each team (3 1/2)?
Under. Manning and Brees hardly get touched.
15. Will there be a safety?
No. Manning and Brees won’t allow that to happen.
16. Will there be a special teams or defensive touchdown?
Yes. And the Saints are most likely to provide it.
17. Will either team have three unanswered scores?
No. That’s an unreasonable drought for either offense.
18. First team to challenge a call?
Saints. Sean Payton is more likely to lower a red flag.
19. First team to call a timeout?
Colts. Manning will burn an early one getting reset.
20. Player to score first touchdown?
Go with either Dallas Clark(notes) (7-1) or Pierre Thomas(notes) (8-1).
21. Player to score last touchdown?
Go with a top wideout, most likely Reggie Wayne(notes) (8-1).
22. Will the game be decided by exactly three points?
No. It’s really "the field" in this situation.
23. Total fumbles lost by both teams (1 1/2)?
Under. Adrian Peterson isn’t playing in the Super Bowl.
24. Will at least one quarter be scoreless?
No. Remember, this is the Colts and the Saints.
25. First score of the game will be?
Touchdown. Manning or Brees will make it so.
26. Last score of the game will be?
Touchdown. Manning or Brees will make it so.
27. Colts’ first score of the game?
Touchdown. Manning will make it so.
28. Saints’ first score of the game?
Touchdown. Brees will make it so.
29. Any score in last 3 1/2 minutes of fourth quarter?
Yes. Recent history tells us so.
30. Will Colts score a TD in the first quarter?
Yes. Did we mention Manning?
31. Will Saints score a TD in the first quarter?
Yes. Did we mention Brees?
32. Total interceptions by both teams (2 1/2)?
Under. Neither quarterback will have more than one.
33. Total touchdowns by both teams (6 1/2)?
Over. This is a trap but side with the offense.
34. Final score for Colts?
31 points is reasonable at 10-1.
35. Final score for Saints?
31 points is reasonable at 12-1.
36. Total rushing yards for Colts (99 1/2)?
Under. Stick with the trend of the season.
37. Total rushing attempts for Pierre Thomas (11 1/2)?
Over. The Saints know they need to feed him often.
38. Total receptions by Dallas Clark (6 1/2)?
Over. He will be the game’s leading receiver.
39. Largest lead of the game by either team (15 1/2)?
Under. The offenses will keep answering.
40. Chris Bosh points plus rebounds (vs. Kings) vs. Manning’s pass attempts (vs. Saints)
Bosh. He’s on fire and he’ll abuse Sacramento at home.
41. Dwight Howard points plus 8 1/2 (vs. Celtics) vs. Saints points (vs. Colts) minus 8 1/2
Saints. Boston can slow down Superman’s scoring.
42. Sidney Crosby points (vs. Capitals) vs. Brees’ interceptions (vs. Colts)
Crosby. Sid the Kid will be better than Brees is bad.
43. Alexander Ovechkin points (vs. Penguins) vs. Garrett Hartley(notes) made field goals (vs. Colts)
Ovechkin. He’ll light the lamp at least twice.
44. Manning’s passing yards in Super Bowl 44 vs. his passing yards in Super Bowl 41 (247)
Super Bowl 44. He’ll easily break three hundy on Sunday.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=tsn-tipsfortheofficepool&prov=tsn&type=lgns
Vs. the spread: Colts by 5 1/2. With Peyton Manning(notes) and Drew Brees(notes) running two explosive offenses, it will be difficult for either Indianapolis or New Orleans to pull away.
Although it figures to be a close game, this is a tricky one to call because a late-possession score could quickly change the spread from more than a touchdown to less than a field goal. There have been thrilling photo finishes the past two years, and the combined quality of quarterbacks is at an even higher level this season. Pick: Saints.
Over/under: 56 1/2 points. This is why Vegas mathematicians belong in the same room as those card-counting kids from MIT. Based on the teams’ average offensive outputs, something like 30-27 looks like a reasonable final score. That’s an "over" right there, and chances are the teams will produce more points than usual, even if takes scoring on defense or special teams to do it. Pick: Over.
Prop 44
A look at the 44 best proposition bets for Super Bowl 44:
1. Total points scored by Colts (31)?
Under. Their season average isn’t that high.
2. Total points scored by Saints (25 1/2)?
Over. Their season average isn’t as low.
3. Total points scored by both teams?
The best bet is between 56-60, which comes in at 6-1.
4. Double result: First half winner and game winner.
The Saints-Colts combination at 7-1 has the most potential.
5. Any score within the first 5 1/2 minutes of the game?
With these offenses, someone will strike before then.
6. First scoring play of the game?
A Colts or a Saints touchdown pass looks good at 7-2.
7. Any score in the last 2 minutes of the first half?
Someone will go into the locker room with fresh points.
8. Longest successful field goal (42 1/2 yards)?
Under. This hasn’t been the postseason for kickers.
9. Total successful field goals by both teams (2 1/2)?
Under. With Manning vs. Brees, it will be an end zone fest.
10. Will there be overtime?
No. There’s hasn’t been one in 43 years—why start now?
11. Longest touchdown of the game (49 1/2 yards)?
Over. Manning or Brees will connect on a deep ball.
12. Shortest touchdown of the game (1 1/2 yards)?
Over. These teams are too loaded inside the red zone.
13. Team to have first penalty?
Saints. The Colts were the second-least penalized team.
14. Total sacks by each team (3 1/2)?
Under. Manning and Brees hardly get touched.
15. Will there be a safety?
No. Manning and Brees won’t allow that to happen.
16. Will there be a special teams or defensive touchdown?
Yes. And the Saints are most likely to provide it.
17. Will either team have three unanswered scores?
No. That’s an unreasonable drought for either offense.
18. First team to challenge a call?
Saints. Sean Payton is more likely to lower a red flag.
19. First team to call a timeout?
Colts. Manning will burn an early one getting reset.
20. Player to score first touchdown?
Go with either Dallas Clark(notes) (7-1) or Pierre Thomas(notes) (8-1).
21. Player to score last touchdown?
Go with a top wideout, most likely Reggie Wayne(notes) (8-1).
22. Will the game be decided by exactly three points?
No. It’s really "the field" in this situation.
23. Total fumbles lost by both teams (1 1/2)?
Under. Adrian Peterson isn’t playing in the Super Bowl.
24. Will at least one quarter be scoreless?
No. Remember, this is the Colts and the Saints.
25. First score of the game will be?
Touchdown. Manning or Brees will make it so.
26. Last score of the game will be?
Touchdown. Manning or Brees will make it so.
27. Colts’ first score of the game?
Touchdown. Manning will make it so.
28. Saints’ first score of the game?
Touchdown. Brees will make it so.
29. Any score in last 3 1/2 minutes of fourth quarter?
Yes. Recent history tells us so.
30. Will Colts score a TD in the first quarter?
Yes. Did we mention Manning?
31. Will Saints score a TD in the first quarter?
Yes. Did we mention Brees?
32. Total interceptions by both teams (2 1/2)?
Under. Neither quarterback will have more than one.
33. Total touchdowns by both teams (6 1/2)?
Over. This is a trap but side with the offense.
34. Final score for Colts?
31 points is reasonable at 10-1.
35. Final score for Saints?
31 points is reasonable at 12-1.
36. Total rushing yards for Colts (99 1/2)?
Under. Stick with the trend of the season.
37. Total rushing attempts for Pierre Thomas (11 1/2)?
Over. The Saints know they need to feed him often.
38. Total receptions by Dallas Clark (6 1/2)?
Over. He will be the game’s leading receiver.
39. Largest lead of the game by either team (15 1/2)?
Under. The offenses will keep answering.
40. Chris Bosh points plus rebounds (vs. Kings) vs. Manning’s pass attempts (vs. Saints)
Bosh. He’s on fire and he’ll abuse Sacramento at home.
41. Dwight Howard points plus 8 1/2 (vs. Celtics) vs. Saints points (vs. Colts) minus 8 1/2
Saints. Boston can slow down Superman’s scoring.
42. Sidney Crosby points (vs. Capitals) vs. Brees’ interceptions (vs. Colts)
Crosby. Sid the Kid will be better than Brees is bad.
43. Alexander Ovechkin points (vs. Penguins) vs. Garrett Hartley(notes) made field goals (vs. Colts)
Ovechkin. He’ll light the lamp at least twice.
44. Manning’s passing yards in Super Bowl 44 vs. his passing yards in Super Bowl 41 (247)
Super Bowl 44. He’ll easily break three hundy on Sunday.
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