Super Bowl 58 Preview

After 284 games, the original field of 32 teams has been whittled down to two as the NFL’s showpiece event, the Super Bowl heads to Las Vegas for the first time in league history.

In the stadium nicknamed the Death Star, the league’s new empire, the Kansas City Chiefs will look to extend their dynastic run by claiming a third Super Bowl in five seasons.

That run truly began with a win over their opponents in this game, the San Francisco 49ers whom they defeated in Super Bowl LIV in Miami back in February 2020.

Quite a lot has changed on both teams (and in the world) since that game but one thing remains the same, both teams are chasing another Vince Lombardi Trophy.

There are no shortage of talking points to cover in the build up to the big game so read on with our mega Super Bowl LVIII Preview below!

TEAM BREAKDOWNS

Kansas City Chiefs

Once again, the Chiefs are seeking to become the first team to successfully defend their Super Bowl title since the 2004 New England Patriots and they have had to do it the hard way in NFL season 2023.

While they might try to play the “nobody believed in us” card, the truth is that the Chiefs have never really been too far off the top of the league despite their offensive struggles.

They began the season as $6.60 favourites in the Ladbrokes futures market and after dropping their Week 1 game to Detroit, won their next six and dropped to $5.00 heading into Week 8.

Some up and down play caused their price to fluctuate all season but they never went above $10 as they claimed another AFC West title.

It has not been a vintage Chiefs season, with Patrick Mahomes struggling to get on the same page as his receivers from time to time, but when those struggles were most prevalent, the defence was there to pick up the slack.

No team has scored more than 27 points on them all season, a remarkable feat in the modern, offensively slanted NFL but that defence will have their hands full in the Super Bowl.

However with star tight end (and occasional pop-star’s boyfriend) Travis Kelce discovering the fountain of youth this postseason, Chiefs fans can take plenty of solace in the fact their offence is capable of scoring points if this game does become a shootout like last year’s Super Bowl against Philadelphia.

This postseason run has had its share of challenges, first with a bitterly cold night helping them over the line at home to Miami in the Wild Card round before the first true road playoff win of the Mahomes era against Buffalo.

In the AFC Championship, it was not a pretty performance, but the Chiefs jumped out to an early lead and had the maturity to sit back and let the Ravens self destruct while they packed their bags for Vegas.

San Francisco 49ers

Ever since the full time whistle in the NFC Championship Game 12 months ago, San Francisco had told anyone who would listen (and some who would not) that they were the best team last season before being undone by injuries to the quarterbacks.

Brock Purdy was cleared to start Week 1 and the 49ers entered the season on the fourth line of betting at $9.50 in the Ladbrokes futures market.

They quickly assumed outright favouritism after a 5-0 start with some dominant wins, including a 42-10 beat down of fellow NFC contenders Dallas, after which their odds dropped to $4.75.

Injuries to some key players on offence saw them lose three straight heading into their bye week but after the week of rest they were back with a vengeance.

They won their next six and were once again on top of the market at $3.20 heading into a Christmas night clash with Baltimore.

That was far and away their worst performance of the season as they committed five turnovers but they rebounded to finish 12-5.

Christian McCaffrey lead the league in rushing yards with 1459, finishing almost 300 yards clear of the runner up and scored a massive 21 touchdowns to lead the league off 339 total touches.

Having earned the weekend off, San Francisco were almost washed away by the red hot Packers in a rain storm, but Purdy helped the team overcome an early injury to receiver Deebo Samuel while McCaffrey scored two touchdowns as the 49ers snuck home 24-21.

Then the Detroit Lions came to town for the NFC Championship and it looked like San Francisco would be ending their season one game earlier than they had hoped, falling behind 24-7 at halftime.

However the team came storming back in the second half, rattling off 27 unanswered points to once again pull off a dramatic victory and book the franchise’s eighth trip to the Super Bowl.

Super Bowl LVIII Best Bet

It feels like you can say this most seasons, but there really is a strong case for either side to win the Super Bowl.

After all, they have made it this far for a reason and we know just how good they can be on their day.

Picking a side just comes down to one simple factor, do you want to pick the better overall team, or the team with the best player in the league?

San Francisco has the most complete roster and some proper stars across the roster with the likes of McCaffrey, Samuel, George Kittle and Trent Williams on offence, plus Nick Bosa, Dre Greenlaw, Fred Warner and more on defence.

But the Chiefs have Patrick Mahomes and just like the times where you could not bring yourself to back against Tom Brady in the playoffs, Mahomes is that guy for the 2020’s.

Just like last year, the Chiefs are heading into the game as underdogs but they won’t mind that one bit because this is their fourth Super Bowl appearance in five seasons.

Their defence does not have to be perfect, they just have to find a way to keep San Francisco in touching distance and put Mahomes in a position to make a couple of plays in the fourth quarter.

As for San Francisco, their path to victory is pretty clear, get their pass rush to harass and harangue Mahomes just like Tampa Bay did three years ago and prevent him from making his trademark crazy throws.

Despite San Francisco being the better overall team, I have to side with the Chiefs because if I back them and they lose, I’ll feel a lot better going down on the Mahomes ship than the Brock Purdy one.

Kansas City to Win @ $2.05

Points Markets

I can’t see this game going the same way as Super Bowl LIV because Kansas City is just not as explosive offensively as they were in the 2019 season.

But the problem with the number being set at 47.5 at publish, is that with the way both teams are built, you can have the game play out exactly how you expect and still technically be wrong.

I like the under in this market because both teams are happy to play a patient and risk-averse gameplan which could result in a lot of rushing attempts and limited possessions.

And that is exactly what could unfold but with McCaffrey on one side and Mahomes on the other, the efficiency on both teams could see the over hit anyway.

I’ll call this one a stay away and look to invest in other options.

NO BET

Player Markets

Kansas City Chiefs

For Kansas City, the path to victory is pretty straightforward, rely on their star players to make enough plays to get them over the line.

Despite Mahomes having to adopt a bit more of a patient approach this season, he still has been very productive, throwing for 250 or more yards in nine games and for at least two touchdowns in ten of his starts.

However he has been far from perfect, throwing a career high 14 picks, and if any team is going to find a way to get a mistake out of Mahomes it’s the 49ers.

Not to mention Mahomes has thrown four interceptions in his three Super Bowl appearances which makes the $1.80 on offer for another one in this game good value.

His passes are going to have to go somewhere and he’s got a pair of reliable targets to go to in the crunch, starting with Travis Kelce.

While the veteran is fighting a losing battle with Father Time, he has been able to wind back the clock this postseason with 23 catches for 262 yards and three touchdowns.

Rookie receiver Rashee Rice has been one of the few competent pass catchers on the Chiefs roster this season and he is going to have to make more plays in the big game.

This is not a good matchup for Isiah Pacheco, the 49ers defence is quite tough to break down but Kansas City is going to have to maintain at least a cursory commitment to the running game to slow down San Francisco’s pass rush.

Plus when they get in the red zone, Pacheco’s notorious angry running style is going to come in handy picking up those tough yards so backing him for at least some productive plays is worth a shot.

SGM: Patrick Mahomes 250+ Passing Yards & 2+ Passing Touchdowns @ $2.39

Patrick Mahomes 1+ Interceptions @ $1.80

SGM: Isiah Pacheco 60+ Rushing Yards & Anytime TD Scorer @ $2.11

SGM: Travis Kelce Over 70.5 Receiving Yards & Anytime TD Scorer @ $2.96

Rashee Rice Over 66.5 Receiving Yards @ $1.88

San Francisco 49ers

While I am expecting the Chiefs to win this game, there are a number of player markets for the 49ers that offer plenty of outcome immune value.

Regardless of whether or not they win, I’m expecting a heavy dose of Christian McCaffrey given the Chiefs struggles defending the run (take note Baltimore) and him being the strength of San Francisco’s offence.

He will be ably complimented by Mr Fix It Deebo Samuel who has had three weeks to overcome the injury suffered against Green Bay and he should be raring to go, while George Kittle remains a reliable option.

One name I am staying away from is Brandon Aiyuk just because it looks like the market has overreacted a little bit to his performances in the postseason and there will only be so many catches to go around.

But for a bit of fun, I am going to back the player with the lowest yardage total in the game, 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk to go over his number of 2.5 receiving yards as he can sneak out on a play action pass and fall for a gain of three.

SGM: Christian McCaffrey 100+ Rushing Yards & Anytime TD Scorer @ $2.68

Christian McCaffrey 3+ Touchdowns @ $8.75

SGM: Deebo Samuel 60+ Receiving Yards, Over 13.5 Rushing Yards & Anytime TD Scorer @ $7.45

George Kittle Over 46.5 Receiving Yards @ $1.88

Kyle Juszczyk Over 2.5 Receiving Yards @ $1.88

Super Bowl Game Props

There’s plenty of these in the markets below and here are some of my best bets.

A couple of my favourites include the number of players to throw a pass, Andy Reid in particular loves to come up with some wild and wacky schemes so Kelce could get the opportunity to toss one at some point.

Plus there are some markets which are worth backing just for the entertainment value including any player to be ejected at $7.00.

GAME PROPS

Total Players with a Pass Attempt: Over 2.5 @ $2.25

Over 1.5 Total Interceptions @ $1.75

Any Player to be Ejected @ $7.00

SCORE PROPS

Game to be Tied at Any Point (0-0 Excluded) @ $1.80

2^nd Quarter Highest Scoring @ $2.75

Longest Touchdown Over 38.5 Yards @ $1.85

Over 4.5 Individual Touchdown Scorers @ 1.88

Will There Be A Scoreless Quarter (Yes) @ $4.20

4^th Quarter Lead Change to Happen @ $2.75

QUARTERBACK PROPS

Patrick Mahomes 4^th Quarter Passing Touchdown @ $1.80

RECEVING PROPS

Most Player Receiving Yards – Deebo Samuel @ $5.50

Super Bowl MVP Markets

This is a two horse race, it’s either Patrick Mahomes or Christian McCaffrey depending on which team you like to win.

Mahomes’ case speaks for itself, this is a quarterback driven award and if the Chiefs win, short of him throwing for 150 yards and three interceptions, he is going to get the accolades.

However in San Francisco’s case, Purdy will have to overcome the perception that he is the passenger and the makeup of the Chiefs defence is going to setup the running back McCaffrey for a big day.

The former Carolina Panthers player looks set to feast on the vulnerable Chiefs run defence and him going for over 100 yards and a trio of touchdowns in a 49ers victory looks like the most plausible scenario.

Patrick Mahomes Super Bowl MVP @ $2.25

Christian McCaffrey Super Bowl MVP @ $5.25

SUPER BOWL LVII – 2022 Season

157 days after the 2022 NFL season kicked off in Los Angeles, it comes to a conclusion in Glendale, Arizona with Super Bowl LVII.

For the third time in four seasons the Kansas City Chiefs will be the AFC’s representative in the big game however they will be in an unfamiliar position going into it as underdogs.

On the other sideline will be the Philadelphia Eagles, with a very different roster to when they won Super Bowl LII in Minnesota at the conclusion of the 2017 season.

With a two week build up to the game, we’ve got plenty of time to go all out on our Super Bowl preview with our best bets below!

Team Breakdowns

Philadelphia Eagles

Just under 12 months ago, the Philadelphia Eagles were listed at $41 to win Super Bowl LVII, however a series of shrewd offseason moves gave them a massive jump start and they entered Week 1 at $26.

Season two of the Nick Sirianni/Jalen Hurts experience saw the Eagles out of the gates flying, going 8-0 on the back of a varied offensive attack and relentless defence that forced a turnover in 17 of their 19 games this season.

While they did stumble over the Christmas period as Jalen Hurts battled a shoulder injury, they turned up in the playoffs, dismantling the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers to book a trip to Arizona.

While Hurts is the first to admit he is a way off being 100% healthy, he has the supporting cast to help him out with receivers AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith, plus running back Miles Sanders and tight end Dallas Goedert.

This group has set their sights on repeating the feats of the Nick Foles lead Super Bowl LII champions as they look to bring a second Lombardi Trophy back to the City of Brotherly Love.

Kansas City Chiefs

In Kansas City, the bar is set so high for the Andy Reid/Patrick Mahomes duo, that a 14-3 record and another Super Bowl trip is seen as standard fare as opposed to a massive achievement.

Plenty of punters backed the Chiefs to raise the Vince Lombardi Trophy this season and they have been amongst the Super Bowl favourites since the day the market opened.

After opening at $7.00, their odds “blew out” to $11 following the stunning trade of Tyreek Hill but that was as high as their price got once the action on the field kicked off in September.

Presumptive MVP Patrick Mahomes overcame the loss of one of his most dynamic playmakers by leaning on Travis Kelce and elevating the play of the supporting cast to an acceptable level.

Throughout the season, they may not have been the punter’s best friend, going 14-3 during the regular season but only covering on seven occasions, largely due to the massive lines they faced most weeks.

9 of their 13 wins were by 13 points or less, with the Chiefs occasionally pushed to the final whistle and also having a comfortable lead that teams found a way to eat into during garbage time.

That includes both of their playoff games where the Chiefs were pushed right to the end, settling for one score wins over the Jaguars and Bengals.

Mahomes battled through an ankle injury in the AFC Championship but the extra week of rest should prove beneficial as he pursues a second Super Bowl title.

Best Bet

Any time the Kansas City Chiefs are installed as underdogs you have to think long and hard about backing them because those opportunities are few and far between.

After all, even with one good leg Mahomes still found a way to throw his team to victory, but the other injuries on the Chiefs make it very tough to jump on their bandwagon.

In the AFC Championship Kansas City lost a trio of key receivers, cornerback L’Jarius Sneed and linebacker Willie Gay Jr, which could leave them shorthanded in the Super Bowl.

As we saw in Super Bowl LV, there’s only so much Mahomes can do when the Chiefs were defeated by Tampa Bay.

On the other side there are still questions over Jalen Hurts but he has shown over the last two weeks he can go out and do the job that is asked of him.

Even if that job simply involves handing off to Miles Sanders and trusting his defence to make enough stops on Mahomes and company to give the Eagles the victory.

Plus with a deep and vicious pass rush, they should be able to put enough pressure on to knock Kansas City out of rhythm and prevent them from causing too much damage with big plays.

Back Philadelphia to Cover -1.5 @ $1.90

Total Points

Super Bowl points have been a bit hit and miss over the last decade with a number of high scoring games mixed in with some one sided stinkers.

When you factor in the scale of the event, the noise, the spectacle and the expectations of playing for a title, the under looks to be the way to go.

Only four of the last ten Super Bowls have seen more than 50 points scored and I have a fairly high level of confidence that Philadelphia should be able to keep the Kansas City offence in check.

Philadelphia probably will not need to score 41 like they did against New England five years ago and just finding a way to the mid 20’s should be enough to win the game.

Back Under 50.5 Points @ $1.90

Player Performance Markets

There’s no shortage of players to back in the individual performance markets including a group of guys who have been reliable all throughout the season.

Let’s start with Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, who remains the primary (and at times) only trusted target for Mahomes.

Through two playoff games, the boisterous tight end has tallied 21 catches for 176 yards and three touchdowns, a good postseason for any receiver.

In Super Bowl LIV he caught a touchdown against San Francisco and tallied 133 yards in their loss to Tampa Bay 12 months later.

Regardless of the final outcome of the game, Kelce’s markets do come with some insulation because he is going to be on the receiving end of plenty of targets.

One of the other standouts of the Chiefs postseason is rookie running back Isiah Pacheco, who has slid into the lineup in the back end of the season and found ways to contribute.

In a big game Andy Reid is always a chance of abandoning the run and going pass happy, but with Mahomes likely needing to hand the ball off to shield his ankle, expect plenty of touches for the youngster as a runner and receiver.

SGM: Travis Kelce Over 80.5 Receiving Yards & Anytime Touchdown Scorer @ $2.89

SGM: Isiah Pacheco 40+ Rushing Yards & 15+ Receiving Yards @ $3.64

Over on the other side, you can build a pair of bets around the Eagles moving the ball on the ground and in the air, both of which are very likely.

Philadelphia’s strength is on the ground and their deep running back stocks should give them plenty of willing ball carriers which should keep the Chiefs defensive front off guard.

Back their primary trio of Sanders, Hurts and backup Kenneth Gainwell, who has a very low number and should see a few carries throughout the game.

Secondly, there’s the passing play and there’s only one name that you can back here, AJ Brown, traded from the Tennessee Titans seems primed for a big day against a depleted Chiefs secondary.

We saw the Chiefs defensive backs struggle with Tee Higgins and his ability to high point the ball and Brown is a much stronger version of Higgins.

If Philadelphia does move the ball through the air, it will be with Brown as the primary target.

SGM: Miles Sanders 50+ Rush Yards, Jalen Hurts Over 49.5 Rush Yards & Kenneth Gainwell Over 16.5 Rush Yards @ $6.72

Back AJ Brown Over 73.5 Receiving Yards @ $1.88

Super Bowl MVP

It’s a quarterback driven award, but that does not mean the punters should be exclusively focusing on that position in the MVP betting.

For a bit of insurance on the Chiefs, it’s worth having a play on Mahomes whose price is slightly higher than backing the team to win outright.

Besides, unless he goes out and throws four interceptions, has under 200 yards and is unable to finish the game in a Chiefs win, chances are he is going to pay a big role in Kansas City’s hypothetical win.

On the other side of the ball, there is one long shot play that you have to love based on his postseason efforts so far.

Reddick has gone off in the two playoff games, tallying 3.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery and he is going to go into the game with the sole task of making Mahomes’ life tough.

He will be the one in the backfield chasing down Mahomes and trying to shut down those miracle throws before they have a chance to leave the quarterback’s hand.

In this one you are essentially backing the Eagles to win a defensive struggle and Reddick would be the first defensive MVP since Von Miller in Super Bowl 50, but he’s looking primed for a big game.

Back Patrick Mahomes to Win MVP @ $2.25

Back Haason Reddick to Win MVP @ $41.00

Super Bowl LVI

After 272 regular season games and another 12 playoff battles, the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams will face off in Super Bowl LVI.

For the second straight season, a team will be playing the Super Bowl in its home stadium as the Vince Lombardi Trophy will be handed out on the field of SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

Few, if any would have expected this to be the NFL title decider as the two participating teams have followed very different paths to reach the big game.

It will be on for young and old and not just in the quarterback rooms with the grizzled veteran Matthew Stafford taking on the next big thing in Joe Burrow.

We’re going all out in our Super Bowl LVI Preview below so read on and see what we are backing in our Super Bowl betting markets.

Team Breakdowns

Cincinnati Bengals

In February 2021, the Cincinnati Bengals were priced at $81 to win Super Bowl LVI and reached as high as $101 in mid-April before the draft as Joe Burrow was recovering from his ACL surgery.

Come Week 1, Burrow was back and ready to go with former college buddy Ja’Marr Chase lining up to catch passes from him.

It was a full team effort as they began the season 5-2 and came into $41 before things began to unravel.

A 2-4 midseason slump had their playoff hopes starting to waver before Burrow rallied the team, the offence took off and they closed the season on a tear, winning the AFC North.

After a fortunate win in the Wild Card Round, their first postseason victory in over three decades, they went to the AFC’s top seed Tennessee.

Joe Burrow was sacked a record nine times in that game but got up after all nine hits and thanks to a number of Ryan Tannehill turnovers, they won on a late field goal from rookie kicker Evan McPherson.

Few gave them a shot in the AFC Championship as they headed to Kansas City and despite being +7 underdogs, they came from 21-3 down to win 27-24 in overtime.

Now they turn their attention to claiming the first Super Bowl title in franchise history.

Los Angeles Rams

Unlike the Bengals, the LA Rams were always seen as a contender from the minute the Super Bowl LVI market opened thanks to their January 2021 trade for Matthew Stafford from the Detroit Lions.

After the Super Bowl in Tampa, Los Angeles opened at $13 and hovered around that price for essentially the entire offseason.

September and October could not have gone any better for the Rams with the team starting 7-1, including a statement win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 3, saw them drop to $7.00 to win it all.

A serious knee injury to receiver Robert Woods derailed their momentum as did the acquisition of Odell Beckham Jr as the offence failed to click through November where they went 0-3 and found themselves in danger of falling out of their division title race.

Thankfully they have one of the most dynamic receivers in the NFL, Cooper Kupp who enjoyed a career year and he was able to keep things going while their star studded defence began to pick up some of the slack.

They won five straight and then clinched the NFC West in Week 18 despite an overtime loss to San Francisco, securing the fourth seed in the playoffs.

Wild Card Weekend saw them host the Arizona Cardinals where they ran them out of the building 34-11, setting up a date with the reigning Super Bowl Champions in Tampa Bay.

It was a nervous Divisional Playoff game as the Rams let a big lead slip but they held on and came away with a 30-27 victory to send Tom Brady into retirement.

Thanks to San Francisco upsetting Green Bay, the Rams hosted the NFC Championship against the 49ers and they won a defensive struggle 20-17.

Having lost Super Bowl LIII three years ago against New England, the Rams will be out for redemption this time around.

Best Bet

It might be an old fashioned idea but it remains true to this day, big games are won in the trenches by the linemen.

When the Rams have the ball, all of their attention will be going to stop Trey Hendrickson who tallied 14 sacks plus another 2.5 in the playoffs.

If they can keep him away from Matthew Stafford, that is going to be critical to their success in this game.

On the other side, the Rams defensive strength is their defensive line and ferocious pass rush, which is not what a team whose weak spot is their pass protection will want to see.

Even if they can find a way to stop several time defensive player of the year Aaron Donald, they will have to deal with the likes of Super Bowl 50 MVP Von Miler and Leonard Floyd, all of whom could be in contention for MVP honours this year.

Even when running for his life, Burrow is capable of a moment of magic but he will have to rely on his secondary weapons with Chase likely to be matched up with Jalen Ramsey and that is not a matchup they will be testing out too often.

Los Angeles just has too many difference makers and even if one or two have an off night on the biggest stage, they will find a way to overwhelm the Bengals here.

We have however seen the last six NFL Playoff games go right down to the wire and I like Cincinnati’s chances of at least making the final score close, so I’ll start off with the Rams by less than two touchdowns.

Back the LA Rams to Win by 1-13 @ $2.40

Total Points

For all the talk about the Rams defence making life hard for Joe Burrow, their stats this season show that even the best defences still give up at least 20 points more often than not.

11 times this season they gave up 22 or more points, three of which they gave up more than 30 points.

Thankfully they have the offence to get them to 30 points in this game and that is why the total points number of 48.5 seems a bit low.

Even if the Rams do make life tough for Burrow he will keep coming and that is why I’ll settle on the over.

Back Over 48.5 Points @ $1.90

Back Both Teams to Score 20+ Points @ $2.00

Player Performance

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the plethora of player performance markets on offer for the Super Bowl and we’ll delve into each team’s individual options in a bit more detail in the week leading up to the game, but there’s some immediate value to be found.

Starting with the Rams, they will rely on a steady dose of their ground game to control the clock and that will involve the guy who scored the only touchdown against the Rams three years ago, running back Sony Michel.

While he will be splitting reps with Cam Akers, Michel is trusted in both rushing and passing downs and his total yardage markets look very low compared to his potential output and the Bengals relatively weak rushing defence.

Since Week 13, Michel has registered at least 50 total yards in six of his last nine games and I’ll back him to see enough touches to reach that number again.

Backing Cooper Kupp to have over 100 yards has hit in 13 games this season and taking him as an anytime touchdown scorer has hit 14 times so far this season.

There is nobody in the Bengals secondary that can keep up with Kupp and regardless of the result, he should be in for another big day.

Finally, looking for a play in the Bengals markets, the obvious answer is to take Ja’Marr Chase given his success this season and bond with Burrow.

However there were some warning signs in the AFC Championship that Chase can be kept quiet and he will be in for his toughest matchup of the season in Jalen Ramsey.

While Chase will get a few catches, the risk of him struggling with Ramsey’s physicality has me looking at Tee Higgins, who has had two good games in the last two weeks.

Higgins has broken 100 yards five times since Week 12 and he will get some favourable matchups against the Rams backup cornerbacks.

Back Sony Michel 50+ Rush & Rec Yards @ $4.00

SGM: Cooper Kupp Over 105.5 Receiving Yards & Anytime Touchdown Scorer @ $2.47

SGM: Tee Higgins Over 70.5 Receiving Yards & Anytime Touchdown Scorer @ $3.87

MVP

There is a reason that both quarterbacks are such heavy favourites to take out Super Bowl MVP honours and that is because the general rule is unless they have a poor game, they will win the award.

Last season, Tom Brady won his fifth Super Bowl MVP award, making it nine of the last 12 and 31 times all up that the quarterback has won MVP.

We also know that aside from Chuck Howley in Super Bowl V in 1971, the MVP goes to a member of the winning team.

I’ll back Joe Burrow for insurance on the Bengals side however I’ll also have a play on Aaron Donald as he can single handedly turn this game on its head with a turnover and a few sacks.

Back Joe Burrow Super Bowl LVI MVP @ $3.20

Back Aaron Donald Super Bowl LVI MVP @ $17.00

2020 – Super Bowl LV

One of the most unprecedented seasons in NFL history culminates on Monday, February 8, when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers square off against the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs for the rights to the Lombardi Trophy.

The Bucs have already made history by becoming the first team in the league to host the Super Bowl at their home stadium, but they’ll be hoping for much more as Tom Brady sets his sights on a seventh ring.

Kansas City, meanwhile, is hoping to become the first back-to-back Super Bowl champion since Brady’s former team, the Patriots.

The Chiefs have cruised through the season to return to the grandest stage, and it is no surprise to find them as the solid favourites in search of their third Lombardi.

It’s old v young, Brady v Mahomes, Andy Reid v Bruce Arians, and so much more.

Super Bowl fever is well and truly in the air, and you can find out who we’re backing in our Super Bowl LV Preview below!

Head to Head Betting 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Notable Trends

• the Bucs are 10-3 this season following a previous win 
• the Bucs are 2-0 ATS this season as the home underdog
• the Total has gone Over in eight of the Bucs’ 13 games following a previous win
• the Total has gone Over in two of Tampa Bay’s three playoff games this year 

The Bucs have remained solid +3 underdogs heading home to Tampa after pulling off one of the most memorable upsets in team history against the Packers in the NFC Championship Game. 

After a whirlwind offseason that included not only the groundbreaking signing of Tom Brady but also a trade for Rob Gronkowski, the Bucs left punters feeling a little uncertain early in the year despite winning three of their first four games. 

Bruce Arians’ new-look offence took almost the entire first half of the season to really click, which in turn saw Tampa Bay drift all the way out to $17 at the beginning of December in our Super Bowl LV market. 

Fast forward to January, and fans still didn’t know how to feel. 

The Bucs qualified for the first Wild Card seed in the NFC with an 11-5 record, but their narrow Wild Card win over Washington certainly left a lot to be desired. 

Just like we see almost every year though, the Wild Card team proved to be the most dangerous as the Bucs got revenge on Drew Brees and the Saints in the Superdome, before overcoming the league’s first rank offence at Lambeau Field. 

In case you’ve been living under a rock, Tampa Bay’s season is historic for two simple reasons: Brady is headed to his 10th Super Bowl, and the Bucs are the first team to host the Super Bowl in their home stadium. 

As far as Tampa’s strengths go, it’s just as straightforward. 

The Bucs have been one of the top five most dominant teams in the red zone this year, so much so that they’ve scored a touchdown on almost 70% of their opportunities. 

To be fair, a star-studded lineup featuring Brady, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Leonard Fournette should be capable of those kinds of numbers, but where the Bucs don’t get nearly enough credit is on the defensive side of the ball. 

Todd Bowles’ defence has been the toughest team to rush against all year, a stat that largely caused Packers coach Matt LaFleur to completely abandon the run in the NFC title game. 

Meanwhile, through the air, the Bucs finished the regular season tied for third in interceptions, a huge strength when it comes to playing against Andy Reid and the Chiefs’ air-raid offence. 

Betting wise, the Bucs have been super kind as the underdog against the spread covering in four of their five games this season. 

Better yet, Tampa Bay is a perfect 2-0 as the home underdog – a pretty important number when you consider the Bucs have lost only one game this year by more than a touchdown. 

Tampa Bay is far from the complete package, but we’ve seen them play with a chip on their shoulder all year after bookmakers priced them as a $15 Super Bowl chance heading into Week 1. 

Against any other opponent, the Bucs are probably favourites, but even so, this shapes up to be one of Kansas City’s toughest tests in the Mahomes/Reid era.

Kansas City Chiefs 

Notable Trends

• the Chiefs are 13-2 this season following a previous win
• the Chiefs are 0-2 this season ATS following a bye
• the Chiefs are 7-0 this season as the away favourite

The Chiefs find themselves in the driver’s seat to win back-to-back Lombardi’s following another masterful season from head coach Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes. 

Kansas City got off to a perfect 4-0 start before they were handed a wake-up call by the Raiders, a result that spurred the Chiefs to a comfortable 10-game winning streak before losing in Week 17 to the Chargers with a handful of their stars on the sideline. 

Although this year’s road to the Super Bowl has been much more eventful due to Mahomes’ concussion in the win over the Browns, the Chiefs have again reminded everybody why they were the team to beat not only this year but for many, many years to come. 

Mahomes basically toyed with a very dangerous Bills defence in the AFC Championship Game to the tune of 325 yards and three touchdowns. 

Not to be outdone, Tyreek Hill reeled in nine catches for 172 yards, while Travis Kelce also enjoyed some of the spoils posting similar numbers to go along with a couple of touchdowns. 

This time last year the Chiefs were the narrow -1 favourites against the 49ers, but after reading those stats, you shouldn’t be surprised to find the Chiefs at -3 this time around. 

In terms of strengths, the Chiefs haven’t skipped a beat. Offensively they led the league in passing yards and ranked top ten in points scored, while perhaps most importantly, they finished with the third-highest third-down conversion rate in the league. 

When you think of the Chiefs, you don’t often think of the defence, and that’s largely because it can be a cause for concern. 

Defence was the biggest query heading into the Super Bowl last year, but things look a touch more sketchy this time around when you factor in the Chiefs have been easiest side to score against in the red zone this season. 

Of course, the Chiefs could nullify all of that if Mahomes and company can land some of their typical knockout blows against the Bucs. 

Kansas City opened the season the $6.50 favourite to win the Super Bowl and were rightfully crunched into $3.50 at the start of December. 

This team is a juggernaut that seemingly can’t be stopped, so back against them with serious caution.

Best Bet 

Considering we’re talking about the greatest quarterback of all time, it certainly doesn’t feel good, or even natural, to be backing against Brady.

The GOAT proved to everyone that ‘Playoff Brady’ is alive and well up in Green Bay, but at the same time, he also made some pretty poor decisions in the second half throwing three interceptions. 

It goes without saying that an abundance of turnovers won’t fly against the Chiefs. If you give Kansas City an inch, they’ll take a mile, so anything but the best from Brady would likely make this a difficult task. 

It’s also hard to get away from perhaps one of the most consistent trends in all of football: Andy Reid off a bye. 

The future Hall of Famer is 18-3 in regular-season games following a bye week, while his 5-2 record in the playoffs is just as impressive. 

It’s hard to see anything more than a touchdown separating these two sides, but the well-coached Chiefs get the edge here. 

Not to be forgotten, the Bucs also have a couple of key injuries to monitor in young starting safeties Jordan Whitehead and Antoine Winfield Jr. 

If both are absent, the job only gets harder for Bruce Arians and company. 

Tip: Back the Chiefs to Cover the Line (-3 Points) @ $1.90

Total 

Last year the Super Bowl total was set at 54, a number both the Chiefs and 49ers fell short of by a field goal. 

This year, the points total has been set at a healthy 56, a reasonable number considering both teams finished Top 10 in points scored this season. 

Betting aside, there’s no question fans are hoping for a shootout between these two prolific quarterbacks, but if you’re a fan of trends, the numbers suggest otherwise. 

The total has gone under in four of Tampa Bay’s last six home games, while it’s also gone under in four of the Chiefs’ last six games against an NFC opponent. 

Obviously, this is the Super Bowl, but sometimes these blockbuster games can fall a little short of the hype when it comes to scoring. They say defence wins championships, and that might just be the case here. 

Tip: Under 56 Total Points @ $1.90

Player Performance 

Leonard Fournette Anytime Touchdown Scorer: this would be quite the story for the former Jaguar as Fournette has transitioned from one of the worst teams in the league to a potential Lombardi winner in less than a year.

We spoke earlier about how vulnerable the Chiefs can be in the red zone, but like a bunch of teams this season, they’ve also had some trouble sticking tackles. 

Kansas City ranked ninth in missed tackles at the conclusion of the regular season, a slight worry going up against a talented downhill runner of Fournette’s caliber. 

The bulldozer finished with 74 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown against the Packers, which included a big run for 20 yards. He looks good odds to wind up on the scoresheet at some point. 

Tip: Leonard Fournette @ $2.30

Rob Gronkowski Anytime Touchdown Scorer: love him or hate him, Gronk often saves his best stuff for the Super Bowl stage. 

This year will mark Gronk’s fifth Super Bowl appearance, and although he had only once catch against the Packers, his numbers when the Lombardi is on the line speak loud and clear. 

Gronk has combined for three touchdowns in his previous four appearances, which spells potential bad news for a Chiefs team that ranked seventh in touchdowns allowed to tight ends during the regular season. 

There’s no question the party boy will be a popular bet for casual NFL punters, but for you more seasoned types, don’t let your opinion of the man get in the way of making some money. 

Tip: Rob Gronkowski @ $3.30 

Sammy Watkins Anytime Touchdown Scorer: all signs point towards Watkins playing through his calf injury, which is good news for the Chiefs considering how much of a role he played in the Super Bowl last year. 

Watkins caught five catches for 98 yards against San Francisco as he enjoyed plenty of free space with Tyreek Hill taking up most of the defences attention. 

There’s no question Hill is worth including in your multi as a touchdown scorer, but his numbers in the postseason don’t lie: two receiving touchdowns in nine games. 

He’ll likely receive double the attention against the Bucs after a huge game against the Bills in the AFC Championship Game, so there’s a bit to like about Watkins providing he’s healthy enough. 

Tip: Sammy Watkins @ $3.10

Patrick Mahomes Anytime Touchdown Scorer: you’ll normally get pretty good odds for a quarterback to score a touchdown himself, but the current quote still seems overs for a guy of Mahomes’ ability. 

Last year’s Super Bowl MVP has scored two rushing touchdowns in each of his last three seasons, but he might add a third this year if the Bucs choose to double team Tyreek Hill like they did Davante Adams in the NFC Championship Game. 

Aaron Rodgers had a couple of opportunities to score a touchdown himself in that game but failed to capitalize. Even with a slightly sore ankle, Mahomes won’t need an invitation, and neither should you at these odds. 

Tip: Patrick Mahomes @ $4.00

Super Bowl LV MVP

Sixteen of the last 20 Super Bowl MVPs have been awarded to quarterbacks, so good luck getting away from Mahomes and Brady atop the market. 

Mahomes is the obvious choice here for a variety of reasons, the main one being his numbers in the postseason. 

The defending champ has completed over 65% of his passes to go along with 17 touchdowns and just two interceptions – difficult numbers to argue against as he continues on his path to Canton. 

If you’re looking for some value away from quarterbacks, Travis Kelce is your man. 

After finishing the regular season ranked second in the league in receiving yards, Kelce continued on his destructive path with back-to-back 100-yard games against the Browns and the Bills. 

The league’s best tight end saw double-digit targets in both of those games, so you just know Mahomes is going to look his way on short down situations, or for his usual strike up the middle. 

Tip: Patrick Mahomes @ $1.91, Travis Kelce @ $14.00 

2020

History is on the line in Miami as two of the NFL’s oldest and most historic teams square off for the right to call themselves Super Bowl champions.

The Kansas City Chiefs return to the grand stage as the favourite hoping to put an end to their 50-year drought under eight-year head coach, Andy Reid.

The San Francisco 49ers, meanwhile, head back to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2013, only this time, the Niners find themselves as the underdog in search of their sixth Lombardi Trophy.

These two teams have arguably been the best all season, meaning we should be treated to a classic, down to the wire affair.

Successful Super Bowl betting comes down to knowing the stats, odds and a thing or two about roughies. There’s a lot to sort through, but fortunately, we’ve done all the hard work for you in our Super Bowl LIV Preview below.

Head to Head Betting

Kansas City Chiefs

Notable Trends:

• The Chiefs are 69-49-3 ATS under Andy Reid
• The Chiefs 4-5 ATS in playoff games under Andy Reid
• The Chiefs are 10-4-1 ATS as the favourite this season
• The Chiefs are 6-4 ATS following a bye under Andy Reid
• The Chiefs are 56-36-1 ATS vs NFC opponents under Andy Reid

A 60-yard bomb from the arm of Patrick Mahomes into the waiting hands of Sammy Watkins last week has seen the Chiefs open as -1 favourites.

Kansas City’s 35-24 victory over the Titans in the AFC Championship Game saw the Chiefs claim the Lamar Hunt Trophy for the first time in franchise history – an award named after their former owner and founder.

After sending Arrowhead into a frenzy, the Chiefs now look to add a Lombardi Trophy to their cabinet as they return to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1970.

The journey up until this point has been anything but easy. The Chiefs were flat out bullied by the AFC South, they spent a brief two game stretch without Patrick Mahomes, and the defence ranked Top 10 in rushing yards allowed for the fourth year in a row.

After making it as far as the AFC Title game in 2019, the Chiefs knew they could weather the storm though. Mahomes, the reigning MVP, has now led his team to eight straight wins dating back to Week 11, four of which have seen the Chiefs put up 30 points or more.

High scoring games are what the Chiefs are all about, so they’ll be happy to sit back and trade blows with the 49ers knowing they hold the advantage through the air. What Kansas City can’t afford to do though, is start slow.

The Chiefs have had their backs against the wall throughout the playoffs, first against the Texans after surrendering a 24-point first half lead, and second against the Titans falling behind 10-0 in the first quarter.

San Francisco aren’t a team that will allow an early lead to slip. Therefore, this game is entirely on Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy if the Chiefs hope to win their second Super Bowl.

If you haven’t heard by now, Reid holds a 14-14 record in the playoffs. He also holds an 0-1 record in the Super Bowl after failing to get the job done with the Eagles way back in 2004.

This is a chance for Reid, a coach that deserves a Super Bowl more than anybody else, to right his wrongs. He’ll have to rely on his teams’ air raid offence to hit the ground running against one of the NFL’s most elite defensive teams.

San Francisco 49ers

Notable Trends: 

• The 49ers are 25-24-1 ATS under Kyle Shanahan
• The 49ers are 2-2 ATS following a bye under Kyle Shanahan
• The 49ers are 8-4 ATS vs AFC opponents under Kyle Shanahan
• The 49ers are 18-12 ATS as the underdog under Kyle Shanahan

Raheem Mostert’s 220-yard, four touchdown game secured the NFC Championship last week against the Packers – an ominous sign for a Chiefs defence well-known for giving up large chunks of yards on the ground.

For the first time since 2013, the Niners are heading back to the Super Bowl – this time with an entirely new look and feel.

The 49ers will be hoping to hoist their sixth Lombardi Trophy behind a ground game that has run opposing defences ragged, alongside a pass rush capable of keeping even the most mobile quarterbacks in check.

San Francisco has been on a collision course towards the Super Bowl ever since opening the season 8-0. The Niners strengthened their position with a season-defining win over the Saints in Week 14, before pulling off a miracle victory over the Seahawks in the final game of the regular season to secure the NFC West crown.

The staple of the Niners this season has been the running game, a unit that ranks second in the league in rushing yards and first in touchdowns. Some of the Niners’ edge could be lost with Tevin Coleman suffering an arm injury last week, but against a Chiefs team that has struggled against the run for the last five seasons, it’s safe to say Mostert should fill in just fine.

Jimmy Garoppolo also holds the keys for San Francisco as he hopes to improve on his perfect 3-0 mark in the playoffs. Garoppolo isn’t quite the complete package that Mahomes is, so it remains to be seen whether he can step up after attempting only eight passes against the Packers.

Best Bet

The Chiefs hold the edge over the Niners in terms of passing offence, and San Francisco holds the edge over Kansas City on the ground.

What does set these two teams apart, however, is San Francisco’s defence. The Niners rank dead last in passing yards allowed and sixth in total sacks. If the front seven can establish dominance early against Kansas City’s questionable offensive line, this game – and their sixth Lombardi – is theirs for the taking.

San Francisco can also feel confident in their red zone defence. This is a unit that has allowed the ninth-fewest red zone touchdowns, which spells trouble for a Chiefs team that finished the regular season ranked 20th in red zone touchdowns scored.

Tip: Back the 49ers to Cover the Line (+1 Point) @ $1.96

Total

The early Total for Super Bowl LIV has opened at a whopping 54 points, meaning the bookies (and just about everybody else) are expecting a very high-scoring game.

These two sides met in Week 3 of the 2018 regular season, a game the Chiefs won 38-27. We could see a similar score line unfold this time around, however the safer play might just be on the Chiefs individually.

Kansas City has gone Over the Total in five of their last six games against a team from the NFC. Last week was also the third game in a row the Chiefs have scored 30 points or more, leaving the 27.5 about Kansas City looking a little short.

Tip: Chiefs Over 27.5 Total Points @ $1.88

Player Performance

Travis Kelce Anytime Touchdown Scorer: the tight end position might be the most fascinating battle on the field this year. Statistically speaking, both sides have been outstanding against opposing tight ends allowing less than 200 yards each, meaning whichever team can take advantage should go on to win the game.

Travis Kelce went MIA against the Titans catching only four passes for 30-yards, but Mahomes should target his go-to man early and often. With Richard Sherman and another defender likely doubling down on Tyreek Hill, Kelce should have plenty of opportunities over the middle to get his hands on the ball.

Tip: Back Travis Kelce @ $2.10

Patrick Mahomes Anytime Touchdown Scorer: Mahomes looks a little over the odds at this price, especially following his dazzling touchdown run against the Titans right before the end of the first half.

Breaking the game open down the sidelines won’t come easy against this San Francisco pass rush, but a few quarterbacks have managed to score on the Niners this year. Drew Brees, Lamar Jackson and Kyler Murray all scored a rushing touchdown against San Francisco. One of those things is not like the others, but Mahomes sure is.

Tip: Back Patrick Mahomes @ $4.50

Emmanuel Sanders Anytime Touchdown Scorer: a quick look at the stats suggests the 32-year-old vet could be in for a decent game with the Niners a little short on proven receivers.

San Francisco signed Sanders to a three-year, $33 million contract midway through the season in an attempt to provide some depth. The move paid off quickly when Charles Goodwin was placed on injured reserve in December, making Sanders the ideal second read for Garoppolo when George Kittle was covered.

Sanders has caught four touchdowns in the red zone this year and also holds some decent numbers against Kansas City. As a former Bronco, Sanders has caught three touchdowns in 11 games against the Chiefs, making him a good bet to add to his total.

Tip: Back Emmanuel Sanders @ $3.25

Kendrick Bourne Anytime Touchdown Scorer: the Super Bowl normally uncovers a few unsung heroes, so don’t be surprised if a handful of roughies get their hands on the ball.

Kendrick Bourne has played in every game for the Niners this year and has quietly caught for 358 yards and five touchdowns. He’s seen the bulk share of his targets on third down, where he’s caught 12 passes for three scores.

Bourne isn’t the strongest receiver on San Francisco’s roster, but his incredible footwork shown in college has already translated into some big plays in the NFL.

Tip: Back Kendrick Bourne @ $4.20

Super Bowl LIV MVP

The MVP award might be the most biased in all of sports. Considering seven of the last 10 winners have all been quarterbacks, chances are if you don’t throw the ball, you won’t even get a look in.

With Patrick Mahomes and Jimmy Garoppolo squaring off this year, the chances of a quarterback reclaiming the MVP award are fairly high. Mahomes, last year’s regular season MVP, is the current favourite, but there is a case to be made for a running back this time around.

Raheem Mostert destroyed the Packers in the NFC Championship Game rushing for 220 yards and four touchdowns. The Chiefs did well to hold Derrick Henry to only 69 yards and a score in the AFC Championship game, but can we really trust a Kansas City front line that has allowed the seventh-most rushing yards in the league?

San Francisco made no secret of how confident they are in their running game against Green Bay. Considering Mostert is averaging 6.78 yards per-carry so far during the playoffs, the current quote looks well over the odds.

Finally, if you’re looking for a smoky to wager on, make it Nick Bosa. Two linebackers – Malcolm Smith and Von Miller – both won the Super Bowl MVP award last decade. Bosa has recorded three sacks and eight tackles so far during the playoffs, making the 22-year-old a worthwhile bet to become the first rookie to be named MVP.

Tip: Back Raheem Mostert @ $8.00 & Nick Bosa @ $17.00

Super Bowl 54

For the fifth time in the last 10-years, the New England Patriots head to the Super Bowl as the favourite. This year it’s the Los Angeles Rams turn to play the underdog, something they weren’t too familiar with when these two teams met way back in 2001.

The Super Bowl is a bettors paradise, especially if you can nail a lengthy multi at big odds. We’ve previewed every match up and every market, and our complete Super Bowl 53 Preview can be found below.

Super Bowl 53 Head to Head Betting

Tough to top the Conference Championships, don’t you think?

Two overtime games saw the Rams and the Patriots through to Super Bowl 53, leaving us with a repeat of Super Bowl XXXVI and a razor tight market between one of the most innovative teams in the league and, of course, the team everyone loves to hate.

The Rams polished off the Saints 26-23 on the road to book a date in Atlanta. It was a fascinating battle from a statistical standpoint, as Sean McVay opted for the fresh-legged C.J. Anderson over the league’s leading touchdown scorer, Todd Gurley.

As for the Patriots, it was the same old story against the Chiefs. New England found themselves needing an extra 10-minutes on the road, but Bill Belichick’s side prevailed thanks to some classic Tom Brady-Rob Gronkowski heroics before Rex Burkhead scored the game-winning touchdown.

So what next? Are we in for a shootout? A defensive stalemate or, for the second straight year, an upset?

The last time these two sides met was way back in 2016, a game the Patriots won quite comfortably 26-10. You can’t read too much into that, but we can however, draw plenty of takeaways from last weekend’s Conference Title games.

New England’s success came from Brady’s precision in the pocket, but the Patriots simply ran the Chiefs ragged. Many thought the double-duo attack of running backs James White and Sony Michel would cause Kansas City headaches, throw in Rex Burkhead though, and you’ve suddenly got your hands full.

The Patriots ran for 177-yards and four touchdowns on a sloppy Chiefs line, which in turn forced Kansas City to blitz way too often. The game altering play came on a Dee Ford offsides that otherwise would have been a game-ending Brady interception, and while LA’s defence is much more reliable than Kansas City’s, if you overplay New England, they’ll make you pay.

The Rams simply need to stick with what works on defence, and that’s forcing turnovers. They ranked third in the league in takeaways during the regular season, and as we saw against the Chiefs, Brady still has a tendency to overthrow his receivers when he’s rushed in the pocket.

Overall this game really comes down to coaching, though. A year ago we saw Belichick stumped by Doug Pederson, so can Sean McVay turn the tables?

Offensively the Rams need to get Gurley involved if they are to win this game, while targeting former Patriots wide receiver Brandin Cooks will be vital to LA’s chances. We saw Jared Goff lead a game-winning drive in New Orleans, so if he’s awarded the time in the pocket, he’s certainly capable of lashing this mediocre Patriots secondary – one that allowed the 11th most yards through the air this year.

New England played a great first half against Kansas City, but penalties and some basic misdirection plays caused them to allow a 14-0 lead to slip. Against a Rams side known for creative, high-tempo play calls, not to mention ranking Top 10 in all major offensive categories this season, Los Angeles might just prove how far ahead of the curve they are compared to Belichick and Co.

Tip: Back the Rams To Win @ $1.92

Super Bowl 53 Over/Under Betting

The Total has opened at 58.5 points, marking the highest line since Super Bowl 51 between the Patriots and Falcons. Those two sides covered nicely back in 2016, and considering both the Rams and Patriots ranked inside the Top 5 in points scored during the regular season, it’s safe to say we could be in for another barn-burner.

In their 18 games across both the regular and postseason, seven of New England’s games resulted in the Over. They’ve successfully covered in both playoff games against the Chargers and Chiefs so far, while the Rams came through nine times during the regular and postseason.

With all that in mind, it is worth remembering the Patriots looked to be headed for the Under against Kansas City. They led by just seven-point three minutes prior to halftime, and since both of these sides should look to run the ball a ton, the Under looks safer.

Tip: Back Under 58.5 Total Points @ $1.90

Super Bowl 53 Anytime Touchdown Scorer Betting

If you’re looking to add some value to your multi, you have to include some Anytime Touchdown scorers to your betslip. When it comes to the Super Bowl, there’s always a number of star players to choose from, but it’s worth diving into the stats a little if you wish to make a sensible choice.

Los Angeles Rams: Tight end Gerald Everett was particularly impressive for the Rams last week, catching for 50-yards on just two targets. The Rams like to run pick plays with their tight ends, a strategy that could prove dividends against New England. The Patriots allowed the sixth-most touchdowns to opposing tight ends during the regular season, including a crucial score against Travis Kelce in Kansas City.

Other players worth your while include Todd Gurley, who is looking to bounce back from what he called a “sorry” display against the Saints. The short odds on offer don’t leave much value, but it’s also worth considering a Rams D/ST touchdown. Los Angeles ranked third in interceptions during the regular season, and that’s without even mentioning Aaron Donald.

New England Patriots: Julian Edelman lit the Chiefs up for 96-yards in the AFC Championship Game, but as we saw in last year’s Super Bowl with Danny Amendola, Bill Belichick likes to throw curveballs at the opposing defence.

Cordarrelle Patterson could certainly fall into the category of unexpected red zone targets. He caught only three touchdowns during the regular season, enjoying most of his time as the Patriots’ kick returner. Even so, don’t be surprised if Belichick looks to use Patterson’s height advantage late in the game, while running back Sony Michel, New England’s ground and pound option in short yardage situations, should figure on the scoreboard somewhere.

Super Bowl 53 MVP: Todd Gurley @ $13.00

Todd Gurley limped into the playoffs, and so far, he’s been anything but his former self. The league’s leading touchdown scorer was more or less benched against the Saints in the NFC Championship Game, finishing with a measly 10 rushing yards and a touchdown to his name.

Banking on another quiet performance from a player of Gurley’s caliber would be foolish. He’s faced the Patriots just once in his four-year career, which poses all sorts of match up problems for Belichick this week. New England were gashed by Chiefs running back Damien Williams in the both the air and on the ground, and with a week break to get his head (and fitness) straight, you have to fancy a Gurley bounce-back.

Tip: Todd Gurley Super Bowl 53 MVP @ $13.00

Super Bowl 52

It has been an exciting NFL season packed full of surprises and it will all come to a head when the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles meet in Super Bowl 52.

Many NFL experts were quick to write off the Eagles when Carson Wentz went down with injury and Nick Foles has led them to two big wins during the NFL Playoffs.

Standing in the way of Philadelphia’s first ever Super Bowl win is a New England Patriots outfit that has lost just three games all season long and has the chance to win their sixth Super Bowl since 2002.

Can the Eagles deliver their fans a maiden Super Bowl or will the Patriots dynasty claim yet another title? We have analysed both sides and our complete Super Bowl 52 tips can be found below.

Super Bowl 52 Head To Head Betting

The New England Patriots have become one of the most dominant franchises in the history of professional sport and they are deserving favourites to win back-to-back Super Bowls.

There is no doubt that the Jacksonville Jaguars gave the Patriots a scare in the AFC Conference Championship, but was there ever any real doubt that the Patriots would finish over the top of their rivals?

New England have so much big-game experience and there is arguably no quarterback in the history of the NFL that is better down the stretch than Patriots – as we saw in the Super Bowl win over the Atlanta Falcons 12 months ago.

The Patriots have won 16 of their past 19 games as favourites for a big profit and they are an even more impressive 13-6 against the line in this scenario.

They are 5-2 in the Super Bowl since 2002 and in that time they are 15-0 in the NFL Playoffs against sides that they did not play in the regular season.

It is always tough to bet against the Patriots and Super Bowl 52 will be no exception.

The Eagles have been the best team in the NFC all season long and the fact that they have performed so strongly following the season-ending injury suffered by Carson Wentz is a testament to the overall strength of the organisation.

Nick Foles has filled the shoes of Wentz ably and he was excellent in the NFC Conference Championship against the Minnesota Vikings, but he can’t win in a shootout with Tom Brady and an upset Eagles win will come on the back of a huge defensive effort.

The Eagles have won four of their six games as underdogs this season for a profit and they did beat New England when they last met in 2015.

Philadelphia are a side with a Super Bowl window that will be open for some time and I expect them to win one in the Wentz-era, but a Super Bowl win without their starting quarterback over Tom Brady and the New England Patriots will likely prove a bridge too far.

Back New England To Beat The Line (-4.5 Points)

Super Bowl 52 Over/Under Betting

The Total Points line for Super Bowl 52 has been set at 48 points and that seems just around right for two high-powered defences.

Backing the Under in games involving the New England Patriots over the past 12 months has been a slightly profitable play, while the Over/Under are split 9-9 in Philadelphia Eagles’ games this season.

The line of 48 points looks incredibly close to the mark and I am happy to stay out of this market from a betting perspective.

No Bet

Super Bowl 52 First Touchdown Scorer Betting

Rob Gronkowski ($8) is a narrow favourite in First Touchdown Scorer betting markets from Dion Lewis ($9), Brandin Cooks ($10), Zach Ertz ($11), Jay Ajayi ($12) and Alshon Jeffrey ($13).

Danny Amendola has come up big for the New England Patriots during the NFL Playoffs – he scored two crucial touchdowns in their win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC Conference Championships – and he has become a favourite target for Tom Brady.

Amendola is very dynamic when fit and he does appeal at the current price of $15.

LeGarrette Blount has only had 15 carries during the NFL Playoffs, but he has scored two touchdowns and the Eagles will use him for any short-yardage work near the end-zone.

The Patriots know just how dangerous a runner that Blount can be and he also appeals at the current price of $15.

Back Danny Amendola @ $15 & LeGarrette Blount @ $15 To Score The First Touchdown

Super Bowl 52 MVP Betting

It should come as no surprise that Tom Brady is a dominant $1.60 favourite in Super Bowl 52 MVP betting markets.

Brady has won the Super Bowl MVP on four occasions – the most by any player – and if the Patriots are to claim another Super Bowl title it would be very surprising if Brady did not win this award.

Linebackers have won two of the past four Super Bowl MVP awards and if a linebacker does claim the award again in 2018 it could be Mychal Kendricks – who has developed into one of the best linebackers in the NFL.

This is obviously an outside shot and offensive players generally do take the award, but at $301 Kendricks is worth a gamble.

Back Tom Brady @ $1.60 & Mychal Kendricks @ $301 To Win Super Bowl MVP

Super Bowl 51

The Super Bowl is always one of the highlights of the sporting year and the 51st edition of the event between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons is set to be an extremely exciting affair.

The New England Patriots have been the dominant team in the AFC all season long and they will go go into Super Bowl 51 as clear favourite, but they will face a tough test against an extremely talented Atlanta Falcons side.

Will New England win yet another Super Bowl or can Atlanta finally deliver Super Bowl success? We have analysed a wide range of betting markets to come up with the best betting plays for one of the biggest days in sport.

Head To Head Betting

The New England Patriots have lost only two games this season and their roster includes a stack of players that have plenty of Super Bowl experience.

New England are yet to be really tested during the NFL Playoffs to date and they have played within themselves to date, but it is fair to say that they have probably not played a team with the offensive firepower possessed by the Atlanta Falcons this season.

Winning as favourites has not been an issue for the Patriots this season and they have won 15 of their past 17 games in this scenario, while even more impressively they are 14-3 against the line when giving away a start.

During the Belichick era, the Patriots are 2-2 in Super Bowls in which they have started favourites – with most losses coming against the New York Giants – and 2-0 in Super Bowls that they have started as favourites.

Atlanta have been easily the most impressive team during the NFL Playoffs and they stamped themselves as the best team in the NFC with dominant victories over the Seattle Seahawks and the Green Bay Packers.

It was their performance against the Packers that was particularly outstanding – their attack was unstoppable and their defence was able to shutdown a firing Aaron Rodgers.

The Falcons have won four of their six games as underdogs this season for a clear profit and they are 5-1 against the line in this situation.

It should be noted that no favourite has won the Super Bowl since the Green Bay Packers beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2011 and underdogs have won six of the past seven editions of the event.

It is very tough to beat against the New England Patriots as they have been nothing short of outstanding this season, but the value in the Super Bowl odds does lie with the Atlanta Falcons and they can cause yet another Super Bowl upset.

Back Atlanta To Win @ $2.25

Over/Under

Super Bowls are notoriously low-scoring affairs, but the Over has actually saluted at three of the past five Super Bowls.

The 58.5 points that has been set as the Over/Under line for this clash is the largest in the history of the Super Bowl and they is actually not that much of a surprise considering the two teams that will be in action.

Atlanta have been an Overs team all season long and the Over has saluted in 15 of their past 18 games, while the Under is actually 10-8 in games involving the New England Patriots.

The market looks to have got the line for this clash just about right.

No Bet

Super Bowl 51 MVP Betting

It should come no surprise that quarterbacks dominate the Super Bowl 51 MVP betting market.

Tom Brady ($1.83) and Matt Ryan ($2.75) have a mortgage on the award according to the market from Julio Jones ($17), Julian Edelman ($21), LeGarrette Blount ($26) and Devonta Freeman ($26).

Jones is the clear standout in betting value for the Falcons.

He was absolutely enormous against the Green Bay Packers and he will surely need to have a similar game against the Patriots if the Falcons are going to come away with the victory.

When it comes to the New England Patriots it really is tough to go against Tom Brady.

There is no doubt that the Falcons defence has improved as they get further into the season, but the best quarterbacks in the NFL have still been able to put up big numbers and Brady is the obvious key-man for the Patriots.

Back Julio Jones @ $21 & Tom Brady @ $1.83 To Be Named MVP

First Score Of The Game

First score of the game is always an interesting betting market and some punters had an absolute fill-up when the Denver Broncos conceded a safety for the opening score of Super Bowl 49.

The New England Patriots have not been the quickest starters in recent weeks, while the Falcons have jumped out of the blocks very quickly.

Atlanta can take the early lead and $3.25 for them to start with a touchdown is a great bet.

Back Atlanta Falcons Touchdown As First Score Of The Game @ $3.25