The Super Bowl odds are up and are down to two teams: The New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts. This matchup is a battle of #1 seeds and high flying offenses featuring MVP Peyton Manning and MVP runner-up Drew Brees.
Here are some NFL predictions on some props for the big game.
First team to score a touchdown:
You have to like both offenses in this game. Peyton Manning has shown he can dominate a 4-3 defense throughout his career and Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams is one of the top 4-3 coaches in the game. The Saints can score on anyone and the fast safeties of the Colts will force Brees to pass down the middle of the field. Fortunately for Brees he has unlimited weapons on offense. Peyton has shown that he likes to feel out the opposing coaching staff and bait them to play into his hands. This generally leads the Colts to kick field goals or punt on their first possessions.
Take the Saints
Longest touchdown in the game:
Each team has its share of playmakers with big threats for long touchdowns being on the both sidelines. Devery Henderson usually is the recipient of deep passes from Drew Brees while Reggie Bush is a guy who can break big runs and take kicks to the house. Brees has pin point accuracy and has the uncanny ability to find the open receiver. Peyton Manning is the best in the game and spreads the ball around at will and can frustrate even the best defenses. The biggest deep threat for the Colts is Pierre Garcon who had his best game of career last week with 11 receptions for 151 yards and a score.
Best Bets: 3) Reggie Bush 2) Devery Henderson 1) Pierre Garcon
Longest Run in the game:
The Saints running game is a big reason for their success. To stop the Saints, you have to stop the run first. If you don't, you're going to have to stack the box to stop them and that frees up Brees' core of dynamic receivers (Colston, Henderson, Meachem, Moore, Shockey, and Bush out of the backfield). Although Reggie Bush was the #2 overall pick in the draft a few years ago, the starting running back for the Saints is Pierre Thomas who has emerged this season to be a legitimate option that teams must game-plan for. The Colts running game is used to throw the other team a change-up and to catch them off guard. Joe Addai and rookie Donald Brown out of UConn have provided that for Manning usually in the form of stretch plays and draws from the shotgun.
Sportsbook Best Bets: 3) Donald Brown 2) Reggie Bush 1) Pierre Thomas
MVP of the game:
This game promises to be a great one. I expect to see a lot of scoring, a lot of big hits, a furious battle on the line of scrimmage and amazing play from both players at the QB position. I can't see anyone but Peyton winning this if the Colts win and if the Saints win it's either Brees or someone whose career is eerily following that of Desmond Howard. Reggie Bush and Howard both were Heisman winners, top 5 picks in the draft, amazing in college but only amazing in the NFL at returning kicks. Bush will get a handful of carries and he could be due for a game-breaking play and perhaps, like Howard, a Super Bowl MVP. The Saints may need a big play from Reggie to win this one.
5dimes review: 3) Reggie Bush 2) Drew Brees 1) Peyton Manning
