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Quarterbacks have by far and away won the Super Bowl MVP award more than any other position so it’s no surprise to find New England QB Tom Brady (7/5) and his New York Giants counterpart Eli Manning (9/4) as the two betting favorites on Bovada’s Super Bowl props to win the Super Bowl XLVI MVP award this Sunday night in Indianapolis.

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A QB has won the award 24 times, which is more than three times as many as the next nearest position – running backs seven MVP awards. And a running back hasn’t won the honor since Denver’s Terrell Davis rushed for 157 yards and three scores in SB XXXII against Green Bay.

A quarterback has won MVP honors the past two Super Bowls and four of the past five. That includes Manning, who threw for 255 yards and two touchdowns in New York’s 17-14 upset of then-unbeaten New England in Super Bowl XLII. This is Brady’s fifth Super Bowl and he has been named MVP twice, in SB XXXVI (145 yards passing, one TD vs. the Rams) and XXXVIII (354 yards passing, three TDs vs. Carolina). Brady has thrown for 602 yards, six touchdowns and three picks in two games this postseason, while Manning has thrown for 923 yards, eight TDs and one interception in three playoff games this season.

A receiver has been the only other offensive player to win a SB MVP award since 2000. Giants WR Victor Cruz has the shortest odds of any receivers in this game at 8/1. Cruz was third in the NFL in receiving yards during the season and sixth in catches and he had a big NFC Championship Game against San Francisco with 10 catches for 142 yards. He hasn’t found the end zone yet this postseason, however.

Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is next on the odds at 10/1. Gronk had a record-setting regular season with 90 catches for 1,327 yards and 17 scores. And he was huge in the divisional round win over Denver with 10 catches for 145 yards and three scores. But Gronkowski suffered a high ankle sprain in the AFC title game win over Baltimore. Gronkowski will play in the Super Bowl but won’t be 100 percent and likely will need surgery this offseason. A tight end has never won MVP honors in the big game.


Quarterbacks have by far and away won the Super Bowl MVP award more than any other position so it’s no surprise to find New England QB Tom Brady (7/5) and his New York Giants counterpart Eli Manning (9/4) as the two betting favorites on Bovada’s Super Bowl props to win the Super Bowl XLVI MVP award this Sunday night in Indianapolis.

It's all on the line. Get your Super Bowl XLVI odds and props at Bovada.

A QB has won the award 24 times, which is more than three times as many as the next nearest position – running backs seven MVP awards. And a running back hasn’t won the honor since Denver’s Terrell Davis rushed for 157 yards and three scores in SB XXXII against Green Bay.

A quarterback has won MVP honors the past two Super Bowls and four of the past five. That includes Manning, who threw for 255 yards and two touchdowns in New York’s 17-14 upset of then-unbeaten New England in Super Bowl XLII. This is Brady’s fifth Super Bowl and he has been named MVP twice, in SB XXXVI (145 yards passing, one TD vs. the Rams) and XXXVIII (354 yards passing, three TDs vs. Carolina). Brady has thrown for 602 yards, six touchdowns and three picks in two games this postseason, while Manning has thrown for 923 yards, eight TDs and one interception in three playoff games this season.

A receiver has been the only other offensive player to win a SB MVP award since 2000. Giants WR Victor Cruz has the shortest odds of any receivers in this game at 8/1. Cruz was third in the NFL in receiving yards during the season and sixth in catches and he had a big NFC Championship Game against San Francisco with 10 catches for 142 yards. He hasn’t found the end zone yet this postseason, however.

Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is next on the odds at 10/1. Gronk had a record-setting regular season with 90 catches for 1,327 yards and 17 scores. And he was huge in the divisional round win over Denver with 10 catches for 145 yards and three scores. But Gronkowski suffered a high ankle sprain in the AFC title game win over Baltimore. Gronkowski will play in the Super Bowl but won’t be 100 percent and likely will need surgery this offseason. A tight end has never won MVP honors in the big game.



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The team that wins the turnover battle in a game almost always wins in the NFL, especially in the playoffs. Of course, there is always the exception to the rule.

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In their AFC Championship Game win over the Ravens, New England turned the ball over three times to Baltimore’s one. Thus it was remarkable that the Patriots won. Teams that were minus-two or worse in turnover differential (as the Patriots were) are 3-46 all-time in conference championship games (since 1970) prior to that game. The other two winners were the 1975 Pittsburgh Steelers and 1981 San Francisco 49ers. Teams with at least three turnovers had lost their past 22 playoff games prior New England’s win.

Bovada’s Super Bowl odds has several props when it comes to turnovers. When these two met four years ago in Super Bowl XLII, each had one turnover: an Eli Manning interception and a Tom Brady fumble (Manning did fumble twice but both were recovered by New York). The Giants, who won that game 17-14, are the -135 favorites to commit the most turnovers in this game and -125 to commit the first.

What will the first turnover be? With two pass-happy teams, an interception is the -150 favorite, with fumble at +130 and no turnovers at +700. And there have been several games without a giveaway. The over/under for total interceptions in this game is 2, with the under a -130 favorite. Manning has just one pick in three playoffs games this season, while Brady has three. Yet Manning is the -155 favorite to throw the first pick in this game. Both Manning and Brady have an over/under of .5 picks in Super Bowl XLVI.

So if there is an interception, who gets the first one? Patriots cornerback Kyle Arrington is the 13/2 favorite – he lead the NFL during the regular season with seven picks. New England’s Devin McCourty, who had two picks during the year, is next at 15/2.

Certainly one of the big storylines of Sunday’s Super Bowl XLVI surrounds New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, who looks to join select company with a second Super Bowl victory. And if Eli’s Giants upset the Patriots, Eli would surpass big brother Peyton with a second ring and do it in Peyton’s Indianapolis stadium.

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Eli Manning of course led New York to an upset of New England in SB XLII, throwing for 255 yards, two touchdowns and one pick in the 17-14 victory four seasons ago. Manning was named Super Bowl MVP and is the second-favorite on Bovada’s Super Bowl props behind Tom Brady to win it this year at 9/4.

Manning is having by far his best season, ranking fourth in the NFL in passing yards with 4,933 and sixth in TD passes with 29. And Manning has continued his stellar play in these playoffs, going 76-for-123 (61.8 percent) for 923 yards, eight TDs and one pick in three games for a rating of 103.1. He threw a whopping 58 times in the NFC Championship Game win over San Francisco.

There are several props available on Manning. His over/under passing yardage total is 315.5, his attempts total is 39.5, his completions 24.5, touchdown passes at 2.5 and interceptions at .5. In the regular season win over New England, Manning was 20 of 39 for 250 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Manning threw a game-winning late fourth-quarter TD pass in that first win over New England, just as he did in the Super Bowl victory over the Pats four years ago. There is a prop on whether Manning, who led the NFL in fourth-quarter TD passes this season, will throw another in this game. Yes is the -135 favorite, with no at +105. Of course New England has the worst pass defense of any previous Super Bowl team.

A defensive player has been named Super Bowl MVP in just seven previous big games so the odds are long that one will get the honor for Sunday’s Super Bowl XLVI between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants in Indianapolis. The last player on that side of the ball to win MVP was Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Dexter Jackson, who had two interceptions in the Bucs’ SB XXXVIII win over the Oakland Raiders.

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The defensive player this time with the shortest odds on Bovada’s Super Bowl props is Giants end Jason Pierre-Paul at 25/1. In just his second season out of the University of South Florida, Pierre-Paul played like an NFL Defensive Player of the Year. The 23-year-old finished fourth in the NFL during the regular season with 16.5 sacks. He also had 86 tackles and two forced fumbles. In the meeting with New England back on Nov. 6, Pierre-Paul had three tackles and a sack in the Giants’ 24-20 upset win. He has just a half-sack in three playoff games.

The next defensive players with the shortest odds are Giants safety Antrel Rolle and ends Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora as well as Patriots defensive tackle Vince Wilfork, all at 75/1.

Rolle had 96 tackles and two interceptions during the regular season. He had six tackles in the first meeting with New England and has 21 tackles and a rumble recovery in these playoffs. Tuck missed several games during the season with injuries and finished with five sacks. He was held to three tackles in the first meeting with the Pats. Tuck had 1.5 sacks in the NFC title win over San Francisco. Umenyiora, who also missed some games due to injury this season, had nine sacks during the year. But a healthy Umenyiora has come on in the playoffs with 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble.

Wilfork generally doesn’t up big stats because he commands double teams, but he’s arguably the premiere nose tackle in football. But he has 2.5 sacks in two playoff games and was virtually unblockable in the AFC title game win over Baltimore with six tackles, including three for a loss.

Being as there has never been a shutout in Super Bowl history, chances are that the New York Giants will indeed score in Sunday’s Super Bowl XLVI against the New England Patriots? But which player will do the honors for the NFC champs? Bet now at Bovada’s Super Bowl odds.

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The player with the shortest odds to score the first touchdown in the game overall is New England tight end Rob Gronkowski at 6/1, and second is fellow Pats tight end Aaron Hernandez at 7/1. The Giant with the shortest odds is receiver Victor Cruz at 15/2, slightly over New York WR Hakeem Nicks and running back Ahmad Bradshaw at 8/1. Yet Cruz and Nicks are both 8/1 to score the first Giants touchdown (i.e. this prop is still valid if the Patriots score the first TD).

Cruz is the Giants’ big-play threat and was sixth in the NFL during the season with nine touchdown catches but has been held out of the end zone in these playoffs. He did have a big game in the NFC Championship, however, with 10 catches for 142 yards. Cruz did score New York’s first touchdown in the regular-season finale vs. Dallas on a 74-yard pass from Eli Manning.

Nicks started the playoffs with a big, exceeding 100 yards and catching two touchdowns against both the Falcons and Packers – he scored New York’s first touchdown in both games. Nicks was held mostly in check vs. San Francisco as Nicks was a bit banged up. Bradshaw had 11 total touchdowns during the season but hasn’t scored in the playoffs. He last scored the Giants’ first touchdown in a Week 15 23-10 loss to the Redskins.

The longest shot to score New York’s first touchdown? Backup running back D.J. Ware at 25/1. That would be newsworthy considering Ware hasn’t scored this season. He didn’t even play in the NFC title game. The Giants not scoring at TD at all is 12/1 on Bovada.

Only in the Super Bowl can you bet on props on what might happen during the telecast, which of course will be the most-watched show of the year in the United States. Many are expecting Sunday’s glamour matchup between the Patriots and Giants to break the ratings record. Let’s look at few TV specials props on Bovada’s Super Bowl odds.

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One of the biggest storylines in Super Bowl XLVI is actually about a guy who isn’t playing: Colts quarterback Peyton Manning. Of course the Super Bowl is in Indianapolis and in a stadium that probably doesn’t get built if not for the success of the Colts under Manning, who missed this season after neck surgery. Peyton’s little brother Eli is going for his second ring, while Peyton’s main rival Tom Brady is going for a fourth. Thus expect to see plenty of TV shots of Peyton, who will watch from a luxury suite and cheering hard for New York. The over/under for live shots of him during the game at Bovada is 3.5, with the over a slight -130 favorite.

Manning’s future lies in the hands of Colts owner Jim Irsay, with many expecting the team to cut the future Hall of Famer rather than pay him a $28 million bonus on March 8. You can bet on how many times Irsay’s name is mentioned live during the game – the over/under is 1, with the under a -140 favorite. The guy Irsay will draft come April at No. 1 overall is Stanford QB Andrew Luck. The over/under of the times Luck’s name is mentioned during the game is 1, with the under a -130 favorite.

The highlight play of the Giants-Patriots Super Bowl four years ago was perhaps the greatest catch in postseason history when New York receiver David Tyree, with New England’s Rodney Harrison draped all over him, pinned a long fourth-quarter Manning pass to his helmet and came down with the ball. That was the critical play in the Giants’ game-winning drive. Tyree’s catch will be a big part of pregame, as Harrison is part of the NBC studio team (Tyree is out of football). How many times will it be shown live during the game (pregame and halftime doesn’t count)? The over/under is 1.5, with the under a -140 favorite.

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The NFL is clearly the most popular sports league in North America. Is it because it’s the most exciting game of the four major sports? The most compelling? The best athletes and personalities? Not a chance. There is one reason and one reason only. Gambling.

That’s right, we said it. Those that think differently are in some sort of denial. The purists don’t want to think about it while the gamblers have no doubt about it. If you take a hard look at the sport, can there be any other reason?

Gambling on the NFL comes in several forms. There is the traditional wager where you pick which team will cover an assigned pointspread. There is the office pool where a group of fellow employees and perhaps frequent visitors to their place of business partake in a weekly contest to see who has the most winners, usually against the spread, on each weekend’s games. Lastly, there is the ever increasing popularity of fantasy football, where folks select players and are awarded points based on player performance each week.

This has millions of people with a vested interest in the game. It also has an immeasurable amount of money at stake for each and every contest. Money talks, other sports walk.

Think about it. Why would a game that has 12 minutes of actual action have the off-the-chart ratings that the NFL currently amasses? That’s right, the average NFL contest has just 12 minutes where the ball is in play compared to approximately 168 minutes of down time. Would you watch a television program that had four minutes of content and 56 minutes of commercials? That would be unwatchable, unless of course, you had some money riding on the conclusion. As much as 60%, or about 75 minutes of the total air time of an NFL game, excluding commercials, is spent on shots of players huddling, standing at the line of scrimmage or just strolling around between plays. Hockey has 60 minutes of action while basketball has 48, yet both pale in comparison ratings wise.

Stephen Schwartz, a Toronto-based lawyer and a non-gambler sees it much the same way, “I occasionally watch the NFL but it is too slow. There is too much down time between snaps. I much prefer hockey because it is constant action.”

Without trying to sound sexist, the NFL is the male Utopia. It’s a manly soap opera, weekly drama without the staging. It’s Sunday on the couch, male bonding and a licence to eat junk food. But most importantly, with the monetary risk, there’s the adrenaline rush. Don’t agree? See how much interest there would be in a non-descript Sunday night hockey game, say between the Blue Jackets and the Coyotes. Barely a remote control flip through. Now, pencil in a Sunday night NFL game instead, say between the Jaguars and Cardinals with a 4-point pointspread and the remote doesn’t get touched because the game remains a constant on the screen and nothing else matters.

Steve Rapp, co-host of Sportsnet 590 The Fan’s Inside the Lines concurs: “I have no rooting interest. I have no connections to the teams, I have no fondness for any team and no ties to the community. I can bet against the Seahawks one week, then bet with them the following week. I watch because I wager.”

Some may claim that gamblers are too desensitized to enjoy the actual competitiveness of the sport, unless there is a bet involved. Ummm ... your point is? From the league’s perspective, does it really matter why people are watching and rooting as long as they are tuning in to do both? It’s all about the dollar. Ratings equal money. Gambling money equals ratings. The league won’t publicly admit it but they know where their bread is buttered. It’s not with your typical spreads but with pointspreads and that my friends, you can bet on.

NFL's $1 MILLION FANTASY

Obviously, the NFL cannot condone or advocate the gambling aspect of its sport as it puts the integrity of the game at risk. However, they’re no dummies.

With the popularity of fantasy football, the league is getting in on the act. With an estimated 20 million people in North America participating in fantasy football, the league is planning to run its own version of the popular pastime in a game called, ‘NFL Perfect Challenge’.

In addition to weekly prizes, there will be a $1 million dollar grand prize to the individual that fares best in a challenge where participants are asked to pick the highest scoring players at each position, with a line-up that includes one QB, two RB’s, two WR’s, one tight end, one kicker and one defence/special teams unit.

Sunday’s Super Bowl will feature league-run commercials explaining the rules and sign up procedures for the 2012 NFL contest.

Put a simple post on Facebook to see who’s betting on the Super Bowl and you’ll probably get a million responses varying from “I bet Tom Brady is a bitch,” Shai J. Fullmer said, to “I’m putting my life savings on the Giants,” Kelly Sampson said.

Gambling on sports is no joke to some. Including Nathan Zafuto, a freshman journalism and technical communication major.

Zafuto was introduced to gambling on games at a young age since he was born in Las Vegas.

“I was probably playing poker for money as young as 8 years old, as well as playing gambling games while golfing when I was around the same age,” Zafuto said.

Besides gambling for the money, Zafuto said he also enjoys the thrill of competition.

“Gambling is a competition to me where I’m competing to test my knowledge and abilities against other people,” he said.

And while he’s a big fan of blackjack and poker, Zafuto also said football is one of the only sports he bets on.

“Football is not only easier to bet on, but also more people are involved when it comes to betting on football,” he said. “Football is arguably America’s favorite sport, and the Super Bowl is the biggest television event in the world. So betting on the Super Bowl is exciting just because of how big of a deal it is to America.”

Zafuto usually uses a standard Las Vegas spread when betting.

During the regular season, Zafuto uses parlay cards, which require players to pick 10 games correctly using the spread.

However, during the Super Bowl, Zafuto bets on pretty much anything, including the number of interceptions in a game, number of touchdowns and field goals.

“This year for the Super Bowl, I’ll bet about $50 dollars, but I’ll roughly have the chance to win about $500,” he said. “During the regular season, I’ll bet $10 a week to buy the parlay cards, which have the chance of winning $1,000.”

Gambling is considered illegal in the U.S., however social gambling is allowed in the state of Colorado, which means, according to the Colorado’s Department of Revenue website, “these two criteria –– a bonafide social relationship and no profit motive –– must be present for a gambling activity to be considered legal ‘social gambling.’”

In short, if you’re planning on making some money off of your gambling pursuits, you’re doing something illegal.

“I don’t think it’s that big of a deal,” Zafuto said. “I mean, I don’t think I’ll get arrested or anything. If anything, I think it’s weird that it is illegal. It’s something I grew up with so, to me, it’s normal. Whereas here it’s almost looked down upon. So I guess in that sense it bothers me.”

Not all gamblers this Super Bowl season are as serious as Zafuto.

“ have two bets going right now,” said freshman environmental health major Atisha Morrison. “I think it’s a fun way to have some friendly competition between your friends.”

Just when I thought things couldn’t get any worse for a Jets fan such as myself, being treated to two solid weeks of Patriots vs Giants hoopla preceding the ONE Super Bowl matchup none of us want to see, they did. They got much worse. As if constant ridicule from opposing fans wasn’t enough, I ended up having a nice little battle with pneumonia and bronchitis the past two weeks. What a treat! And now that I’m getting somewhat healthy, I am going to make myself sicker by watching the Super Bowl with Giants fans and wondering what I ever did to make God, or Tebow, hate me so much.

On the bright side, however, we have gambling! After thinking long and hard about my pick for this game, I was officially stumped. Then I thought some more, and still nothing. So I decided to change it up and inspect the long list of Super Bowl props before coming to a conclusion. After all, the props are the most fun part of the Super Bowl. Well, besides drinking 20 beers and eating 14 pounds of buffalo wins anyway. Let’s get down to it..

Kelly Clarkson National Anthem Under 1 minute, 34 seconds (+110)- I’m going with the underdog here! After inspecting numerous Clarkson National Anthem appearances in the past, I’m going with the under. She never stretches out the end, so let’s not start now, Kelly!

Coin Toss : Tails – Obviously. Tails never fails. Duh.

Peyton Manning shown on TV under 3.5 times (+110) – Another underdog prop! Everyone knows Peyton’s situation at this point. I think they’ll go out of their way to not shove him down our throats during the broadcast.

Victor Cruz under 89.5 yards (+105) – Wow, yet another underdog prop. With the way Cruz has been playing, this is deservedly the underdog. I just don’t think Belichick is going to let Cruz destroy him in this game and will do whatever it takes to slow him down.

Deion Branch WILL score a TD (+175) – Wow, I’m full of underdogs here today. Is that a little foreshadowing for the game itself? We’ll see. But Branch is Brady’s security blanket, and with Gronkowski hurt, I can definitely see this one happening.

Aaron Hernandez over 67.5 yards receiving – This is probably my favorite prop of them all. This one is a lock. With Gronk out, Hernandez is really their only down field threat.

Chad Ochocinco WILL record a catch (-150) – Ohh finally, a heavy favorite prop pick. He’s active for this game, and you can bet Belichick is going to try and get him a catch, especially if they get a lead in this game.

Eli Manning pass attempts under 39.5 – I think the Giants are going to try and run the ball more than we think. Actually, I think both teams are going to try and do that.

Benjarvus Green-Ellis over 47.5 rush yards – Like I was saying, I think both teams will try to run more than we think. Especially the Pats, to try and slow down that Giants pass rush.

Well, enough foreplay, let’s get to the main event. The Super Bowl. Patriots – Giants. Brady – Manning. Belichick – Coughlin. New York – Boston. Lots of things to discuss about this game. Unfortunately for you all, you’ve all read or watched talking heads discuss these boring things ad nauseam the past two weeks so I’ll spare you that nonsense. Let me just give you a few thoughts on the game, and my pick. I mean, my picks this post season have been on fire, so I know you’ve all been waiting for me to release this. Right? Ahh, whatever.

Both teams are going to try and run the ball more than we think as I stated earlier, so you might want to check out the first half under total for a nice little action bet. I could definitely see both teams starting off slowly before getting it together later and moving the ball up and down the field. To me, this game comes down to one major factor: The Everybody Picked Us Factor. And that’s what’s happening here.. everybody and their brother is picking the Giants to win this game, saying things like “The wrong team is favored”, and “I don’t see how the Giants don’t blow them out!”. Oh really, cocky Giants fans? Really? You think it’s totally cool that your players are guaranteeing victory and making parade plans (by the way, funny how it’s fine when Giants players do it but if a Jet speaks out he’s classless, huh?) for next week? You don’t think Tom Brady wants this game more than any game in his career? You don’t think Belichick has been sitting back coming up with some awesome game plan to pick apart these Giants? Have you seen Belichick this week? He looks like the proverbial cat that ate the canary, like he has a secret. I don’t know what that secret is, but I can’t wait to see it.

Super Bowl Pick – Patriots (-2.5) 31, Giants 24

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Once again the New York Giants were underdogs, and once again they beat the odds to take Super Bowl XLVI.

The game was another nail biter, but for four quarters the Giants defensive line held off the New England Patriots, covering as 3-point underdogs and going UNDER the 53-point total with the 21-17 win.

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***

“It’s been a wild game, a wild season,” Giants quarterback Eli Manning said. “This isn’t about one person. It’s about one team, a team coming together.”

Late in the contest, it appeared as if Patriots coach Bill Belichick had pulled another “Belichick” move by allowing Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw to score late -- giving Tom Brady 59 seconds to orchestrate a game-winning drive.

However, like they’ve done all game, the Giants D-line held the Pats offense at bay; Brady could only settle for a hail-mary pass with five seconds remaining that fell through the hands of tight end Rob Grownkowski.

“Great toughness, great faith, and great plays by a number of guys today,” Manning said, avoiding any questions about winning it all in his brother Peyton’s house. “It just feels good to win a Super Bowl, it doesn’t matter where you are.”

Manning was named Super Bowl MVP, his second since entering the NFL. Let the Manning versus Manning speculation begin.

Betting Analysis: As for 2013 NFL Futures don’t expect the Giants to be favorites to win the 2013 Super Bowl. The Giants are talented, but on offense they are still too inconsistent during the regular season to bet the house on them early.

The Super Bowl will return to New Orleans next February 3 for the first time since Hurricane Katrina shredded parts of the Louisiana Superdome, home to the Saints. And Bovada’s NFL oddsmakers list the Green Bay Packers as the early 6/1 favorites to win Super Bowl XLVII.

Get all your NFL player props and NFL team props at Bovada’s online sportsbook.

Of course the Pack were preseason favorites this year after winning the franchise’s fourth championship a season ago. Green Bay finished this season with the NFL’s best record at 15-1 but was upset at home in the divisional round by the New York Giants. All of the substantial Packers should be back next season, including reigning NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers, although tight end Jermichael Finley is a free agent – the team at worst can slap the franchise tag on Finley. Backup QB Matt Flynn, who threw for a franchise-record six TDs in the regular-season finale is likely going to be gone.

The Giants finished off their surprising postseason run by beating the New England Patriots on Sunday night in Indianapolis for that franchises’ fourth Super Bowl title. New York is only the seventh-favorite to win it again next year at 15/1. But all the Giants’ key skill position players are likely back, led by Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning.

No team has repeated since the New England Patriots in 2005 – that was the last Super Bowl win for Tom Brady and Co. They are the second-favorites to win it all next year at 7/1. New England happened to win the last Super Bowl in New Orleans, upsetting the St. Louis Rams 20-17 on Feb. 3, 2002 to kick off the Brady/Bill Belichick dynasty. New England will have to re-sign WR Wes Welker, who had a crucial drop in Sunday’s loss.

Could the Saints become the first team to play in a Super Bowl in their home stadium? New Orleans is an 8/1 third-favorite to win the franchise’s second Super Bowl title. Drew Brees will need to be signed to a new contract this offseason but that’s considered a formality after Brees set the NFL single-season record for passing yards this season.

The longest shots on the board for next season are the Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars at 100/1.

The New Orleans Saints won 13 games this past season but couldn't get past the second round of the playoffs. They'll be looking for better results next season as one of the favorites on the opening Super Bowl XLVII odds at Bovada.

Find the complete NFL betting list for the 2012-13 season at Bovada.

The Saints are listed at 8/1 on the opening Super Bowl XLVII odds at Bovada, which puts them behind only the 6/1 Green Bay Packers and the 7/1 New England Patriots. The Texans, Eagles, and Steelers are all just behind them at 12/1 odds to win the title.

New Orleans went 13-3 straight up and a lucrative 12-4 against the spread during the regular season, then thumped the Lions 45-28 in the first round of the playoffs. The Saints, though, faltered in San Francisco in the second round, losing 36-32 in that contest.

Drew Brees went 40 of 63 for 462 yards passing with four touchdowns and two interceptions in that loss to the Niners, and during the season he posted a QB Rating of 110.6 with 5,476 passing yards, 46 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions en route to being named the league's Offensive Player of the Year.

And those kind of numbers are going to cost the Saints some big dollars, as Brees is a free agent this offseason. The quarterback is expected to come to a long-term agreement with the team at some point in the next month, although the franchise tag is a possibility too.

The Saints also have offensive guard Carl Nicks and wide receiver Marques Colston set to become free agents this offseason, and they're both candidates for the franchise tag as well – the deadline for that important decision would be March 5.

The Green Bay Packers were upset by the eventual-champion Giants in the second round of the NFL playoffs this season, but with their MVP quarterback on board they're still listed as the 6/1 favorites on the opening Super Bowl XLVII odds at Bovada.

Find the complete list of the opening odds for Super Bowl XLVII right now at Bovada.

Aaron Rodgers and the Packers rolled to the best record in the league this season, losing just once in 16 games while posting an 11-5 mark against the spread. However, that all went out the window in the playoffs when they lost 37-20 at home to the Giants in the Divisional Round.

Rodgers posted a QB Rating of just 78.5 in that defeat, going 26 of 46 for 264 yards passing with two touchdowns and one interception – and getting outplayed by Giants counterpart Eli Manning in the process.

Still, Rodgers was named the league's MVP this year with a QB Rating of 122.5 to go along with 4,643 passing yards, 45 touchdown strikes, and only six interceptions. Rodgers also rushed for 257 yards and three scores on the year.

Green Bay has some work to do this offseason, most notably getting tight end Jermichael Finley signed to a new contract. Finley had 55 catches for 767 yards and eight touchdowns for the Packers this season, and could be a candidate to get the franchise tag.

Center Scott Wells, running back Ryan Grant, and backup quarterback Matt Flynn are all potential free agents this offseason as well for the Packers, with Wells another of the team's priorities but Flynn expected to look for work elsewhere as a starting quarterback.

The New York Giants weren't expected to even win the NFC East division this season, never mind the Super Bowl – so it's not much of a surprise that they're not at the top of the odds to win Super Bowl XLVII at Bovada.

Find the complete list of the opening odds for Super Bowl XLVII right now at Bovada.

The Giants got strong performances from each of Eli Manning, Ahmad Bradshaw, and Hakeem Nicks on Sunday as they grabbed a 21-17 win over the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl in Indianapolis. That makes two championships now for Manning.

However, if Manning is going to guide his team to a third title next season he'll have to do it by starting out at just 15/1 on the opening Super Bowl XLVII odds at Bovada.

The Green Bay Packers are the very-early favorites to win next year's big game at 6/1, followed by the Patriots at 7/1, the Saints at 8/1, and each of the Texans, Eagles, and Steelers at 12/1. The Ravens then sit at 14/1 odds before we find the Giants at 15/1.

New York went just 9-7 straight up during the regular season, but claimed the NFC East title after both the Eagles and the Cowboys turned in disappointing 8-8 campaigns. The Giants were also 8-7-1 against the spread for NFL bettors in 2011.

Manning seems to be hitting his stride as an NFL quarterback, posting a QB Rating of 92.9 this season with 4,933 passing yards, 29 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions – down from 25 interceptions during the 2010 season. As well, top weapons Nicks and Victor Cruz at wide receiver still have room to grow.

One key piece of business for New York this offseason might be trading defensive lineman Osi Umenyiora; he has one more year left on his current contract, but wants a new deal.

After another disappointing loss in the Super Bowl against the New York Giants can Tom Brady and his New England Patriots bounce back and contend for the title next season?

Find the complete list of the opening odds for Super Bowl XLVII right now at Bovada.

Brady and company came up short in Indianapolis, losing 21-17 as the quarterback went 27-of-41 for 276 yards passing with two touchdowns and one interception. Brady's failed Hail Mary attempt as time expired clinched the defeat for his team.

However, New England did manage to put up the best record in the AFC this year at 13-3 (9-6-1 against the spread), and Brady was still at the top of his game during the regular season with a QB Rating of 105.6 to go along with 5,235 passing yards and 39 TDs.

Throw in all of Brady's returning weapons and you have a team that opened at just 7/1 odds to win Super Bowl XLVII next season at Bovada. New England ranks second on that NFL futures list, behind only the 6/1 Green Bay Packers.

The Patriots' biggest offseason priority will be getting star wide receiver Wes Welker inked to a new contract. Welker had seven catches for 60 yards against the Giants in the Super Bowl on Sunday, but did have a key drop in the contest.

Still, New England will be looking to sign Welker to a new long-term contract after he picked up 1,569 receiving yards and had nine touchdown catches during the regular season. The Patriots also have the option of placing the franchise tag on him this summer.

Running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis and wide receiver Deion Branch will also be free agents this offseason, with Green-Ellis a candidate to leave for big dollars elsewhere.

The San Francisco 49ers were better than expected this past season, going 13-3 and advancing to the NFC Championship Game. Still, that only has them as a second-tier choice on the newly-released odds to win next year's Super Bowl XLVII.

Find the complete list of the opening odds for Super Bowl XLVII right now at Bovada.

The Niners currently find themselves at 15/1 at Bovada to win next year's big game, but at least that puts them in some good company – the defending-champion Giants sit at 15/1 odds on those NFL futures as well.

It was the Giants who put an end to the Niners' season last month, beating them by a score of 20-17 in overtime in the NFC Championship Game. San Francisco quarterback Alex Smith completed just 12 of 26 pass attempts for 196 yards through the air in that contest, with two touchdowns and no interceptions in the defeat.

And Smith now heads toward free agency coming off a season in which he showed some improvement with a QB Rating of 90.7 to go along with 3,144 passing yards, 17 touchdowns, and just five interceptions in Jim Harbaugh's system.

Smith, of course, has been much maligned over the course of his career, but reports out of San Francisco suggest that the team still wants him back as their starting quarterback for next season.

Cornerback Carlos Rogers is also an impending free agent for the Niners, and could end up as a casualty of the team's depth on defense if he asks for big dollars on a long-term contract. Safety Dashon Goldson is another key piece of offseason business for the team, and he might end up getting the franchise tag.

Randy Moss’ stay with the New England Patriots didn’t end well in the 2010 season, but the Pats are the Bovada NFL odds-on favorites to sign Moss for next season after the future Hall of Fame receiver announced earlier this week that he was un-retiring and wanted to play in 2012.

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While Moss has been criticized often for his attitude – Cris Carter recently said no Hall of Fame-caliber player “quit” more on his team than Moss – his numbers are among the best in history. Moss' 153 touchdown receptions are tied with Terrell Owens for second on the career list and Moss is fifth all-time in yards and ninth in receptions. The four-time All-Pro’s best season came in 2007 with New England when Moss had 98 receptions for 1,493 yards and an NFL record 23 touchdowns as the Patriots went unbeaten until a Super Bowl upset loss to the New York Giants.

Moss had a falling out with the team in 2010 as he made his demands public for a new contract and seemed to play halfheartedly, if that. New England would have none of that and traded Moss after four games to Minnesota, where he burst onto the NFL scene as the league’s Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1998 and starred for the Vikings through 2004. Moss was a bust with the Vikes in 2010, however, and was released after four games. The Tennessee Titans took a flier on Moss but he was a non-factor there as well. Moss finished the 2010 season with career lows of 28 catches for 393 yards and five TDs.

Moss retired last summer but said this week that it was due to off-field issues that have been taken care of and that his family has given him the green light to return. There’s no doubt that New England needs a deep threat opposite Wes Welker (presuming Welker re-signs). And Moss still is close to several Patriots and clearly wants to return there. Bill Belichick and Tom Brady have never said a bad word about Moss.

The second-favorites to sign Moss are the Chicago Bears at 7/2. Chicago is desperate for a big receiver to help out Jay Cutler – the Roy Williams experiment in 2011 was a total failure and Devin Hester clearly isn’t a No. 1 receiver. But the Bears are likely to conservative a franchise to sign Moss. The other teams on the props list to sign Moss are: 49ers (5/1), Redskins (5/1), Jets (11/2), Rams (7/1), Cowboys (10/1) and Eagles (10/1). Wouldn’t it be something to see the Eagles add yet another former superstar to their roster after signing a handful last year? Of course, that didn’t work out so well. You can also bet on whether Moss will be the NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2012 – that’s a yes-only +500 prop at Bovada.

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Arguably there is no more important day in this NFL offseason than Thursday because that’s the day the Indianapolis Colts have until to pick up the remaining four years on quarterback Peyton Manning's five-year, $90 million contract, which includes an option bonus of $28 million. If the Colts release Manning by 4 p.m. ET that day, they owe him nothing.

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It’s still possible that the sides could agree to push the deadline back, although Manning has sent signals he isn’t really willing to do that. He also has said he would be willing to rework his contract to cover the Colts if Manning can’t return to the NFL this season. Of course the future Hall of Famer missed all of the 2011 season after yet another neck surgery. Manning has been rehabbing diligently and a recent home video showed him looking in good form at a workout at Duke under his college QBs coach, Blue Devils head coach David Cutcliffe. Because of the new CBA, no Colts coaches or officials can monitor Manning’s workouts right now.

NFL-com reports if the Colts choose not to give Manning the $28 million roster bonus he's due in his current contract, they don't have to cut him until Friday, and negotiations on a new deal could continue until then. The least they have to do before Friday is tell Manning on Thursday he won't be getting that bonus.

Bovada offers an NFL player prop on whether Manning will be a member of the Colts on March 12. No is the huge -500 favorite with yes at +300. It seems unlikely the Colts would keep as him they will be drafting Stanford’s Andrew Luck at No. 1 overall in next month’s draft and probably would want Luck to start from Day 1. Certainly Manning would have his suitors as a free agent. The two leading contenders are considered to be the Washington Redskins and Miami Dolphins if neither can trade up in the draft to land Baylor’s Robert Griffin III, who is expected to go at No. 2 overall – a spot currently held by the Rams, who have already said they will trade the pick. Many expect the Cleveland Browns to land that pick from the Rams.