Pats Open as Heavy Super Bowl Favourite
Daily Mail UK, 22 Jan 2018.
The defending champion New England Patriots are the team to beat in the Super Bowl, according to Las Vegas' sports books.
The AFC champion Patriots opened as a 5 1/2-point to 6 1/2-point favourite for their matchup with the NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles. The Super Bowl will be played 4 Feb. in Minneapolis.
Odds for the title game were posted in some locations even before the Eagles completed their 38-7 rout of the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday evening, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.
According to ESPN.com, the last Super Bowl spread larger than the current number came at the end of the 2008 season. In February 2009, the seven-point favorite Pittsburgh Steelers edged the Arizona Cardinals 27-23.
The Eagles' impressive outing Sunday affected the line. Philadelphia's backup quarterback, Nick Foles, playing in place of injured Carson Wentz, threw for 352 yards and three touchdowns against the Vikings.
"Before (Sunday), we were probably looking at 7 (as the spread) on this game," Westgate sports book manager Ed Salmons told the Review-Journal. "The whole question from the start of the playoffs was Foles, but just watching him play in each game, he looks more comfortable. I wouldn't be surprised if this line goes down to 4 1/2 as we get closer to the game."
The over/under for the Super Bowl was set at 47 1/2 points.
Super Bowl favourites are 33-16-2 straight up, but underdogs are 12-4 against the spread the past 16 years.
The Patriots beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 24-20 in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday, failing to cover the 7 1/2-point spread. The total finished under the 46-point line.
The Eagles beat the Vikings outright as a three-point underdog. The total was over the 39-point line.