Super Bowl LVII – Sunday, Feb 12th, State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona. 11.30pm UK-time
The respective Conference No1 seeds have made it. Philadelphia Eagles from the NFC, and Kansas City Chiefs of the AFC. Super Bowl will take place in Arizona, and needless to say the sporting world will be watching.
If the Melbourne Cup stops Australia in its tracks, plenty of us around the world will clear the decks for this. It’s simply unmissable.
Let’s take an early look at the match markets, movements, and general intrigue of it all.
As the dust settled on the Championship matches, the opening odds were pretty much a ‘pick ’em.’ Not a sausage between the two sides.
Since then both have enjoyed interludes of slight favouritism, and I’m now updating/refreshing this piece on Super Bowl Sunday. Here’s how the picture looked one week ago;
Money Line; Eagles 10/13, Chiefs 11/10. Spread; Eagles -2.5, Chiefs +2.5. Game total points; over/under 50.5.
As I write on Sunday morning ahead of tonight’s massive event, we now go;
Eagles 5/6, Chiefs Evens. Spread; Eagles -1.5 @ 10/11, Chiefs +1.5 @ 10/11. Game total points; Under 50.5 @ 20/21, Over 50.5 @ 20/23.
Interesting to me at least that the Eagles are shading favouritism. This is the Chiefs’ third trip to the big one in the five years Patrick Mahomes has been the starting QB, and that’s admirable consistency not necessarily very common in the NFL.
Unless, of course, we’re talking vintage Brady/Belichick years in New England. And there were plenty of them.
Not even the loss of Tyreek Hill to Miami has derailed their attack, which for the regular season was the top-ranked offence in the NFL. Mind you, Philadelphia were breathing down their necks in third spot, so we’re talking elite weaponry here.
Unsurprisingly with Mahomes in tow, the Chiefs averaged nearly 300 passing yards per game in the regular season (Eagles circa 240). Philadelphia shaded the rushing yards (147 against 116).
On the other side of the ball it’s the Eagles who come out on top after crunching the numbers, but not by daylight. Both concede a very similar number of yards per game, Eagles being better against the pass, with KC more adept at limiting rushing opportunities.
On a lighter note, Mrs Donna Kelce will be the proudest Mum for many a mile as she has two sons in the match. KC tight end Travis and Eagles’ center Jason are both gunning for a second Super Bowl ring.
Mum is keeping, er, Mum about any alleged preferences. Sadly for her it can’t be a tie – someone will eventually win!
Keep abreast of all the ‘Kelce Bowl’ odds and lines movements here at Betfred. The 14-and-3 Chiefs, or the similarly 14-and-3 Eagles. One is about to add their name to the NFL’s roll of honour for season 2022.
The showpiece that’s given us special contributions down the years from some of the game’s absolute greats will doubtless thrill us bandy, as Del Boy might say, once again.
This year’s Joe Montana? Jerry Rice? Brady, Rodgers, Peyton Manning, Elway, Namath – all have been Super Bowl MVP. Some on multiple occasions.
Fate will tap someone on the shoulder tonight in the desert, after which life will never quite be the same again.
Can’t let the occasion pass without airing my view as to how it might just pan out. I’ve been very impressed with how solid and deep Philadelphia look on either side of the ball this season. If they can reasonably contain Mahomes and Kelce, their chance is huge. That of course is a task and a half in itself.
I believe they will hound and harass Mahomes just enough to enable their own playmaker Jalen Hurts and his offense to warrant taking this. Interestingly, both QBs are under injury clouds at present, and it’s to be hoped that they can show their true colours tonight. Eagles for me, but both are potentially most worthy winners.
Enjoy one of world sport’s great occasions.
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