2012 Super Bowl Opening Odds
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (The Spread) – For the second time in four years the New York Giants and New England Patriots will meet in the Super Bowl. And just like in that first meeting in 2008, the Patriots are favored.
Oddsmakers have released the opening odds for Super Bowl XLVI and have installed the Patriots as 3.5-point favorites. The over/under has opened at 55, which is the second time in three years that the Super Bowl total has been set in the 50s. (The total for the 2010 Super Bowl between the Saints and Colts closed at 56.5 and the combined score fell under as New Orleans defeated Indianapolis, 31-17.)
In 2008, the Patriots opened as a 14-point favorite but the line was bet down to 12.5 by kickoff. New England had entered with an undefeated record but New York’s fierce pass rush sacked Tom Brady five times as the Giants pulled off one of the best upsets in Super Bowl history with a 17-14 victory. Eli Manning threw for 255 yards in the win, as he connected with Plaxico Burress on a 13-yard touchdown pass with just 35 seconds remaining in the game.
View Latest 2012 Super Bowl Odds
In the AFC championship game, the Patriots defeated the Ravens 23-20 on Sunday thanks to 32-yard missed field goal by Baltimore kicker Billy Cundiff in the closing seconds of the fourth quarter. New England failed to cover the spread as a 7-point favorite, while the combined score fell under total posted total of 49 points.
In the NFC title game, the Giants defeated the 49ers 20-17 thanks in large part to San Francisco return Kyle Williams’ two muffed punts. New York covered the spread as a 2-point underdog while the combined score fell under the posted total of 40.5 points.
The 2012 Super Bowl will kickoff at 6:30PM ET on February 5. For more information on this year’s NFL title game, check out our 2012 Super Bowl Viewing Guide.
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