Which team is everyone betting on to win the big game this year? There are so many games this year that could go either way, but one thing is for sure – people are going to be watching. The NFL regular season is almost over and the teams that were able to go the distance are getting ready for the big game. With the new year just around the corner, it’s time to find out which team is everyone betting on to win the Super Bowl. Here are the details…
Latest Odds and Betting Trends
The latest NFL odds have opened up with a clear favorite heading into Super Bowl 51 – the New England Patriots are a 20/1 shot to win the Super Bowl this year according to Bovada.lv. The Vegas win total is set at 7.5 points and the over/under is 48.5 total points.
The Jacksonville Jaguars are next with a 7/1 shot ahead of the Los Angeles Rams, followed by the Seattle Seahawks (5/1), Carolina Panthers (4/1), and finally, the Arizona Cardinals (2/1). FiveThirtyEight’s Win Probability Calculator gives the New England Patriots a 67.2% chance of winning the Super Bowl this year, compared to the 30.8% chance for the Los Angeles Rams. Overall, the 2018 Super Bowl odds predict a close game between these two perennial powerhouses.
The Patriots are a popular choice among football fans and this year’s Super Bowl is shaping up to be no different. After winning the AFC Championship Game against the Indianapolis Colts 41-33, New England received 54% of the popular vote in our poll – their highest percentage of support in a Super Bowl since winning the 2006 Super Bowl (57%) over the Pittsburgh Steelers. With Tom Brady back for his 19th NFL season, the Patriots are one of the favorites to bring home the Lombardi Trophy for the sixth time in franchise history.
This year’s Super Bowl is going to be a barn burner. The underdog story of the Jacksonville Jaguars taking on the mighty New England Patriots has captivated football fans all over the country. The two teams are actually meeting for the first time in the big game and it’s set to be an all-time classic. Everyone is watching, so let the games begin!
NFL Record For Fewest Points In A Super Bowl
The New England Patriots will be playing in their sixth Super Bowl this year and if they win, they will break the all-time record for fewest points in a Super Bowl. The Los Angeles Rams are currently tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the most points scored (21) in a Super Bowl. If Pittsburgh wins tonight’s Super Bowl against the Tennessee Titans, the Steelers will move ahead of New England for single-season points scored in a Super Bowl (34).
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is 8-3 in his career in the big game and owns a 65-30 (61.9%) record in his 22 Super Bowl appearances. The only team he has never beaten in the Super Bowl is the Houston Texans (0-3; 0%). He is also 5-3 in games where he is a favorite to win (44-19; 76.2%).
Tonight’s Super Bowl is set to be quite the matchup as the Rams seek their first-ever championship and the Patriots try to secure their sixth crown. With a combined age of 171 years, these two teams will battle it out for bragging rights – who will come out on top?
Should Rams Focus On Defense Or Tanking For Points?
The Los Angeles Rams have a great opportunity tonight to break a record and secure their first-ever Super Bowl title. After finishing the season with 11 wins and 5 losses, the Rams finished in second place in the NFC West and secured a spot in the playoffs. While they did have the second-best record in the league, the Rams’ goal this year was to dominate on defense and frustrate their opponents. So far, it has worked beautifully. In their four wins this year, the Rams defense has only allowed 19 points while shutting out their opponents three times. They will need to keep up this momentum in tonight’s big game against the New England Patriots.
New England head coach Bill Belichick is in charge of one of the greatest dynasties in NFL history. He has led the team to numerous championships, 17th-ranked odds in tonight’s Super Bowl, and an overall winning percentage of.732 (691-423). While his defenses have always been among the best in the league, Belichick’s most recent units have been among the most productive – the 2005-17 New England Patriots are currently 18th in NFL history in points allowed per game (13.8).
Belichick’s success can largely be attributed to his uncanny ability to develop and keep defenses that he puts together. When he arrived in New England in 2000, the Patriots defense allowed 31.8 points per game. In his first year, he took the team from 31.8 points per game to 17.7 points per game, a 27% reduction. Since then, the Patriots’ defense has only gotten better, culminating in this year’s squad, which is currently the 18th-best in NFL history.
However, while the Patriots defense has been historically good, it’s not necessarily the best strategy for a team that wants to win the Super Bowl. As mentioned by ESPN’s Alex Marvez, “it’s well-known that Bill Belichick doesn’t like using his top defensive draft choices in the playoffs for fear that they will get injured.” So, while the Patriots may have one of the greatest defenses in NFL history, they may also be missing out on some of the most productive defenders around because of this approach.
Super Bowl MVPs Since 1970
The Super Bowl MVP is an award given to the player (offensive, defensive or special teams) who is considered to be the best at his position during the regular season. Since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, there have been 44 Super Bowl MVPs awarded – here is a list of the top 10 players named MVP of the Super Bowl.
- Tom Brady (New England Patriots)
- John Elway (Denver Broncos)
- Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints)
- Joe Montana (San Francisco 49ers)
- Donovan McNabb (Philadelphia Eagles)
- Harrison Ford (Washington Redskins)
- Germain Follet (Chicago Bears)
- Ray Lewis (Baltimore Ravens)
- Brett Favre (Green Bay Packers)
- Steve Young (San Francisco 49ers)
Top 5 Super Bowl Performances
While the season is still young, let’s take a quick look at the top five Super Bowl performances so far.