Super Bowl Betting Picks:

Pick #1: Colts -220

The first sentiment is usually the right sentiment, which is why the Colts -3.5 is the first pick. After watching the New Orleans Saints receive five gift turnovers from the Minnesota Vikings in the Championship Game and then barely winning by three points in overtime, the original sentiment is that the Saints cant play with the Colts.

Granted, two weeks to prepare likely benefits New Orleans more than it does Indy, since Indy has been here before, but NFL betting cappers have to understand that any team with two weeks to prepare is dangerous. That is why the play is on the moneyline instead of the spread.

But the Colts have the experience and that will be the main factor. That and the fact that no team has beat them this year when they have played their starters the entire way through.

Pick #2: Colts +10.5 -1400

Online betting cappers know that the Super Bowl presents all sorts of different lines and this one is too enticing to pass up. When handicapping this game and chatting around the water cooler, the question came up: when is the last time the Colts lost by 11 when playing their starters?

Youd have to go all the way back to Week 6 of last year to find their last loss by 11 or more and as bettors will recall, the Colts had a slow start because Peyton Manning (knee) wasnt healthy to start the 2008-09 season.

In 2007, the Colts lost four times including their playoff loss by San Diego and no loss was bigger than six points. The Colts hardly ever get blown out and while the juice is extremely high, you are paying for safety here.

Pick #3: Over 1 Combined Missed Field Goals +350

Call this more of a hunch, but there is a strong belief here that Saints kicker Garrett Hartley misses at least a field goal in this game. Hes only had 25 field goal attempts in his entire NFL career and you have to figure that hell be nervous.

Granted, when you do the math, hes only had 25 attempts in two years, which boils down to less than one attempt per game. Even so, this figures to be a high-scoring contest and if he misses one, you get the push, and if you get another miss either a long field goal try at the end of the half or any other type of miss you hit the over. The belief here is there will be one miss with a shot at two. +350 from the sportsbook is worth the shot.

For most NFL betting articles and analysis from Stan Simmons, check back in the Betting Free picks regularly.

Turnovers
In four of the last six Super Bowls, one team has had more turnovers than their opposition. Only once did the team with more turnovers win the game, This was accomplished by Pittsburgh in 2005, when they had two turnovers to a single one for Seattle, but went on to win 21-10. Both teams have three picks during the playoffs, while the Saints have recovered four fumbles to Indianapolis two.

Sacks
NFL betting players know that Drew Brees of the Saints and Peyton Manning of the Colts will stand back in the pocket and pick you apart if you give them time, so the team with more should improve their chances of winning. Four of the last six Super Bowl winners have had more sacks than their opponent, and its a good indicator of how much pressure theyre getting on the quarterback. Both teams have a single sack during the playoffs, but they do get in the backfield.

Penalties
Penalties will kill the best teams chances. Again, four of the last six Super Bowl winners have had fewer penalties than their opponents, and with the explosiveness in these two offenses, you cant give them any more chances than they already have. Penalties on third down by the defenses will be especially dangerous because the quicker you can get these offenses off the field, the better, which leads into our next point.

Third-Down Efficiency
In what is becoming a trend, four of the last six Super Bowl winners have had a higher third-down percentage, and this is imperative, especially later in the game when youre trying to protect a lead, or keep a drive going. New Orleans has converted 40% of their third-down opportunities, but Indy isnt far behind at 38%, so sports betting players need to make on pick based on who they think will be able to move the chains.

Experience
This isnt really a stat, but its something to look at anyway. The Colts still have a whole cast of holdovers from the team that won the Super Bowl in 2006 against Chicago in Miami, and you can bet that theyre drawing on that experience having all of those rings in the dressing room to inspire the young guys on the team. Meanwhile, there arent that many notable Saints with a ring, outside of Jeremy Shockey, who was on the New York team that upset New England two years ago (even though he didnt play in the Super Bowl due to injury).

Strike one.

Then the Cardinals saw two key defensive starters bolt for other teams the first day of free agency, losing Karlos Dansby and Antrel Rolle from a defense that, quite frankly, wasn’t very good late last season and into the playoffs.

Strike two.

And then they traded receiver Anquan Boldin, a big part of their dynamic receiving group, to the Baltimore Ravens for draft picks.

Strike three.

So they’re out? Not so fast. Go ahead and make the assumption that the Cardinals will go from NFC champ in 2008 to playoff team in 2009 to not even being in the mix in 2010.

It’s an easy thing to do. But I’m just not buying it. Neither is Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt.

“I know a lot of people will count this team out,” Whisenhunt said. “I’m OK with that because we’ve shown we respond pretty well when that happens. Worst playoff team ever. Super Bowl loser jinx, can’t get back to the playoffs … etc.”

The Cardinals beat down all of that talk, which is why they’ll beat back the notion that they are going in the wrong direction. They seem to respond when big things aren’t expected.

Kurt Warner was a great player. There’s no denying that. He made their offense go. Warner would stand in and make all the throws in the face of pressure. He knew how to read the field.

Will he be missed? You bet. But Leinart can play. The Cardinals believe that. Whisenhunt believes that.

“Matt narrowly lost out in competition to Kurt in the summer training camp of 2008, the season Kurt went on to have an MVP-type season,” Whisenhunt said. “The fact that he was able to raise his game to that level of competition, coupled with the work and study that we have seen him do over the last two seasons, makes us feel he has matured as a player and is ready to step in.”

Maturing as a player is the key there. When Leinart came into the league, the Cardinals had concerns about his work ethic. Did he truly love it? But as he’s matured, and sat behind Warner, Leinart won them over.

They believe he can be a quality starter. Will he be Warner? He won’t be asked to be that. They will tailor the offense to him. Whisenhunt, who calls the plays, will lean on second-year back Chris Wells more in the run game to help take the pressure off Leinart.

My guess is Leinart will be more than just OK. He knows how to play quarterback, and he was a winner in college. The early part of his career in the NFL can be chalked up to a learning experience.

“That is the one thing you can say about Matt: he has won when he’s played, at the college level especially,” Whisenhunt said. “He’s started some games in the NFL and hasn’t done badly. He’s never gotten the chance to settle in and play. But I think he does have the pedigree of having had success. He’s a good football player. That’s why he was drafted where he was drafted. When you get into a situation like he did, playing behind a quarterback like Kurt and the level he was playing, that’s tough. But Aaron Rodgers has seemed to certainly respond to that very well after being behind Brett Favre. And we’re obviously hoping for a lot of the similar things to happen.”

How much will the Cardinals miss Boldin? Maybe not as much as some expect. (Getty Images) Leinart, despite the trade of Boldin to Baltimore, still has Larry Fitzgerald and the Cardinals are high on Steve Breaston and Early Doucet. They played without Boldin in two playoff games in January and the passing game was fine.

Plus, Boldin was a bit of a pain at times. Whisenhunt wouldn’t comment on that part, but word is Boldin’s preoccupation with getting a new deal became tir including being told he wasn’t active for the Chicago ga grew into an on-going thing. It didn’t help that he couldn’t run by defenders.

He was, in a word, replaceable.

“We obviously feel that we have had success with our young receivers in games in which ‘Q’ has missed,” Whisenhunt said.

Losing Dansby and Rolle is not what the Cardinals wanted. But Dansby’s price became too high, so they let him walk. The Cardinals released Rolle because of the bloated $8 million salary and a roster bonus of $4 million due last week.

Dansby signed with the Dolphins, while Rolle signed with the Giants. The Cardinals quickly filled Rolle’s spot by trading for Jets safety Kerry Rhodes. They are looking to sign a linebacker in free agency, and have been linked to the Lions’ Larry Foote, who is an unrestricted free agent.

“Losing players of that magnitude would be difficult for any team, we understand that,” Whisenhunt said. “But we also recognize that teams that become consistent winners in this league have to go through that.”

There is still a lot of talent on this roster. The Cardinals have become a good drafting team and that will guide them through this transition.

“The main thing is we are a football team that I think is positioned correctly to withstand transition, whether we lose Karlos Dansby or Kurt Warner,” Cardinals general manager Rod Graves said. “I feel Ken has done a tremendous job in instilling the right qualities and setting the proper standards for the football team. If we lose players from time to time, I feel we can keep going.”

Don’t bury the Cardinals just yet. There will be a lot of change, but they will still be the class of the NFC West in 2010.

The Eagles were one-and-done, over-and-out after one playoff game.

Not winning in the postseason makes for a long offseason in Philadelphia, with a tsunami of criticism engulfing Reid and his quarterback, Donovan McNabb. What those people fail to tell you, though, is that the Reid-McNabb combination produced five conference championship games in eight years and eight playoff appearances in 11.

Basically, Eagles fans have become spoiled. Reid and McNabb raised the bar so high that winning no longer is good enough for some of them. Super Bowls are then maybe you should move on.

Yeah, sure. The Eagles are one of the NFL’s most consistently successful franchises, and look no further than Reid and McNabb for an explanation. Now the question: Can they ever please those unhappy fans? Here’s what they have to offer. You make the call:

QB: The Eagles have three quarterbacks, and any of them could start in this league. For the moment, it’s Donovan McNabb who calls the plays, but reports are beginning to circulate that McNabb may be on the trade market. All I know is that he and Reid have been joined at the saying earlier this year that McNabb is his starter for 2010. If a trade wer though his name has been thrown around in trade talks, too. Kolb is ready to make the move up, but he won’t as long as McNabb is here. Neither will Michael Vick, who the Eagles retained and who could be acquired by anyone willing to offer a first- or second-round draft pick. The club is deep at the position, with McNabb followed by two more-than-adequate backups.

RB: With the release of Brian Westbrook, the Eagles officially enter the Help Wanted pages at this position. LeSean McCoy is the starter and showed sufficient promise as a rookie that the Eagles aren’t all that concerned about challenging him. And why should they? He mig and that is nothing but good. But the Eagles continue to need a hammer between the tackles. Unless somet but it’s high time something happens. The club must find a short-yardage back through the draft. At the very least, the departure of Westbrook means the Eagles need to pad this position.

WR: A year ago McNabb complained about the lack of playmakers, but those concerns evaporated the minute Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson stepped on the field. Jackson was a big-time playmaker, with eight touchdowns of 50 or more yards and a whopping average of 18.5 yards per catch. Maclin isn’t there yet, but his rookie numbers were so solid you can’t help but think these two will be the best 1-2 punch in Philadelphia this side of Roy Halladay and Cole Hamels. a guy who improved his numbers in each of his four seasons, just picked up a five-year deal and convinced the team to move on without Reggie Brown. No wonder Reid has trouble resisting the temptation to pass opponents to death.

After letting him go, the Eagles couldn’t fill Brian Dawkins’ leadership role. (US Presswire) TE: The team’s leading receiver wasn’t Jackson or Maclin. It was Brent Celek with 76 catches. Celek was the security blanket Chad Lewis once became for McNabb, with his eight touchdowns second only to Jackson’s 12. Alex Smith is OK as a backup, but the Eagles could use depth.

OL: The concerns Reid had with his offensive line were supposed to be allayed by the acquisitions of Jason Peters and Stacy Andrews, but the Eagles never were all that comfortable with what they had up front. For one, Peters didn’t play all that well. He was good at times, not so good at others. In short, he was not a Pro Bowl player. Andrews wasn’t much of a factor. Neither was h may have no future with the team. Center Jamaal Jackson is steady, with his value underscored by an injury late in the season. Without Jackson, the Eagles moved Nick Cole from right and they lost both games. Winston Justice was a surprise at right tackle and Todd Herremans solid at left guard.

DL: The Eagles’ top seven in sacks were defensive linemen, and that should tell you how active these guys are in the pass rush. Right end Trent Cole is an underrated star, with a team-high 12.5 sacks last season and 34 the past three years. He draws constant double teams, which means somebody else must step forward. So far, nobody has. Juqua Parker is OK as the other bookend, but the Eagles need to get more pressure from that spot. Broderick Bunkley and Mike Patterson are pluggers in the middle of the line and tough to move, while Darren Howard is a solid pass rusher off the bench. Still, the Eagles could use a young body off the edge.

LB: This was the biggest area of concern in 2009, with the Eagles never overcoming the training-camp loss of middle linebacker Stewart Bradley. Joe Mays was supposed to take his place. Then it was Omar Gaither. Then Will Witherspoon. Jeremiah Trotter. And finally Akeem Jordan. I think you get the idea. They even tried Chris Gocong for one game. Nobody really fit, with Witherspoon released earlier this month. Gaither and Jordan are best suited outside and, along with Moise Foiku and Gocong, offer adequate play at the position. Having Bradley back should solidify things in the middle and keep people like Gaither and Jordan in positions where they can help most. But you can never have enough playmakers. Philadelphia learned the hard way.

DB: The loss of Brian Dawkins hurt more than the Eagles expected. Dawkins was one of the team’s toughest and most reliable veterans, but it was his leadership on and off the field that was missed most. When he went to Denver, the Eagles plugged in Sean Jones and Macho Harris at his position, and neither lived up to Dawkins’ lofty standards. There was nothing wrong with the other safety, Quintin Mikell, who led the club in tackles. Cornerback Asante Samuel continues to be a ball hawk, with a club-best nine interceptions, but he takes chances and can get burned. Cornerback Sheldon Brown was steadier, though less noticeable, and played at a Pro Bowl level until collapsing down the stretch against Dallas. Joselio Hanson is solid as the team’s nickel back.

Super Bowl Betting Picks:

Pick #1: Colts -220

The first sentiment is usually the right sentiment, which is why the Colts -3.5 is the first pick. After watching the New Orleans Saints receive five gift turnovers from the Minnesota Vikings in the Championship Game and then barely winning by three points in overtime, the original sentiment is that the Saints cant play with the Colts.

Granted, two weeks to prepare likely benefits New Orleans more than it does Indy, since Indy has been here before, but NFL betting cappers have to understand that any team with two weeks to prepare is dangerous. That is why the play is on the moneyline instead of the spread.

But the Colts have the experience and that will be the main factor. That and the fact that no team has beat them this year when they have played their starters the entire way through.

Pick #2: Colts +10.5 -1400

Online betting cappers know that the Super Bowl presents all sorts of different lines and this one is too enticing to pass up. When handicapping this game and chatting around the water cooler, the question came up: when is the last time the Colts lost by 11 when playing their starters?

Youd have to go all the way back to Week 6 of last year to find their last loss by 11 or more and as bettors will recall, the Colts had a slow start because Peyton Manning (knee) wasnt healthy to start the 2008-09 season.

In 2007, the Colts lost four times including their playoff loss by San Diego and no loss was bigger than six points. The Colts hardly ever get blown out and while the juice is extremely high, you are paying for safety here.

Pick #3: Over 1 Combined Missed Field Goals +350

Call this more of a hunch, but there is a strong belief here that Saints kicker Garrett Hartley misses at least a field goal in this game. Hes only had 25 field goal attempts in his entire NFL career and you have to figure that hell be nervous.

Granted, when you do the math, hes only had 25 attempts in two years, which boils down to less than one attempt per game. Even so, this figures to be a high-scoring contest and if he misses one, you get the push, and if you get another miss either a long field goal try at the end of the half or any other type of miss you hit the over. The belief here is there will be one miss with a shot at two. +350 from the sportsbook is worth the shot.

For most NFL betting articles and analysis from Stan Simmons, check back in the Betting Free picks regularly.

Turnovers
In four of the last six Super Bowls, one team has had more turnovers than their opposition. Only once did the team with more turnovers win the game, This was accomplished by Pittsburgh in 2005, when they had two turnovers to a single one for Seattle, but went on to win 21-10. Both teams have three picks during the playoffs, while the Saints have recovered four fumbles to Indianapolis two.

Sacks
NFL betting players know that Drew Brees of the Saints and Peyton Manning of the Colts will stand back in the pocket and pick you apart if you give them time, so the team with more should improve their chances of winning. Four of the last six Super Bowl winners have had more sacks than their opponent, and its a good indicator of how much pressure theyre getting on the quarterback. Both teams have a single sack during the playoffs, but they do get in the backfield.

Penalties
Penalties will kill the best teams chances. Again, four of the last six Super Bowl winners have had fewer penalties than their opponents, and with the explosiveness in these two offenses, you cant give them any more chances than they already have. Penalties on third down by the defenses will be especially dangerous because the quicker you can get these offenses off the field, the better, which leads into our next point.

Third-Down Efficiency
In what is becoming a trend, four of the last six Super Bowl winners have had a higher third-down percentage, and this is imperative, especially later in the game when youre trying to protect a lead, or keep a drive going. New Orleans has converted 40% of their third-down opportunities, but Indy isnt far behind at 38%, so sports betting players need to make on pick based on who they think will be able to move the chains.

Experience
This isnt really a stat, but its something to look at anyway. The Colts still have a whole cast of holdovers from the team that won the Super Bowl in 2006 against Chicago in Miami, and you can bet that theyre drawing on that experience having all of those rings in the dressing room to inspire the young guys on the team. Meanwhile, there arent that many notable Saints with a ring, outside of Jeremy Shockey, who was on the New York team that upset New England two years ago (even though he didnt play in the Super Bowl due to injury).

Moment #9: Norwoods Nightmare
In fairness to former Buffalo Bills placekicker Scott Norwood, the 47-yard mark is the distance where kickers miss field goals more than they make them. Yet, that statistic is lost upon most football fans, who cannot forget the final play of Super Bowl XXV. The Bills, trailing the New York Giants, 20-19, in the final seconds, had a championship-winning kick set up. However, Norwoods attempt drifted wide right, and the Giants won their second Super Bowl in five seasons.

Moment #8: Standing and Delivering
The Cincinnati Bengals were a one-point favorite against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XVI, but because of a remarkable display of determination from the 49ers, those who chose the Bengals in their NFL betting walked away disappointed.

The goal-line stand that electrified the Pontiac (Mich.) Silverdome came in the third quarter of a game the 49ers led, 20-7. Cincinnati had second and goal at the San Francisco 1, but couldnt score. Bengal fullback Pete Johnson was stuffed on second and fourth down, but the most memorable play of the sequence was the third-down snap. Cincinnati quarterback Ken Anderson found tailback Charles Alexander in the right flat, but 49er linebacker Dan Bunz tackled Alexander a foot away from the goal line. That stand allowed the Niners to secure a 26-21 triumph.

Moment #7: Bradys Beginning
Before he towered over the rest of the NFL, Tom Brady was an unproven New England Patriot. When Brady took the field for Super Bowl XXXVI against the heavily-favored St. Louis Rams, there seemed to be no way the AFC champions could overtake The Greatest Show on Turf.

Yet, Brady maintained his poise and put the Patriots in position to win. When legendary kicker Adam Vinatieri banged through a 48-yard field goal on the final play of regulation, the Patriots didnt just defy the sportsbook odds; they won the first Super Bowl in the history of the franchise.

Moment #6: Montana Magic
The San Francisco 49ers, down 16-13 to the Cincinnati Bengals with 3:10 left in the fourth quarter, had to travel 92 yards in order to win Super Bowl XXIII without need for overtime. Joe Montana answered the call. The 49ers winged the ball downfield, and when Montana hit receiver John Taylor on a 10-yard strike with 34 seconds left, the 49er dynasty had claimed its third Super Bowl title

Moment #5: Mike Jones Masterpiece
It will long remain the most famous tackle in Super Bowl history: St. Louis Rams linebacker Mike Jones dragged down Tennessee Titans receiver Kevin Dyson at the 1-yard line on the final play of Super Bowl XXXIV, allowing the Rams to claim a thrilling 23-16 victory in Atlanta.

Moment #4: Elways Ultimate Experience
After losing three Super Bowls and then waiting eight years to reach his fourth Supe, Denver Bronco quarterback John Elway finally crossed the threshold. No longer a bridesmaid, Elway led his Broncos to a stirring 31-24 win over the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXII, giving closure and completeness to one of the greatest careers in pro football history.

Moment #3: Eli, David, and the Upset of Upsets

Eli Mannings escape from Vince Wilfork. David Tyrees hand-to-helmet catch. A last-minute touchdown to deny the New England Patriots a perfect 19-0 season, unprecedented in the history of professional football. Super Bowl XLII gave the NFL a mountain of unforgettable images and epic achievements. It also bestowed a third Super Bowl title to the New York Giants.

Moment #2: Lynn Swanns Legendary Leaps

He was Baryshnikov in a helmet and pads. He levitated and lingered in the air to outplay Dallas Cowboys cornerback Mark Washington. Lynn Swann crafted the most beautiful collection of plays in Super Bowl history, leading the Pittsburgh Steelers past the Cowboys, 21-17, in Super Bowl X.

Moment #1: Joe Namaths Guarantee

Were gonna win. I guarantee it. And then, the New York Jets did indeed defeat the 18-point favorites from Baltimore, clipping the Colts, 16-7, in this games greatest upset. Yes, the Super Bowl III shocker ranks as an even bigger surprise than Giants-Patriots in 2008.

10. Longest Reception In A Super Bowl: 85 Yards Muhsin Muhammad
While Jerry Rice has his name all over the Super Bowl betting records, one receiving record that he doesnt have is the longest reception in Super Bowl history. That record goes to Muhsin Muhammad, who had a huge grab in Super Bowl XXXVII, who caught an 85-yard touchdown on a third-down play.

The Panthers still fell 32-29 to the New England Patriots.

9. Most Super Bowl MVPs: 3 Joe Montana
Some players never make it to a Super Bowl, let alone three times. Joe Montana not only made it to the big dance three times, but he won MVP thrice as well.

In total, Montana made it to four Super Bowls in total but took the MVP in 1981, 1984 and 1989. To top this record, somebody will have to win four Super Bowl MVPs, which at this point, would be uncanny.

8. Most Passing Yards In A Singe Super Bowl: 414 Kurt Warner
Online betting cappers know that Kurt Warners name is all over the Super Bowl betting records but since he retired this offseason, we wont see him there anymore. Warner has the three highest passing yards totals in Super Bowl history and his 414 total is the highest. Holding the top spot is very good but holding the top three spots is impeccable.

7. Most Super Bowl Victories: 6 Pittsburgh Steelers
Wondering which franchise has the most Super Bowl wins overall? Its the Pittsburgh Steelers. In total, they have won six and their current head coach, Mike Tomlin, is also the youngest coach to lead a team to a Super Bowl win.

6. Most Points In A Super Bowl (Combined): 75 Super Bowl XXIX
As we prepare to see an offensive showdown between the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints, its worth noting what is currently the highest-scoring Super Bowl in NFL history.

At Super Bowl XXIX, the San Francisco 49ers and San Diego Chargers combined for 75 points in a 49ers 49-26 blowout win. Coincidentally, this Super Bowl was also played in Miami, Florida.

Well see if the Colts and Saints can come close to those numbers.

5. Shortest Field Goal In Super Bowl History: 9 Yards Jim Turner, Mike Clark
The shortest field goal in Super Bowl betting record history is nine yards. How was it so short, you might ask? After 1974, the field goal posts were moved to the back of the end zone, which means that this record cannot be broken unless they change the layout again.

4. Fewest Points By A Winning Team: 14 Miami Dolphins
One of the main questions a coach and his staff ponder is how many points will it take to win their specific game. For the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VII, it only took 14.

In 1962, the Dolphins really couldnt do anything wrong and the Super Bowl was another example. After a perfect regular season, the Dolphins finished everything off perfectly in the Super Bowl with a14-7 over the Washington Redskins.

3. Most Rushing Yards In A Single Super Bowl: 214 Timmy Smith
Sportsbook odds makers would probably guess that if there is a rushing record in the Super Bowl, Terrell Davis or Emmitt Smiths name would be beside. But in that case, they would be incorrect.

The running back with the most rushing yards in Super Bowl history is actually a lesser-known runner named Timmy Smith.

Smith ran for 204 yards in Super Bowl XXII. That was his high mark as he only totaled 602 rushing yards in his entire NFL career.

2. Long Play In Super Bowl History: 100 yards James Harrison
The longest play in Super Bowl history came last year when Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison took a turnover 100 yards from his end zone into the Arizona Cardinals end zone. Harrison was gasping for air as he ran it all the way back but the end result earned Harrison a spot in the record books. It also helped the Steelers get a Super Bowl ring.

1. Most TD Passes In A Single Super Bowl: 6 Steve Young
Most NFL betting fans would say that a couple of touchdown passes without an interception is a good day for a quarterback. Three? Very good day. Four? Hes probably winning you the week in fantasy on his own. Five? Hes gone mad. But six? Six is unheard of. Its fairly rare that a quarterback ever has six touchdowns in a game but Steve Young did it in the Super Bowl XXIX. To top that Super Bowl betting record, someone will have to throw for seven touchdowns. It will be quite some time before that happens.

Super Bowl MVP
The MVP award is probably the most prestigious prop bet to make, and this years list of MVP candidates are led by the quarterbacks, Indys Peyton Manning and New Orleans Drew Brees.

Peyton Manning Props
The regular-season MVP is also a former Super Bowl MVP from the Colts win in 2006, but you can also bet on whether hell throw a touchdown or a pick first, as well as an over/under on how many yards hell throw for.

Drew Brees Props
You can get the same props for Brees, who finished second to Manning in the MVP race. With this being his first Super Bowl appearance, there will be many eyes on Brees on Sunday.

First Half Shootout Props
Whoever gets off to a good start in the Super Bowl stands a good chance of pulling out a sportsbook win, and you can bet on the productivity of each team during the first 30 minutes of the game.

Receiver Props
These are two big-play offenses with a lot of explosive weapons, and there is no shortage of players on either side squad. Bet on the number of yards and catches that players like Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, Marques Colston and Devery Henderson will get on Sunday.

Running Back Props
The Saints have the edge here, as Manning and the Colts dont have much of a running game to speak of. Therefore, take a look at Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush, although Indys Joseph Addai offers a bigger reward.

Coin Toss Props
NFL betting players can kick off things off with the coin toss, often a ceremonial thing, but getting the ball first gives a team the opportunity to jump out to a lead.

Totals Props
You can also wager on the total amount of punts, penalties, rushing yards and interceptions, among other things.

Touchdown Props
There may be a lot of touchdowns scored on Sunday, and you can bet on everything from the first touchdown to the last, and even the lengths of the scores.

Other Player Props
Finally, its not all about Manning and Brees, or even the skill players. You can bet on the number of tackles a defensive player will make, as well as punt and kickoff returns.

10. Receiving Corps

The Indianapolis Colts have the edge in the receiving corps and when you consider that this will be a passing duel, that could be a very important edge. Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie are a better and more reliable trio than Marques Colston, Devery Henderson and Robert Meachem.

When Marvin Harrison retired and Anthony Gonzalez was hurt, no online betting sharps thought this would still be a position of strength but it has turned out this way and the Colts have one of the best receiving corps in the NFL.

9. Colts Are Still Perfect This Year

While most sportsbook cappers are miffed by Jim Caldwells decision to rest starters down the stretch of the season, the reality is that the Colts have yet to lose a single game this year when they have played their starters the entire way through. Thats saying something.

The Saints were on the perfect route as well but they lost to the Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers at home while trying to win. Thats a big difference than the Colts achievements.

8. Saints Are Nothing They Havent Seen Before

The Colts have faced every type of opponent this year and the Saints are nothing new. The Colts have seen the teams that try to run the ball and play keep away from their offense (Miami Dolphins), they have faced the passing squads that try to outscore them (New England Patriots and they have seen the defensive juggernauts that try to blitz (New York Jets). And none of it has worked.

There is nothing that Peyton Manning hasnt seen and while the Saints will try to blitz him, hell expose them every time.

7. Matt Stover

One area where the Colts have a huge edge is place kicking. Matt Stover is a very experienced kicker who has played in and won a Super Bowl (2000). Meanwhile, the Saints place kicker, Garrett Hartley, is a kicker who has attempted just 25 field goals in his NFL career. Stover gives the Colts a huge edge.

6. Dallas Clark

The Colts have a solid receiving corps but what makes their offense even more lethal is tight end Dallas Clark. How valuable is Clark? He led all tight ends in the NFL with 100 receptions and was the only one to reach the century mark. Beyond that, his 100 receptions rank fifth-most in the NFL overall including wide receivers. He is a great asset on this Colts offense and he is a significant step up over what the Saints have in Jeremy Shockey.

5. Defense

No NFL betting fans would mix up this Colts defense with the Steel Curtain but the Colts, as they did in the Tony Dungy era and continue to do in the Jim Caldwell era, is do enough.

The Colts defense isnt special but they do have some playmakers. And it seems like every time it comes to crunch time, the Colts do just enough to get off the field. This unit is a little underrated in their capacity to bend, but not break.

4. Coaching Staff

The Colts coaching staff may not be led by the aforementioned Dungy anymore but this is still a very experienced unit. Virtually this entire staff has been together throughout the Dungy era and they all won a Super Bowl together in 2006. Thats a big deal even though Caldwell is head coaching for the first time this year. This is a very experienced staff.

3. Defensive Ends

The Colts may not have a ton of defensive Pro Bowlers but they do have two up front: Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis. While the health of Freeney has come in question, the reality is that the Colts have the best pair of pass-rushing ends in the NFL. In a shootout where plenty of passing is expected, the Colts are in good shape with these ends. Theyll be pinning their ears back all game to get at Drew Brees.

2. Experience
One thing that cant be underestimated is experience. We saw what impact it had on the New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings in the Championship games and it will have another impact on the Super Bowl.

It cant be understated enough: the Colts have been here before while the Saints have not. The Colts should be even more this time around as they know what to expect.

1. Peyton Manning

Peyton Manning is not only the best quarterback of this generation, but he is quickly jumping into the conversation as the best of all-time. Hes clearly a Hall of Famer and hes clearly brought his own flavor to the game, which has never been seen before.

Calling him the league MVP doesnt fully describe what he brings to the table. The Colts might be a three- or four-win team without him but with him, they are the best team in the league. He continues to improve each year and he is on track to finish as the best quarterback of all-time.