Super Bowl XLIV

Sunday, Feb. 7, 2010

New Orleans vs. Indianapolis

Line: Indianapolis -5

Total: 56.5

New Orleans is 13 - 3 straight up. They're 8 - 8 against the spread overall. They've played 8 unders and 8 overs. They've averaged 31.9 points per game this season. They've given up an average of 21.3 points this season.

Indianapolis is 14 - 2 straight up. They're 10 - 6 against the spread overall. They've played 7 unders and 8 overs. They've averaged 26 points per game this season. They've given up an average of 19.2 points this season.

NO      Offense   Total   Rush   Pass    Defense    Total   Rush   Pass

                              01       06       04                          25       21       26

Ind      Offense   Total   Rush   Pass    Defense    Total   Rush   Pass

                              09       32       02                          18       24       14

In their last 12 games, including the playoffs, the Saints have covered the spread just 3 times. They’ve looked shaky over the last 2 months or so and were very fortunate to get by the Vikings. Drew Brees, despite having great stats in the playoffs so far hasn’t looked sharp at times.

Peyton Manning been there and done that as far as the Super Bowl goes. But more than that he’s lead an inexperienced group of receivers and had an excellent season.

They are many factors that that can be looked at when handicapping a game, but it usually comes down to the quarterbacks and defenses. Defense can be thrown out for this game, as neither is capable of dominating the game on their own. This game comes down to the quarterbacks and that being the case, go with perhaps the best quarterback in history, the one with more experience and the one who’s playing better right now. That’s, of course, is Manning.

PROGnosis: Indianapolis -5