Pats the Odds-On Favorite to Win Super Bowl XLII—But Who's Second?

It was only a question of by how much.

The 16-0 New England Patriots are the overwhelming favorites to win the 2008 Super Bowl. Bill Belichick, Tom Brady, Randy Moss and company are probative -139 favorites to win Super Bowl XLII.

The defending Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts are next at +550. While we could find no credible NFL or sports betting expert who believes anyone other than New England should be the favorite, several agree they are far from a lock.

“If Marvin Harrison can get even 80-percent healthy, the Colts will be a very live dog,” says Cy McCormick of MasterLockLine.com   

The Dallas Cowboys are next at +685, though it is unknown at this time if Jessica Simpson will attend any games in her pink Tony Romo jersey. Green Bay, in Brett Favre’s sixth annual “might be his last hurrah,” checks in at +950.

Two years ago, Pittsburgh became the first road wild card squad to win the Super Bowl. The Jaguars are +1900 to do the same. Ironically, they open up in Pittsburgh, but the Steel City boys get no respect at +5000.

Mike Godsey, the top NFL betting expert at GodsTips.com, believes the Chargers are without question the best dark horse at +2004.

“They no longer have the worst postseason coach in NFL history (Marty Schottenheimer), and the fact Norv Turner underused LaDainian Tomlinson early in the year may make Norv look like a mad genius,” Godsey says. “Ala Jake Delhomme, Philip Rivers can be feast or famine, but he can carry a team when he’s on.”

Rounding out the AFC, the Tennessee Titans are very long shots at +11250. The NFC teams that oddsmakers give little chance to are the Seattle Seahawks at +4243, Tampa Bay Buccaneers +7500, the other Manning (Eli) and the New York Giants at +7000, and the Washington Redskins at +6613.

Stevie Vincent of BetOnSports360.com adds that, “If a riverboat gambler likes riding the hot hand, he may want to take a long look at Washington.”  The Redskins are a team that played much better when Todd Collins took over at quarterback.

The author Joe Duffy is CEO of sports handicapping website OffshoreInsiders.com