Super Bowl 2015: Patriots vs. Seahawks Odds and Prop Bets Guide, Predictions

At this point, the Super Bowl has delved into a chaotic betting portal more than a showcase of the NFL's best two football teams.

For the second straight year, the AFC and NFC will each send its No. 1 seed to the grand stage to joust for the Lombardi Trophy. A year after besting the Denver Broncos, the Seattle Seahawks can become back-to-back champions by upending the New England Patriots in Glendale, Ariz.

Many fans will worry about Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas' health. Then there are those playing a game within the game. Everything from the coin toss to Bill Belichick's clothing choices will cause cash to switch hands in Las Vegas.

The smorgasbord of prop bets will unveil before Feb. 1, but let's take an early look at what potentially lies ahead.

Super Bowl Info

Date	Matchup	Time (ET)	TV	Spread	O/U	Prediction
Sunday, Feb. 1	New England Patriots vs. Seattle Seahawks	6:30 p.m.	NBC	NE -2	48.5	24-20 NE

Betting info via Odds Shark as of Wednesday, Jan. 21 at 1 p.m. ET. 

Prop Bets

Tom Pennington/Getty Images

Last year, Seattle won gamblers massive money by opening the game with a safety. That marked the third straight Super Bowl featuring a safety, a bizarre streak for such an improbable outcome.

As a result, Vegas is no longer giving outrageous odds for a two-point score. Bovada, via Odds Shark, gives a 50-1 line for either team kicking off the game at 2-0. Considering 512 games produced just 21 of them during the season, at any point during in the game, it's not likely. Seattle collected just one, while New England was among 18 squads to finish with none.

However, although the law of averages suggests it won't happen again, this game represents an entirely new sample unaffected by precedent. Don't get overconfident, but don't assume it won't happen again just because it did before.

Shockingly, there's no advantage to picking heads or tails on a coin flip. Anyone putting dough on a random 50/50 outcome may need to take a step back and cut contact with his or her bookie.

At least some analysis exists in predicting the MVP. Last year, Malcolm Smith emerged as an unexpected winner with nine tackles, a recovered fumble and interception returned for a touchdown. Now the linebacker barely plays for a stacked Seattle defense.

Anyone can take over a given game, but a household name usually receives the recognition. Vegas Insider relayed this year's early favorites, none of whom are surprising inclusions.

What's a more enticing scenario: Richard Sherman eschewing Disney World to call Mickey Mouse a sorry mascot, or Marshawn Lynch responding to the lead-in question with "Thanks for asking"?

The running back makes a much better choice than Sherman, who kept playing through an elbow strain last weekend. Per ESPN.com, Pete Carroll praised Sherman and fellow star defensive back Earl Thomas for playing hurt, but it instead sounds like an alarming indictment of a sport with no guardrails for player safety.

"

Both those guys were in dire straits if they could play [after the injuries Sunday] and they didn't flinch. Not for a second. Their courage and heart couldn't have been more evident. Their willingness to throw their body out there was so impressive. Earl had a brace on his shoulder, and Richard couldn't straighten his arm out.

"

They'll get two weeks to heal, but Tom Brady now gets Seattle's two star defenders at less than full strength. If he leads the Patriots to his fourth title against the league's top defense, somebody else will need a monster game to edge him out.

Looking for a New England offensive option other than Brady or Rob Gronkowski? Julian Edelman has received double-digit targets in each of the last six contests, accruing 50 catches for 538 receiving yards over that stretch. He also displayed a nice arm during the AFC Divisional Round.

The Green Bray Packers sacrificed their No. 3 wide receiver on Sherman in each game, so Bill Belichick could employ a similar tactic to free up Brady's top possession receiver.