Super Bowl 2015: Vegas Betting Odds, Updated Money Line for Patriots vs Seahawks

Lost in all the talk about deflated footballs is the fact that there is an actual Super Bowl game to be played on Feb. 1.

While the showdown between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots determines the winner of the coveted Lombardi Trophy, it also represents the final chance for bettors to wager on an NFL game until next season.

Here is a look at the information those bettors will need, via Odds Shark, as of Thursday at 7 p.m. ET.

Matchup	Line	Over-Under	Money Line
New England Patriots vs. Seattle Seahawks	SEA -2	48.5	SEA -143, NE +129

Take the Over or the Under?

The over/under is all about scoring, and the Patriots were fourth in the league in scoring offense this season at 29.3 points per game. New England was able to score so many points because of one of the league’s strongest aerial attacks, which finished ninth in the NFL in passing yards per game.

All Tom Brady did this year was gash opposing defenses for 4,109 passing yards and 33 touchdown tosses.

His main weapon was tight end Rob Gronkowski, who tallied 1,124 receiving yards and 12 touchdown catches, but Julian Edelman was also productive with 972 receiving yards and four touchdown catches.

Seattle could focus on stopping that passing attack with its defensive scheme, as the New England rushing offense was only 18th in the league, but the late addition of LeGarrette Blount makes the Patriots more formidable on the ground.

So, the smart take is to bet on the over with such a strong offense, right?

Not so fast. 

Matt Slocum/Associated Press

We could be talking historical status for this Seahawks defense if Seattle wins two consecutive Super Bowls. Seattle was first against the pass, third against the run, first in total defense and first in scoring defense, and it overwhelms teams with its physicality. The Seahawks are built to slow down powerful offenses like New England’s.

It is worth noting, though, that Seattle was only 18th in the league against tight ends this season, per Football Outsiders' metrics.

Antonio Gates of the San Diego Chargers torched the Seahawks for three touchdown catches earlier in the season, which could give the Patriots a blueprint with Gronkowski. Gronkowski could be the most unique weapon in the entire NFL. His physicality and size are usually too much for safeties, and his speed is too much for linebackers.

Elise Amendola/Associated Press

Gronkowski could also be even more motivated than usual given the comments Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane made to reporters:

"

Yeah, I actually don’t think he’s that good…Yeah. He’s OK, but, you know, he do have a big body, and from what I've seen on tape, you know, he don't like your hands being put on him, so, you know, we put our hands on him and shake him up a little bit, he won’t catch that many balls as he should.

"

Gronkowski probably isn't the guy to fire up before the Super Bowl.

Of course, that over/under includes both offenses, and nobody runs the ball better than the Seahawks. 

Seattle was the top rushing offense in the league and will rely on Marshawn Lynch, who tallied 1,306 rushing yards and 13 touchdown runs, and Russell Wilson, who added 849 rushing yards and six touchdowns on the ground to go with his 3,475 passing yards and 20 touchdown tosses.

Peter King of Sports Illustrated noted how important Lynch will be for the Seahawks in the Super Bowl:

"

Seattle is entirely reliant on Lynch. The team’s efforts to get Robert Turbin or Christine Michael more involved in the running game have been well-intentioned but never have ended well. Lynch has averaged 109 total yards in Seattle’s seven playoff games since Wilson arrived. And many have said, “Wilson would be nothing without Lynch.” That’s a narrow view of the Seattle offense, but it’s certain that Lynch will be needed to do more against New England this time than he did the last time the two teams met. The Seahawks won that 2012 meeting 24-23, but Lynch was held to 41 yards on 15 carries.

"

The Seahawks are often seen as a defense-oriented squad, and rightly so, but they can put up some serious points as well. In fact, Seattle was 10th in the league in scoring offense this season at 24.6 points per game.

New England counters with a middle-of-the-road defense. The Patriots were 13th in scoring defense, 17th against the pass and ninth against the rush this year, and they could be vulnerable to play-action looks in the Super Bowl because so much of their attention will be on stopping the read-option with Wilson and Lynch.

Ted S. Warren/Associated Press

Wilson may not put up monster numbers through the air, but he won't hesitate to hit Doug Baldwin on a deep route if the Patriots commit too many defenders to the box in an effort to stop the rushing game. 

Even with Seattle’s defense, this game features two top-10 scoring offenses and a potential mismatch with Gronkowski, who could expose a weakness for the Seahawks. Throw in Lynch’s ability to rack up yards and New England’s potentially vulnerable secondary, and the over is the smart call.

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