Super Bowl Point Spread 2015: Money Line, Over/Under for Patriots vs. Seahawks

The minuscule point spread and almost non-existent moneyline in the Super Bowl might be bad for gamblers, but it is nothing but great news for fans.

According to Aaron Schatz of Football Outsiders (via ESPN Insider), the matchup between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks is tied for the smallest point spread in the history of the big game.

However, this is not just to the confused bettors. Schatz dissected the average efficiency of each team to determine that this will be "the closest Super Bowl since at least 1989 based on how well the teams were playing going into Super Bowl Sunday."

So who do you bet on and how do you make money? Here is a look at advice for where to place money, along with an overall prediction for the game.

Super Bowl Info

When: Sunday, Feb. 1

Time: 6:30 p.m. ET

Where: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona.

Watch: NBC

Odds (via Odds Shark)

• Spread: New England (-1)
• Moneyline: New England (-115), Seattle (-105)
• Over/Under: 47.5

Breakdown

Seattle and New England finished No. 1 and No. 8 respectively in points allowed this season. Based on this fact, with so much talent on both sides of the ball, the first instinct is to assume it will be a low-scoring game and bet the under. This would be a mistake.

As good as the Seahawks defense is—and statistically, this is one of the best units of all time—giving Tom Brady and Bill Belichick two weeks to prepare is a huge advantage (assuming not all of the time was spent worrying about deflated footballs).

The duo has been to this stage many times before and should be able to find gaps in the scheme. Meanwhile, All-Pro secondary players such as Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor are all dealing with injuries.

Bleacher Report's Will Carroll breaks down the injury issues with the Seahawks:

Meanwhile, a lot of credit has to go to Brady, who had a fantastic season after a slow start to the year. The veteran quarterback was below average in 2013 and averaged just 197.8 yards during a 2-2 start to 2014.

However, Brady found a way to turn things around to lead the Patriots to the best record in the AFC. This effort impressed offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels:

Of course, it's also important not to overlook the Seahawks offense. Marshawn Lynch has been a monster rushing the ball over the past few seasons, and he hasn't slowed down a bit. He is coming off one of his best days of the year with 157 rushing yards against the Green Bay Packers.

Lynch saves his best for the postseason, during which he has five 100-yard rushing games in his career—all of them wins for Seattle. If he can come through for his team again, the Seahawks will have a big day to make this a relatively high-scoring battle.

When it comes to picking a winner, however, it comes down to the Patriots' inability to stop Russell Wilson. The Seahawks quarterback showed that he can get it done with his arm or his legs, even if he struggled earlier in the game.

In his article for The Players' Tribune, he spoke about the ability to go into every game with a clean slate:

"

Personally, I was having one of my worst games of my career. But after every single throw—whether it was a tipped ball or an incompletion or a touchdown—I’d turn back toward the huddle, close my eyes and think of a table in an empty room.

On that table was a big red RESET button, just like in the movies. I’d imagine pressing the button. Boom. On to the next one. What’s the situation now? How can I make a play?

"

If he can do this against New England, he will be able to carry his team to a second Super Bowl title in as many years.

Prediction: Seahawks 27, Patriots 24

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