Super Bowl 2018: Halftime Performers, Date and Odds for Eagles vs. Patriots

The 2018 Super Bowl is a mix of the predictable and unexpected in more ways than one. 

In the predictable column, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots making it out of the AFC reigns supreme. Hand injury or not, the usual suspects will arrive at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

Likewise in predictability is the NFL calling upon one Justin Timberlake to handle the halftime performance. 

The unexpected? These gritty Philadelphia Eagles making the Super Bowl without MVP contender Carson Wentz under center. As few predicted going into the playoffs, the Eagles emerged from the tougher conference with Nick Foles under center, creating one of the more interesting Super Bowl matchups we've seen in quite a long time. 

2018 Super Bowl

Date: Sunday, Feb. 4

Location: U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Kickoff Time: 6:30 p.m. ET

TV: NBC

Odds: Patriots -6, Over/Under 48

Halftime and Beyond 

The Super Bowl is one of the biggest events around the globe each year, so it's one of the rare football games where the conversation about the performers—and even commercials—gets lumped right in with the football talk itself. 

Timberlake, the former N'Sync member who handled the Super Bowl halftime show in 2004 and had the infamous mishap with Janet Jackson, is back once again ahead of a new album release. 

The NFL announced his selection back in October: 

As Timberlake told Pepsi in an interview, he's treating this opportunity like it is his first time because he'll have the stage to himself and full control over what happens as he leads one of the year's most important performances on a global stage: 

"

Can't wait for #SBLII to see @Jtimberlake take the stage? The first #BTS look at his #PepsiHalftime show is here! pic.twitter.com/skVZPSYdsw

— Pepsi™ (@pepsi) January 18, 2018"

Like the renowned performer, Brady and the Patriots know a thing or two about the stage. 

Down 20-10 in the fourth quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC title game, Brady did what he does, tossing a pair of touchdowns to Danny Amendola despite the absence of Rob Gronkowski, who left the game early with a concussion. Don't forget the oft-talked about cut on Brady's throwing hand, either. 

Brady finished the day with 290 passing yards and the two scores despite only getting 46 yards and a score on a 2.4 per-carry average from his running game and a defense that coughed up more than 100 rushing yards. 

The Eagles are the unexpected element here after losing Wentz, the guy who threw for 3,296 yards and 33 touchdowns against seven interceptions over only 13 games. The Foles-led team going down at the hands of the Atlanta Falcons in the first round would have made sense, yet the defense kept Matt Ryan in check on the way to a 15-10 win. 

Rather than struggling against a strong Minnesota Vikings defense in the NFC title game, Foles went out and tossed three touchdowns at home in what turned out to be an unexpected throttling, a 38-7 statement game. 

Immediately after, the Eagles didn't shy away from the fact the Patriots await them. 

"I know," Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson said, according to ESPN.com's Tim McManus. "Hey, Tom Brady. Pretty boy Tom Brady. He's the best quarterback of all time, so, nothing I'd like to do more than dethrone that guy."

Minnesota received more praise for its defense entering the playoffs, yet it's this Philadelphia squad that looks ready to clash with Brady. The unit picked off Minnesota's Case Keenum twice, returning one for a touchdown while funneling the Vikings offense into ineffective short passes, hence running back Jerick McKinnon tying for the team lead in targets (12) and leading the team in receiving (11 catches, 86 yards). 

Some will decry this particular Super Bowl matchup due to Wentz's absence, yet it glosses over the fact the Eagles might be the most complete team in football. And while Foles isn't Wentz, he has yet to throw an interception during the postseason and hasn't seen his completion percentage dip below 76 percent over the two games. 

The consistency on both sides of the football explains why oddsmakers out of Las Vegas aren't comfortable slapping a huge line on this game in favor of the Patriots, even if the general early pulse surrounding the game from fans hints it could be a blowout. 

Like rumblings about Timberlake's performance, the vibes surrounding this one will change over the course of the break before the game. So far, though, the mesh of old and new seems like it has the perfect balance. 

Stats courtesy of NFL.com. Odds according to OddsShark.