The 2012 Super Bowl features three quality teams that could raise the Lombardy Trophy, Saturday Feb 5th, in Indianapolis. NFL oddsmakers have the Green Bay Packers as 9/5 odds favorites to win the 2012 Super Bowl. But, there might be some others to check out. Let’s take a look at who else could content. Be sure to get your Super Bowl 2012 Predictions in before the Super Bowl kicks-off.
Odds to win the 2012 Super Bowl XLVI :
Green Bay Packers 9/5
New Orleans Saints 9/2
New England Patriots 4/1
Baltimore Ravens 8/1
Pittsburgh Steelers 11/1
San Francisco 49ers 11/1
New York Giants 20/1
Atlanta Falcons 35/1
Detroit Lions 40/1
Houston Texans 40/1
New Orleans (13-3, 8-0 H) finished atop the NFC South and host Detroit Saturday Jan 7th. The Saints won their only meeting this season 31-17, at home, in Week 13. Sean Payton’s Saints are playing better than anyone in the NFL at the moment, but home against Detroit, at San Francisco and at Green Bay would be a very arduous path to Indianapolis. Can it be done? Definitely. But there are no layups in that lineup. We have witnessed the full fury of the Saints offense with three consecutive 40-point-plus outings, but maybe the best news with January having arrived is that Gregg Williams’ defense has given up 17 points or less five times during New Orleans’ current eight-game winning streak, with no one topping 24 points during that span.
San Francisco (13-3, 7-1 H) won the NFL West and they received a first round bye, where they face the winner between New Orleans and Detroit, Saturday Jan 14th. The 49ers won this season with a defense that held the score down, and a conservative-style offense that ran the ball and didn’t beat itself in the passing game. It’s a great blueprint for success in the regular season, but maybe the 2000 Ravens or the 1990 Giants were the last couple of teams to go all the way with that approach in the postseason. It’s going to take more offense than San Francisco has needed thus far to get past the likes of New Orleans and Green Bay in the playoffs. That puts a big burden on Alex Smith’s shoulders this month.
Detroit (10-6, 5-3 V) got in with a Wild Card and face a tough Saints team on the road, Saturday Jan 7th. They met once this season, in New Orleans, with the Saints winning 31-17. QB Mathew Stafford is playing at a high level, with a team-record 5,038 passing yards and 41 touchdowns. The last time these teams met, on Dec. 4, New Orleans walked away with a 31-17 win. This time around, the Lions are hoping their familiarity with the raucous Superdome and the presence of a gifted quarterback might lead to a different result against an opponent that has won eight straight games. The Lions have talent in Calvin Johnson (96 receptions, 1,681 yards and 16 touchdowns), tight end Brandon Pettigrew (83 receptions) and two other shifty, reliable targets in Burleson (73) and rookie Titus Young (48). Stafford has used those weapons to lead a team that averages 29.6 points and 396.1 yards per game. If the Lions had a little more balance, they could’ve easily won two or three more games. The defense that takes the field for the Lions should look considerably different than the one that conceded 342 passing yards and three touchdowns to Brees and didn’t force a turnover against the Saints a month ago. Safety Louis Delmas, whom Schwartz referred to as “the soul” of the defense, is expected back after missing five games with a torn knee ligament.
Pittsburgh (12-4, 5-3 V) won the AFC Wild Card and will face Denver on the road, Sunday Jan 8th They never met this season and won their last meeting 28-10, in Denver. Once again it’s their defense that trumps their offense, just like Baltimore. They are 1st overall (271ypg) with a 1st ranked pass rush (171ypg) and 8th ranked rush defense (99ypg). The big question is the health of QB Ben Roethlisberger. He sprained his ankle on Dec. 8, and hasn’t been the same. Pittsburgh has scored two touchdowns in 10 quarters with him on the field. Roethlisberger hasn’t been able to follow through on his passes because he is unable to put weight on his left leg. He has completed 56 of 96 passes (58.3 percent) for 729 yards. He has thrown one touchdown and four interceptions for a 68.4 passer rating. RB Rashard Mendenhall was hurt and is out of the playoffs as well as Mewelde Moore.
Denver Broncos 50/1
Cincinnati Bengals 65/1
Point-Spreads recommends you make your 2012 AFC Conference Predictions before Wild Card Weekend starts.
The Bottom Line: Cinderella story would be Detroit, The Niners would bring back memories and the Saints would be obvious. NFL Point Spreads Expert Tyler Morgan went 4-1 ATS in Week 17, winning on underdogs Jets vs Dolphins to bring his NFL Predictions record to 73-39-4 for the season. Morgan, whose 2011 NFL Picks are hitting at 65% against the spread. Tyler’s moves have put thousands of dollars into his clients hands week after week. The good news for NFL Football bettors is – TYLER MORGAN’S PICKS ARE FREE – unlike most self proclaimed experts who charge big bucks to subscribers. Put a few Morgan Silver Dollars in your bank account by getting Tyler’s winning plays for FREE. Feel free to sign up to get NFL Picks Free!
