By Flint Wheeler
No matter which side you’re on, the key players in the matchup are obvious. Here’s a look at four players that will have a major impact on Sunday’s Big Game that I’m happy to provide for free!
Cam Newton Predictions
The no-brainer league MVP, Newton’s terrific play has carried over into the postseason, where he’s accounted for five touchdowns and only one turnover.
He lit up the Arizona Cardinals secondary in the NFC title game to the tune of 335 yards, while also running for 47 yards and two scores.
He’ll go up against the league’s No. 1 ranked defense, a unit which has made some very good quarterbacks look very ordinary this season. Cam’s ability as a dual-threat will need to shine through, as throwing the ball will be a lot more difficult on Sunday
Peyton Manning
In what’s surely his final pro season, Peyton has a chance to ride off into the sunset on a positive note and capture his second ring.
The Carolina secondary is where the unit has some holes, and while their full season stats are elite, they’ve had some depth issues with that group which have made them beatable in recent weeks.
Peyton won’t be asked to carry the team in the way he’s carried teams in the past, but he will need to make a few key throws to keep drives going and supplement the team’s strong running game.
Greg Olsen
When Kelvin Benjamin went down with a season-ending injury in training camp, two things were abundantly clear – the Panthers were razor thin at wideout, and Olsen was going to have to step up his role in the offense in a big way.
The nine-year pro responded in a big way, hauling in 77 passes for 1,104 yards and seven scores. He’s continued to be a force in the postseason, hauling in six passes in each of two postseason games for a combined 190 yards and two scores.
After Rob Gronkowski lit up the Broncos’ secondary to the tune of 144 yards and a score on eight catches in the AFC title game, Olsen will need to continue to carry a shallow receiving corps.
Thomas Davis
Carolina hasn’t been particularly good at stopping the run during the postseason, but they’ve been able to build such big margins throughout the postseason that their opponents have had to quit on their running games early. The Cardinals were able to get 60 yards and a touchdown out of David Johnson on 15 carries. Carolina’s best run stopper has been Thomas Davis, but at best, he’ll show up for the game with a broken arm. There’s no telling quite yet what kind of help he can be if he suits up, but it’s tough to imagine him making the kinds of plays he has earlier in the season.
Super Bowl Current Spread:
Carolina -6 over Denver
Over/Under Total: 44.5 points
Point Spread OPENED: Carolina 3.5 (no move)
Early professional money on Denver
Early recreational money on Carolina – 9 out of every 10 tickets has been on Carolina
Money Line Odds:
(straight-up winner, no spread)
Panthers: $170 wins $100 (61% chance)
Broncos: $100 wins $150 (39% chance)
The Vegas favorite has won 34 of the prior 49 Super Bowls (69%)
Big Vegas Trend
NFL teams AFTER scoring 40+ points in the playoffs (like Carolina did Sunday)
are on a 5-23 Against The Spread (18% ATS) losing run their next playoff game!
Super Bowl Action:
An estimated $10 BILLION is projected to be bet on Super Bowl 50 worldwide!
Over HALF of adult Americans are expected to have some money at risk on the game.
Less than 1% of the total amount bet globally is expected to be wagered legally in Nevada.
2015 Preseason Super Bowl Odds:
Broncos 10/1
(only 5 teams entered the season with better odds than Denver [Seattle, Green Bay, New England, Indianapolis, Philadelphia)
Panthers 60/1
(only 9 teams entered the season as bigger longshots than Carolina)
Good Luck!
