Super Bowl 44 Breakdown – New Orleans Saints vs. Indianapolis Colts

Super Bowl XLIV 2010 Betting action will kick off a week from Sunday, but it’s never too early to get a jump on the action! BetOnline Sportsbook analyzes how the Indianapolis Colts (16-2, 12-5-1 ATS) and the New Orleans Saints (15-3, 9-9 ATS) will match up against each other on both sides of the football…

New Orleans Offense vs. Indianapolis Defense: The Saints have a plethora of weapons that they can use to beat you on a regular basis. QB Drew Brees is one of the best in the biz. He led the #4 passing attack in the NFL during the regular season and amassed 4,388 yards through the air.

Brees did a tremendous job spreading the football around the field, as WRs Marques Colston, Devery Henderson, and Robert Meachem each had years to be proud of. That trio combined for 166 catches, 2,600 yards, and 20 TDs on the year. Keep an eye on TE Jeremy Shockey as well, as he hauled in 48 passes for 569 yards and three TDs in the regular season.

As demonstrated in the AFC Championship Game, the Indianapolis Colts are prone to giving up big plays and chunks of yardage in a hurry. However, if you take out the 45-yard trick play that QB/WR Brad Smith ran and the 80-yard TD pass to WR Braylon Edwards on a busted coverage, Indianapolis has looked downright scary in the playoffs.

The Colts have held two very strong rushing teams to 86.5 yards per game in the postseason. RBs Pierre Thomas (793 yards, 6 TDs) and Reggie Bush (390 yards, 5 TDs) must do enough damage to keep the Indy secondary honest, or it could be a long day for Brees standing in the pocket.

Indianapolis Offense vs. New Orleans Defense: The New Orleans Saints can do whatever they want offensively, but if they can’t figure out how to slow down the Indy offense, they stand no chance in this Super Bowl XLIV betting affair. This is a stop unit that ranked 25th overall in total defense (357.8 yards per game) and 20th in points allowed (21.3 per game).

The Vikings ran up and down the field against them, and if not for five Minny turnovers, New Orleans wouldn’t find itself in this historical position. Now it will take on its toughest test to date in the form of QB Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis offense.

Yes, the Saints may have had the #1 offense by statistics in the league, but there isn’t a more feared unit than the one that Manning will lead onto the field on February 7th. He threw for 4,500 yards this season and has proven that he can use any number of his weapons. Obviously, WR Reggie Wayne and TE Dallas Clark are his security blankets that have been around for years, but as was proven on Sunday against the Jets, Manning can use both WR Austin Collie and WR Pierre Garcon as well when called upon.

That duo picked up a total of 18 catches, 274 yards, and two TDs against the Jets, and could be called upon again should the Saints successfully take Wayne and/or Clark out of the game.

Super Bowl 44 Betting

If you don’t feel comfortable betting against the spread, there are tons of other ways to make money come Super Bowl Sunday. The BetOnline Sportsbook has a variety of props you can get right now including the coin toss, first team to score, and even individual statistics.

Whether you plan on backing the Saints in their first trip to the Super Bowl or defer to Manning and company, BetOnline Sportsbook is your one stop shop for everything Super Bowl XLIV betting. Reload or open an account today and get in on all the action!

Super Bowl Lines – A Full History of Super Bowl Spreads and Winners

Every year I am asked “Do you know what the point spread of Super Bowl…” insert whatever year you like but if you bet on the Super Bowl, chances are you love historical data. I’ve gone through my records and made a list of the teams, point spreads, the straight up winner and the team to cover the spread. I hope it can be of use to you, even if it’s only to settle a bar bet.

Looking over the list I’ve picked out a few interesting facts

The Largest Spread in Super Bowl History – 18 Points

Super Bowl XXIX

When Steve Young and the San Francisco 49ers met the San Diego Chargers in Super Bowl 29, neither bookmakers nor bettors gave the AFC Champs and chance at beating the 49ers. The closing line was 18 points and the 49ers covered it with ease. Steve Young threw six touchdowns, a Super Bowl Record, as San Francisco blew out San Diego 49-26. The teams’ 75 total points is still a Super Bowl record.

The biggest upset in Super Bowl History – +17

Super Bowl III

This is the game that made "Broadway" Joe Namath famous. The NY Jets were a huge underdog against the Baltimore Colts, and the bookies favored Colts by 17 points even though they would be without the legendary Johnny Unitas under center. Then came the guarantee, Joe Namath boldly predicted “We’re gonna win the game. I guarantee it.” Namath and the Colts did as promised and upset the mighty Colts 16-7 and a legend was born.

The Lowest Scoring Game in Super Bowl History -Super Bowl VII – 21 total points.

Not only was this the lowest scoring game but Super Bowl 7 was the final game of the 72 Dolphins perfect season as they defeated the Washington Redskins 14-7. The game wasn’t as close as the score makes it out to be, the Dolphins incredible defense held the Redskin scoreless until 2:07 remaining in the game. This game is the reason we have to see Mercury Morris on the television every year an NFL team threatens to have a perfect season.

YEAR

SUPER BOWL

Teams

SPREAD

FINAL

WINNER

COVER

2010

XLIV

NO vs. IND

IND -5.5

 

 

 

2009

XLIII

AZ vs. PIT

PIT -6.5

27-23

PIT

ARZ (+6.5)

2008

XLII

NYG vs. NE

NE -14

17-14

NYG

NYG(+14)

2007

XLI

CHI vs. IND

IND -7

29-17

IND

IND (-7)

2006

XL

SEA vs. PIT

PIT -4

21-10

PIT

PIT (-4)

2005

XXXIX

PHI vs. NE

NE -4

24-21

NE

PHI (+4)

2004

XXXVIII

CAR vs. NE

NE -7

32-29

NE

CAR (+7)

2003

XXXVII

TB vs. OAK

OAK -3.5

48-21

TB

TB (+3.5)

2002

XXXVI

STL vs. NE

STL -14

20-17

NE

NE (+14)

2001

XXXV

NYG vs. BAL

BAL -3

34-7

BAL

BAL (-3)

2000

XXXIV

STL vs. TEN

STL -7

23-16

STL

PUSH

1999

XXXIII

ATL vs. DEN

DEN -7.5

34-19

DEN

DEN (-7.5)

1998

XXXII

GB vs. DEN

GB -12

31-24

DEN

DEN (+12)

1997

XXXI

GB vs. NE

GB -14

35-21

GB

PUSH

1996

XXX

DAL vs. PIT

DAL -13.5

27-17

DAL

PIT (+13.5)

1995

XXIX

SF vs. SD

SF -18

49-26

SF

SF (-18)

1994

XXVIII

DAL vs. BUF

DAL -10.5

30-13

DAL

DAL (-10.5)

1993

XXVII

DAL vs. BUF

DAL -6.5

52-17

DAL

DAL (-6.5)

1992

XXVI

WAS vs. BUF

WAS -7

37-24

WAS

WAS (-7)

1991

XXV

NYG vs. BUF

BUF -7

20-19

NYG

NYG (+7)

1990

XXIV

SF vs. DEN

SF -12

55-10

SF

SF (-12)

1989

XXIII

SF vs. CIN

SF -7

20-16

SF

CIN (+7)

1988

XXII

WAS vs. DEN

DEN -3

42-10

WAS

WAS (+3)

1987

XXI

NYG vs. DEN

NYG -9

39-20

NYG

NYG (-9)

1986

XX

CHI vs. NE

CHI -11

46-10

CHI

CHI (-11)

1985

XIX

SF vs. MIA

SF -3

38-16

SF

SF (-3)

1984

XVIII

WAS vs. OAK

WAS -3

38-9

OAK

OAK (+3)

1983

XVII

WAS vs. MIA

MIA -2

27-17

WAS

WAS (+2)

1982

XVI

SF vs. CIN

SF -2

26-21

SF

SF (-2)

1981

XV

PHI vs. OAK

PHI -3

27-10

OAK

OAK (+3)

1980

XIV

LA vs. PIT

PIT -11

31-19

PIT

PIT (-11)

1979

XIII

DAL vs. PIT

PIT -4

35-31

PIT

PUSH

1978

XII

DAL vs. DEN

DAL -5

27-10

DAL

DAL (-5)

1977

XI

MIN vs. OAK

OAK -5

32-14

OAK

OAK (-5)

1976

X

DAL vs. PIT

PIT -7

21-17

PIT

DAL (+7)

1975

IX

MIN vs. PIT

PIT -3

16-6

PIT

PIT (-3)

1974

VIII

MIN vs. MIA

MIA -6

24-7

MIA

MIA (-6)

1973

VII

WAS vs. MIA

WAS -2

14-7

MIA

MIA (+2)

1972

VI

DAL vs. MIA

DAL -5

24-3

DAL

DAL (-5)

1971

V

DAL vs. BAL

DAL -1

16-13

BAL

BAL (+1)

1970

IV

MIN vs. KC

MIN -10

23-7

KC

KC (+10)

1969

III

BAL vs. NYJ

BAL -17

16-7

NYJ

NYJ (+17)

1968

II

GB vs. OAK

GB -13

33-14

GB

GB (-13)

1967

I

GB vs. KC

GB -17

35-10

GB

GB (-17)

The favorite is 21-19-1 against the spread in the previous 43 Super Bowls. Get in on the action now – SIGN UP HERE!

Super Bowl 44 – Breaking Down the Most Important Betting Trends

Keeping an eye on some crucial trends can be one of the most effective ways for sports gamblers to make profits come Super Bowl 44. Teams play and react to certain scenarios with shocking consistency, so when you know what to look for, it can help give you the edge you need when it comes to profitable Super Bowl betting.

Using those trends to craft a solid argument for a particular wager, though, can be a challenge.  That’s the reason I will be analyzing the two most significant trends regarding both the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts in this article.

Which team should gamblers wager on in Super Bowl XLIV?  A trend analysis will help them make that decision.

Four Significant Trends for Super Bowl XLIV

New Orleans Saints Trends

The New Orleans Saints are 6-1-1 ATS in their last 7 games on grass – - This trend is very misleading because the New Orleans Saints simply didn’t play a lot of games on grass during the regular season.  One of the games they did play on grass was against the Miami Dolphins in Miami, the site of Super Bowl XLIV.  Not only was the Miami game a cover ATS, but it was also a game where the Saints showed that they were good enough to come back from a deficit.  The Saints were down 24 to 3 before rallying in the second half to win 46 to 34.

This is big because many turf teams seem to struggle on the surface change. The Saints have won a significant, and hard fought, game on Miami’s grass at the Sun Life Stadium, a site they’ll no doubt have to dig deep again to come out victorious. If you’re leaning towards New Orleans, take comfort in the fact they are able to run their high powered offense on a natural field.

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The Saints are 6 and 1 ATS in their last 7 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game – -  This trend is misleading and one that you’ll want to disregard when making a bet. When you dig deeper, you’ll see that their ATS record after getting torched the week before is not because D steps it up the next game.

The Saints gave up 439 yards to the Dallas Cowboys in their first loss of the season.  A week later against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Saints gave up 439 yards again.  A week after that the Saints gave up 327 yards, which looks like an improvement initially, but in reality of the 327 yards the Saints gave up, 178 came on the ground and the Saints lost the game.

A trend that IS important, is that New Orleans has covered after both of their bye weeks this season.  The important thing to note is that the Saints defense dominated two very good offensive teams after those bye weeks.  The Saints obliterated the then undefeated New York Giants 48 to 27 as 3 ½ point favorites after their regular season bye.  They then thrashed the Arizona Cardinals 45 to 14 as 7 point favorites after skipping the NFC Wildcard Round.

That’s something to remember about the New Orleans Saints but what about the Indianapolis Colts?

Indianapolis Colts Trends

** There are a lot of positive trends regarding the Colts going into this game. 

The Indianapolis Colts are 9-1-1 ATS in their last 11 games on grass – -

Guess what gamblers?  Indianapolis is great on everything!  It doesn’t matter if the Indianapolis Colts play on grass or turf.  They cover against the super bowl 44 spread.  The Colts have gone 10-5-1 ATS so far this season.  With one game to play, Indy is assured of a winning ATS record for this season.  They’re just a good team that odds makers and gamblers have been leery about betting all season long. What this means is that the fact the Saints and Colts are both good on grass, so neither teams gains a betting advantage because of the surface.

The Colts cover spreads.  But do they cover spreads when they are big favorites?  Maybe.  Analyzing the trend below will certainly help us answer that question.

The Colts are 5 and 0 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorites of between 3 ½ to 10 points – - This is another great looking trend but it’s another trend that gamblers need to take a closer look at.  The thing that jumps out to me is how many numbers are between 3 ½ to 10.  There’s a 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 between 3 ½ to 10.  That’s 6 numbers.  To me, 6 numbers are just too many to make this trend significant. 

What’s a more significant trend is the fact that the Colts are 6 and 3 ATS out of 9 games where they were favored by 5 ½, the betting line in the Super Bowl, to 14 points.  That’s a much more significant trend than 5 and 0 ATS between 3 ½ to 10 points. 

The trend to remember about the Saints is that they are exceptional after a bye week.  The trend to remember about the Colts is that they are terrific ATS when they are big favorites. 

I put more weight in the fact that the Saints are able to regroup and develop a solid game plan specific to the team they are facing. That speaks volumes about the coaching staff. Having a solid game plan is the most crucial part to any game and I think the Saints will come in the better prepared team.

My Super Bowl 44 pick according to the trend analysis will be on the New Orleans Saints at -5 ½.

Super Bowl 2010 Betting Lines – Early Money is on the Colts

In the wake of both Indianapolis and New Orleans earning conference championships and Super Bowl berths, the pro football betting community is anxious to get a fix on the line they’ll be playing in two weeks when the NFL lands in Miami for Super Bowl weekend.

Las Vegas was quick to open up a Super Bowl XLIV betting line of -4.0 for the AFC Champion Colts, with a massive TOTAL of 56. Yet almost instantly the betting line moved up giving the Colts an even bigger spread to cover. With the top seeds from either conference competing for the Lombardi Trophy for the first time since 1993, this game is going to be a touch call. What are the oddsmakers across the globe trying to say?

Analyzing The Spread

Any time a spread instantly moves by 1.5 points, it’s a big heads up. That’s usually the most that any betting spread will move when both teams are at full strength. What Vegas was hoping was that the Saints’ victory would bolster their rank as the best offense in the league, but the sharks and experts took advantage of that line because of their faith in Peyton Manning and the spread busting Colts.

Of course, the public has yet to weigh in on the line. The problem with measuring any movement now is that there are plenty of Colts fans out there to keep the spread at -5.5 in favor of Indy, and a surge by an undecided faction of the public that may appreciate the Saints’ momentum likely won’t be enough to pull this spread below -5.0 points. Vegas underestimated the betting IQ of both the experts and the public in this one. The last time a line moved so quickly was when the Patriots-Giants Super Bowl tilt opened at -14 and moved immediately down to -12 in 2008.

Analyzing The Money Lines

Since they opened, the ML has moved all over the mpa. The Saints stand currently as slim +170 underdogs, moving down from the opening +185. Any hard movement on the Colts would’ve slammed this to the +200 ceiling, but oddsmakers are going to be wary of making the Saints any more enticing of a Super Bowl XLIV bet than they already are.

The money line on the Colts, however, could become even greater. At -210 locked in to a parlay with a TOTAL, betting enthusiasts can bank a huge payout. If the public decides to move heavy on the Colts moneyline, it’ll move towards the -300 mark making it largely unattractive compared to the spread. The bookmakers are going to keep both sides enticing but a massive movement by the public could stretch the odds against the Colts making the payout even smaller.

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You have to always remember that the oddsmakers are constantly trying to encourage even betting on both sides of the line, but moneylines are different. They’re more of a true reflection of where the oddsmakers think the favorite is. The fact that the Colts have moved up ten-percent to -210 from -200 already suggests that the sharks and experts are leaning on the Colts to win straight up.

Analyzing The TOTAL

As far as totals go, this is the second highest of the entire playoffs and was the only element of the betting lines that didn’t move at all. Until now. Granted when this opened, I thought it was staggeringly high considering the Saints would have to play on the road, but the line has moved a half-point to 56.5 from where it opened. Apparently the TOTAL wasn’t high enough.

Here’s the problem: fans and sports betting nuts love chasing OVERS, especially in the Super Bowl. Nobody wants to get caught throwing their drink against the ground at a party because another touchdown pushed the score. Let’s face it – it’s just not fun that way. And while the slim population of sharks will love the UNDER, the public will crash in the OVER because they expect Brees and Manning to move the chains summarily the entire game.

I didn’t think this line would move at all because it simply seemed too high to begin with, but Vegas has done a good job of catching the public and the pros exactly where they want them. Any movement north won’t surprise me, but if this suddenly begins to drop south of 56.0 then I’d get worried.

For the record, the TOTAL in the Super Bowl has been 45.0 points on average for the past 10 years.

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Australian Open Semis: Serena Williams vs. Na Li

Melbourne, Australia – Serena Williams is a victory away from reaching her second consecutive Australian Open final and a chance to defend her title. Standing in her way is China’s Na Li who upset Venus Williams in the quarterfinals yesterday to book her place opposite Serena.

Serena heads into this match as the overwhelming market favourite whereas Na Li is a modest underdog. She was an underdog against Venus but managed to defy the odds. The tipping question is whether she can go two-for-two against the Williamses.

Few tennis bettors would rush to lay money on that bet, wisely siding with the tried-and-tested champion, Serena. There is also the notion in the market that we are headed for a revival of the Serena/Henin rivalry in the Final.

That is all fine and dandy and it would be great to see that rivalry rekindled so soon upon Justine Henin’s return to the WTA circuit. But Na Li still has her day on court and it has to be assumed she has a viable shot, so we cannot dismiss her just yet. Can we?

Tennis Betting Line:

Serena Williams -5½ -105 -900 19½ O -135 U -105 12½ O +120 U -160
Na Li +5½ -135 +450 19½ O -135 U -105 7½ O -130 U -110

First Set Line:

Serena Williams -500 9½ O +110 U -150
Na Li +300 9½ O +110 U -150

Second Set Line:

Serena Williams -500 9½ O +105 U -145
Na Li +300 9½ O +105 U -145

Match Set Line:

Serena Williams -1½ -200 2½ O +225 U -350
Na Li +1½ +150 2½ O +225 U -350

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Match Time: 09:30 PM Eastern Time Wednesday January 27, 2010

Tennis Betting Verdict: Serena takes a 3-1 lifetime edge over Na Li into their semi-final clash and probably some revenge in mind on behalf of her sister Venus. Serena weighs in at -900 to win outright and for the most part, she is correctly priced. She is a solid favourite and the match is entirely on her racquet.

That said it is not without some doubt that she enters this match. Tennis bettors looking to back Serena Williams must have noticed her dip in form against Azarenka in the quarters yesterday as well as her wavering performance in doubles action the day before. Her dip in form is even more concerning because it is a complete 180 of her nigh-perfect performance against Samantha Stosur in the last 16.

In both quarterfinal clashes, Serena seemed out of sorts and off her game. She managed to rally in both matches, which is great for her and shows she is mentally tough, but one wonders if she gets behind in this upcoming semi-final clash whether she will be able to rally once again.

Na Li is certainty not about to faff about court like some of the young starlets of today and if she sinks her teeth into this match, she will be tenacious. Na Li put on a heroic performance against Venus to come back from a set down and win the match. She enters as the +450 underdog but she is an attractive underdog to consider having punched above her weight class.

Na Li has only ever beaten Serena once and never on such a big stage. But in all four meetings, she opened a good account – three were three-set affairs and their last clash in Stanford (2009) was a tight two-set affair. She is a value puppy and warrants consideration, in my opinion.

Tennis Free Picks: Tennis bettors looking to back Serena at -900 will probably want to back her on the spread and games handicap for more value. Serena to win the first set is trading at a reasonable -500 as is winning the second set. The Over 19 ½ -135 is well priced and another good option.

Serena to cover the spread at – 5 ½ -105 is a good play in theory because she is capable of dominating opponents. She hasn’t been successful doing so against Na Li though. Perhaps, Na Li to cover the spread at +5 ½ -135 is a better option. It is certainly the favoured outcome in the market.

Backing Na Li for the upset at +450 is a long shot bet but one I would consider given how well she has accounted for herself thus far in Melbourne. It has a small chance of coming through so I wouldn’t encourage betting the farm on it. But just in case a small wager would be prudent.

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Tim Tebow Super Bowl XLIV Ad – Odds on whether it Airs or Not

Former Florida All-American and Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Tim Tebow is once again back in the news. And this time, it’s not for his preparation for the NFL Draft, or any of his gridiron exploits.

Instead, it is for a commercial that Tebow and his mother Pam will take part in, that is set to air during Super Bowl XLIV on February 7th. The ad has a strong anti-abortion message, a personal subject that hits the Tebow’s close to home. In 1987, while pregnant with Tim, doctors recommended that Pam abort her fifth child.

The ad is sponsored by the conservative Christian group, Focus on Family, and women’s groups nationwide are asking for it to be banned. A letter sent from the Women’s Media Center to CBS condemned the ad, in part because of the support of Focus on Family, an organization that has come under fire in recent years. The letter said:

"By offering one of the most coveted advertising spots of the year to an anti-equality, anti-choice, homophobic organization, CBS is aligning itself with a political stance that will damage its reputation, alienate viewers, and discourage consumers from supporting its shows and advertisers.”

Despite the outpouring of disapproval, CBS currently has no plans to remove the advertisement. According to network spokesman Dana McClintock, the ad has been approved as being, “appropriate for air.”

As for Focus for Family, they’re convinced that the ad has no politically incorrect mixed messages. Gary Schneeberger, a spokesman for the group said on Monday, "There’s nothing political and controversial about it. When the day arrives, and you sit down to watch the game on TV, those who oppose it will be quite surprised at what the ad is all about."

Schneeberger added, that the ad was paid for by a group of generous donors, and not out of the foundation’s general funds. Super Bowl advertisements can cost between $2.5 and $2.8 million dollars, and is some of the most expensive ad time anywhere.

With Tebow at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama this week, he was surprised at the controversy that it created. “I’ve always been very convicted of it [his views on abortion] because that’s the reason I’m here, because my mom was a very courageous woman. So any way that I could help, I would do it."Tebow of course came under fire his entire career at the University of Florida, because of his strong Christian beliefs. He chose Bible passages to put on his eye black before games, and spend time overseas during the summer taking part in missionary work.

He is in Mobile this week, trying to improve his fluctuating draft stock, with many questioning his ability to succeed at the NFL level as a quarterback.
But for the time being, despite the outcry, CBS has no plans to remove the ad.

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Who is New Orleans Head Coach Sean Payton? And how will he help the Saints win Super Bowl 44?

The New Orleans have stunk almost every year since they were founded in 1967, but now they are in the Super Bowl for the first time in history and a lot of the credit goes to Head Coach Sean Payton. He was the first man (not including team owner Ted Benson) who truly believed this city could rise up to lift the hopes of an entire country after the Hurricane Katrina disaster.

The New Orleans Saints odds to win the Super Bowl have them listed as 5.5 point underdogs, but that doesn’t affect the mindset Payton and his team.  The Saints are a team that will only gain respect by winning the Lombardi Trophy.

Super Bowl Odds:

New Orleans Saints +5.5
Indianapolis Colts -5.5
O/U 56.5

Sean Payton had a successful career as the Eastern Illinois QB, he was a below average quarterback in the pros and never got a chance to make an impact in the NFL.

In 1987, he played quarterback for the Chicago Bruisers during the inaugural season of the Arena Football League. During those years a NFL players strike hit the sport, so Payton had the opportunity to be a member of the Chicago Bears squad of replacement players.

In 3 games he completed 8 of 23 passes (34.8%), for 79 yards, 0 TDs, and 1 INT, for a QB Rating of 27.3, nothing to write home about.   

Afterwards he moved to England to play with the Leicester Panthers; he had some success there but after one year he decided to retire and come back to the States to start a coaching career.

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In 1988 Payton began his coaching career as an offensive assistant at San Diego State University. Then he worked shortly at Indiana State, Miami University, Illinois, and again at San Diego State, all in several assistant coaching positions.

In 1997 Payton landed as the quarterbacks coach with the Philadelphia Eagles.  He had a group of below average QBs which included Ty Detmer, Bobby Hoying and Rodney Peete, between the three of them he managed to put up 4,009 passing yards, something really unusual back then.

Peyton had his big break two years later when he was hired by the New York Giants as a QB coach but his work was really recognized in 2000 when he was promoted to the role of offensive coordinator.

The Giants success back then had a lot to do with Payton’s insane way of always being one step ahead of the other teams.  He used to lock himself in his office and even sleep in the stadium while he studied the opponent’s defenses.  That drove New York to a Super Bowl appearance that season but they ended up losing in the big game against the Baltimore Ravens.

Payton saw his role in the team clearly diminished when Jim Fassel took control of the play calling in the 2002 season so a year later he left New York to join Bill Parcells and the Dallas Cowboys as an assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach in 2003.

He helped coach a mediocre Quincy Carter, an over the hill Vinny Testaverde and a has been Drew Bledsoe.

In 2006 Payton accepted his first head coaching job with the New Orleans Saints, the team finished the previous season with a 3-13 record as the second worst team in the league.
Two things helped Payton to turn this team completely around, first he signed QB Drew Brees after his shoulder surgery. 

Secondly, the Saints selected RB Reggie Bush at the 2006 draft as the second overall pick, Bush was a tremendous RB in USC and even though he hasn’t proven his worth game in game out, Bush has had a great playoff run so far this year.

Both players had an immediate impact in the 2006 season.  Brees threw a league-leading 4,418 passing yards and finished third in the league with 26 touchdown passes, 11 interceptions and a 96.2 passer rating. Meanwhile Bush ran for 565 yards and 6 rushing TD, plus 742 receiving yards and 2 receiving TD.

Payton, Brees and Bush carried the Saints in becoming second in the NFC but they loss the championship game against the Chicago Bears in 2006.

The next two seasons the Saints ended with a 7-9 record in 2007 and 8-8 in 2008, failing to reach the playoffs.  These short comings were mostly blamed on a sub-par defense which the team addressed coming into this season.

Nevertheless the 2009 season was spectacular for the Saints as they ended up with a 13-3 record, winning the first 13 games in the season after outplaying their opponents with an aggressive passing game, something natural if you consider Sean Payton’s style.

New Orleans crushed the Cardinals in the division playoffs round and beat the Vikings in the NFC championship games despite being outplayed.

The Saints arrived to the first Super Bowl appearance in history because of Payton’s aggressive play calling and Brees accurate execution, as finished the season with the highest completion percentage for a season with a 70.62%.

New Orleans Saints odds to win the Super Bowl are +5.5 vs. the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl 44 but even though they are underdogs, Payton gives them the edge coaching if you ask me.

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Is rookie Head Coach Jim Caldwell cut from the same cloth as Super Bowl winning Head Coach Tony Dungy?

The Indianapolis Colts achieved greatness when Tony Dungy took over in 2002 but many pundits believe that the team now under Head Coach Jim Caldwell is more than just an offensive juggernaut.

Jim Caldwell enters his first season as head coach of the Colts. Caldwell has served with Indianapolis for the past seven years. He was elevated to associate head coach with the club on January 21, 2008. Caldwell spent his first three seasons as quarterbacks coach before earning the expanded title of assistant head coach prior to the 2005 season.

Super Bowl Odds:

New Orleans Saints +5.5
Indianapolis Colts -5.5
O/U 56.5

The fact that Caldwell grew as a coach under Dungy’s watch is the number 1 reason why the Colts made the Super Bowl under a rookie Head Coach.

Caldwell was a four-year starter playing defensive back for the University of Iowa in the late 1970s but never got a chance to make it into the NFL.

He started his coaching career as an assistant coach at the University of Iowa, Southern Illinois University, Northwestern, Colorado, Louisville, and Penn State.

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Caldwell joined Penn State as wide receivers coach. He then coached quarterbacks the following season and took on passing game coordinator responsibilities in 1988. At Penn State Caldwell coached QB-Kerry Collins (currently QB with the NFL Titans), who went on to win the Davey O’Brien Award as the nation’s top college quarterback and the Maxwell Award as the nation’s most outstanding player.

Then he moved on as the head coach at Wake Forest.  Caldwell had a terrible 26-63 record as a Demons’ coach with just one winning season in 10 years, that season they ended up winning the Aloha Bowl.  I guess it proves that a coach is only as good as the situation he’s in.

In 2001 he was called by Tony Dungy to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the quarterbacks coach but he only lasted one year there because he left with Dungy when he was fired.

The following year when Dungy got hired as the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts Caldwell went along with him and became quarterbacks coach/assistant head coach.

His experience in Dungy’s lean years with the Colts from 2002 to 2006 when they finally won the Lombardi Trophy, which helped him to drive Indy into this year’s Super Bowl.

When Dungy retired Caldwell was named the new Colts head coach and the news didn’t surprise anybody.  He ran a successful offense for 7 years, an offense that was about the best in the league every season (with a big assist to Peyton Manning).

As you know, in the first season as the head coach of the Colts Caldwell holds the NFL record for the best start by a rookie head coach, starting his career with 14 wins. Caldwell’s 14-2 season marked the best record by an African American coach, beating the previous record of 13-3 by Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith.

Caldwell’s Colts are 5.5 point favorites to win the Super Bowl currently there are 2 questions left unanswered:

1. Can a rookie head coach win a Super Bowl?
2. Could a rookie head coach have had a perfect season?

Only one of these questions remains to be answered this season.

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Australian Open Doubles: Venus and Serena for a Spot in the Final

Melbourne, Australia – While Serena Williams is still alive in singles action having beaten Viktoria Azarenka in the quarters yesterday, Venus Williams was dumped by Na Li in a dramatic three-setter. Despite being out of the running for the Aussie Open singles crown, Venus is still very much in contention for the doubles crown with sister Serena. In fact, the sisters are the defending champions and they are a victory away from reaching a second consecutive Aussie Open doubles final.

Venus and Serena are set to take on compatriot Lisa Raymond and Aussie Rennae Stubbs in the semis. They are heavily favoured against their opposites. Elsewhere, the No.1 doubles tandem of Cara Black and Liezel Huber are set to take on Maria Kirilenko and Agnieszka Radwanska for a spot in the title match.

Here is a look at some of the exciting doubles action currently trading at BetOnline.com.

Tennis Betting Line:

Lisa Raymond and Rennae Stubbs +350
Venus Williams and Serena Williams -600

Match Time: 07:00 PM Eastern Time Wednesday January 27, 2010

Tennis Betting Verdict: Serena and Venus Williams barely scraped by in their quarterfinal clash against Bethanie Mattek Sands and Zi Yan. The sibling tandem were pushed to three sets before they won 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. Interestingly, Serena was the weakest link, dropping serve a couple of times before Venus served out the match and salvaged their campaign. Venus was unable to help herself similarly in singles action against Na Li though while Serena, once again off her game, managed to pull through against Victoria Azarenka. Serena will certainly have to hold her end if she is to prevent her sister from catching an early flight home and giving them a chance to defend their title.

The Williamses are seeded second in doubles action and they enter their match as massive favourites at -600. The American/Australian duo of Lisa Raymond and Rennae Stubbs are seeded sixth and come in as the +350 underdogs. Raymond and Stubbs were forced to comeback from a set down against Dulko/Pennetta in the quarters 4-6, 6-2, 6-2.

If the Williamses are off their game, they will be in serious trouble against the very capable duo of Raymond/Stubbs. At the same time, the siblings are tough to beat when playing together, which makes them the better play.

Tennis Free Picks: Williams in three sets -600

Tennis Betting Line:

Cara Black and Liezel Huber -350
Maria Kirilenko and Agnieszka Radwanska +225

Match Time: 09:30 PM Eastern Time Wednesday January 27, 2010

Tennis Betting Verdict: Maria Kirilenko had a dream singles run in Melbourne, reaching her first-ever quarters and now she is enjoying an even better stint in doubles action. Kirilenko and Radwanska are seeded 15th in tournament and they reached the semis with some credible performances, namely upsetting third seeded pair Llagostera Vives/ Matinez-Sanchez in the last 16.

That said they take on the No.1 doubles pairing in Black and Huber. Naturally, they are disadvantaged at +225 to win outright. Black and Huber are perhaps one of the most successful doubles players this decade and at -350 they are serious favourites to advance into the final. It would be a huge upset if Kirilenko and Radwanska beat them, which I don’t see happening.

Tennis Expert Pick: Black/Huber in straight sets -350

Super Bowl 2010 – The 5 Impact Players to Watch

The Super Bowl betting lines have been set, but before analyzing which side of the spread to invest in a week and a half from now, BetOnline Sportsbook takes a look at five players that could have a huge impact on Super Bowl XLIV…

1: QB Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts: Where else could we start than with arguably the best quarterback of this generation? Manning threw for 4,500 yards in the regular season, and he has added two more fantastic games to his resume in these playoffs. He was fantastic against a New York defense that no one had been able to figure out in weeks, completing 26 of 39 passes for 377 yards and three touchdowns without tossing a pick. The University of Tennessee product doesn’t exactly have a pristine Super Bowl history, as he only went 25/38 for 247 yards with a TD and an INT in Super Bowl XLI against the Bears, but when the dust settled, his Colts won the Super Bowl betting battle that day 29-17 and covered the chalk.

2: WR Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Colts: Wayne has just been totally “MIA” so far in these playoffs, and though the Colts haven’t struggled in either of their games, one has to think that he’ll need to have a big day for them to keep pace with the high-flying New Orleans offense. The Miami product has caught at least 77 passes for at least 1,055 yards in each of the L/6 regular seasons, and he’s had a heck of a playoff career as well. In just 15 games, Wayne has caught 77 passes for 1,081 yards and nine TDs. He caught Manning’s only touchdown pass in Super Bowl XLI.

3: QB Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints: Brees is the heart and soul of the Saints, as he has clearly emerged as one of the, if not the greatest player in franchise history. It’s been quite awhile since the Purdue product threw an interception, as his last pick came back in Week 15 against the Cowboys. However, in spite of the fact that he has already thrown for six TDs without an INT in the playoffs, the fact that Brees has only thrown for 444 yards in those two games has to be a bit concerning for New Orleans backers.

4: DB Darren Sharper, New Orleans Saints: Sharper’s effect on the Saints is going to be felt long before the Super Bowl even kicks off. There aren’t any major players on either side of the ball that have strapped it up in a Super Bowl before for New Orleans, which clearly makes Sharper the experienced veteran of the bunch. It’ll be his job to take care of the younger players on the team and help deal with all of the media hype. On the field, Sharper has to man the middle of the field, where TE Dallas Clark will probably try to make a living feeding on the Saints porous secondary.

5: Reggie Bush, New Orleans Saints: To say that Reggie Bush has been a bust probably isn’t fair, but the Houston Texans are far happier with DE Mario Williams than the Saints are with Bush. He committed a bonehead turnover on a punt return on Sunday against the Vikings, and he really had no effect on the NFC Championship Game whatsoever. Still, Bush can be a major X-factor for HC Sean Payton to utilize, as the the USC product can create matchup problems all over the field out of the slot or out of the backfield. As long as he holds onto the ball, he can also be a major weapon to throw at the Colts on special teams.

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