Super Bowl bettors beware…

Betting on the Super Bowl: This year’s matchup may be a bizarre one

• No “cupcake” opponents
• Great defense, low scores
• Weather will make an impact

What a strange postseason it’s been for NFL fans. Chances are the mere mention of betting on the Super Bowl makes everyone queasy. Who could have predicted the Cardinals and Eagles meeting in the NFC Championship? It’s now guaranteed that you’ll have to consider picking Philly or Arizona when it’s time to bet on the Super Bowl. Who knew?

So far, it seems virtually all Super Bowl betting fans, from experts to laymen, have been caught with their pants down during the playoffs. The Chargers and Cards were both upset winners in the Wild Card playoff round; practically no one who bets on the Super Bowl expected the Cardinals to take down the Panthers, either.

Odds are, most bettors are shaking in their boots right now. But never fear – just follow these tips and you’ll at least be more prepared when placing bets on the Super Bowl.

THERE ARE NO “CUPCAKE” OPPONENTS AT THIS STAGE

Hey, I can’t blame anyone who bets on the Super Bowl for laughing off Arizona and Philadelphia at the beginning of the playoffs. ’Zona could’ve captured the NFC West title with six wins; the Eagles scraped into the postseason at 9-6-1 when the Patriots missed the big dance at 11-5.  

Now, it’s time for fans to take these two Cinderella stories seriously. The two squads have knocked off Atlanta, Minnesota, Carolina and the defending champion New York Giants – that includes three NFC division winners. They both have potent passing games; the Eagles’ “D” is as good as any right now, and the Cards are surprising with inspired defensive efforts so far this postseason. When you bet on the Super Bowl, don’t write them off as “easy” opponents for the Ravens or Steelers. They’ve earned their NFC title game as much as the AFC teams have.

BIG ‘D’ MEANS A LOW SCORE

Of the final four teams, only Arizona isn’t considered a defense-first squad. That means you’ll have to tread carefully if you’re making props betting choices when you bet on the Super Bowl. Count on relatively low passing numbers for both participants. Even the Cards could disappoint offensively if they reach the Super Bowl. They looked good through the air against the Falcons and Panthers, but neither of those teams was particularly strong against the pass to begin with. All of Arizona’s possible remaining opponents excel against the pass. So keep your props and over/under picks conservative when betting on the Super Bowl this year.

WARMER WEATHER COULD BOOST THE PASSING GAME FOR THE EAGLES, STEELERS AND RAVENS

While Arizona plays indoors, the Eagles, Steelers and Ravens play the lion’s share of their football outdoors in cold, Northeastern temperatures. That means the balmy air of Tampa will be refreshing for them. While I did say that those who bet on the Super Bowl should temper their offensive expectations overall, they should still watch for a slight spike in passing numbers for these cold-weather teams. It’ll be easier for Ben Roethlisberger, Donovan McNabb and Joe Flacco to throw when they aren’t being snowed on. Maybe Big Ben will even take off his gloves.

For more tips on betting on the Super Bowl and NFL lines, visit the Betting Edge at betonline.com.

Stan Simmons first tasted football through the college game, but his football handicapping has strictly focused on the professional sport. Not many people devote as much time to the NFL as Simmons. For six days a week he works, labors and handicaps the sport, and on the seventh he rests as the games play out. Thoughts or questions?