Super Bowl 50

Bill Barnwell ‏@billbarnwell 2m2 minutes ago
Wow: @AdamSchefter reporting that Calvin Johnson told Lions head coach Jim Caldwell that 2015 was his last season, per the ESPN ticker.

 

'85 Bears, most over rated. Couldn't repeat, or really come close. If McMahon wasn't famous he'd be Trent Dilfer. Great defense, stunningly great, but couldn't sustain it.

 

If Peyton packs it in after the Super Bowl, that'd be a heck of a first-time HOF class in five years -- Manning, Woodson and Johnson -- and maybe Steve Smith has second thoughts after rehab.

 

'86 Bears went 14-2 and actually gave up less points than in '85. McMahon only played six games before getting hurt, and they ended up having Mike Tomczak and a rookie Doug Flutie at quarterback.

McMahon wasn't in the top tier of QBs like Montana and Marino, but, when healthy, he was a very good quarterback. Not just a game-manager like Dilfer.

 

I assume this is Johnson talking about himself and not that Caldwell is officially done, which would be hilarious.

 

There are some SB winners that I think it's a damn shame they didn't repeat. 85 Bears. 96 Packers. 99 Rams. 13 Seahawks.

Teams I felt were so good the year they won but for whatever reason (injuries, arrogance, age, fate), it just didn't work out.

 

For these kind of debates, I just focus on that single-year team that won the Super Bowl, and in my book the 1985 Bears were the most dominant SB team I've seen and my personal pick for No. 1. Not the least bit overrated. Not a dynasty, true, but a great, great team the year they won the title.

 

Smart. It was pretty clear he was on the decline this year. May have been his ability, may have been his head.

 

The Detroit Lions.

Where hall of fame caliber players would rather hang in up early.

If Jerry Rice was a Lion, he would have retired in 1994.

 

Some prop bets to consider:

FIRST SCORE: Touchdown -145; Field Goal or Safety +115

FIRST PLAYER TO SCORE A TOUCHDOWN
Cam Newton (CAR) +700
Greg Olsen (CAR) +750
Jonathan Stewart (CAR) +800
C.J. Anderson (DEN) +900
Demaryius Thomas (DEN) +900
Emmanuel Sanders (DEN) +900
Ted Ginn Jr. (CAR) +1000
Owen Daniels (DEN) +1400
Ronnie Hillman (DEN) +1400
Corey Brown (CAR) +1400
Mike Tolbert (CAR) +1600
Devin Funchess (CAR) +2000
Jerricho Cotchery (CAR) +2000
Andre Caldwell (DEN) +2500
Jordan Norwood (DEN) +2500
Ed Dickson (CAR) +3300
Peyton Manning (DEN) +5000
No touchdown scorer +6600
Field +550

FIRST SCORE
Panthers Field Goal +350; Panthers TD Pass +300; Panthers Rushing TD +650; Panthers Safety +3300
Panthers Defensive or Special Teams TD +1600
Broncos Field Goal +375; Broncos TD Pass +450; Broncos Rushing TD +850; Broncos Safety +3300
Broncos Defensive or Special Teams TD +2000

MVP ODDS
Cam Newton -130
Peyton Manning +275
Luke Kuechly +1400
Ted Ginn Jr. +2000
C.J. Anderson +2000
Von Miller +2000
Greg Olsen +2200
Jonathan Stewart +2200
Demaryius Thomas +2200
Emmanuel Sanders +2200
Josh Norman +2800
Aqib Talib +3300
DeMarcus Ware +3300
Field +3300
Corey Brown +6600
Ronnie Hillman +6600
Owen Daniels +6600
Danny Trevathan +6600
Brandon McManus +6600
Darian Stewart +6600
Graham Gano +6600
Chris Harris Jr. +7500
Derek Wolfe +10000
Devin Funchess +10000
Brandon Marshall +10000
Mike Tolbert +15000
Kurt Coleman +15000

Total Touchdowns - CAROLINA
Over 3 (EVEN), Under 3 (-130)

Total Touchdowns - DENVER
Over 2.5 (+120), Under 2.5 (-150)

Total Made Field Goals - CAROLINA
Over 1.5 (-160), Under 1.5 (+130)

Total Made Field Goals - DENVER BRONCOS
Over 1.5 (-140), Under 1.5 (+110)

LONGEST MADE FIELD GOAL
Over 44.5 Yards (-115), Under 44.5 Yards (-115)

ALTERNATE POINT SPREADS
PANTHERS -7.5 +140
BRONCOS +7.5 -160

PANTHERS -10.5 +200
BRONCOS +10.5 -240

PANTHERS -14.5 +350
BRONCOS +14.5 -420

PANTHERS +3.5 -400
BRONCOS -3.5 +330

PANTHERS +7.5 -650
BRONCOS -7.5 +475

PANTHERS +10.5 -900
BRONCOS -10.5 +600

WILL THERE BE A MISSED EXTRA POINT KICK?
**(If no TD is scored, all bets are refunded)
YES +300, NO -360

WILL PEYTON MANNING THROW AN INTERCEPTION?
YES -220, NO +190

LONGEST TD OF GAME
**(Includes all returns; if no TD is scored, all bets are refunded)
OVER 43.5 -110, UNDER 43.5 -110

LARGEST LEAD OF THE GAME BY: EITHER TEAM
OVER 13.5 -190, UNDER 13.5 +170

TOTAL RUSHING YARDS BY: CAM NEWTON (CAR)
**(If no rushing attempt, under is the winner)
OVER 37.5 -110, UNDER 37.5 -110

WILL CAM NEWTON (CAR) SCORE A TOUCHDOWN?
YES +140, NO -160

TOTAL RECEIVING YARDS BY: GREG OLSEN (CAR)
**(If no reception, under is the winner)
OVER 67.5 -110, UNDER 67.5 -110

GROSS PASSING YARDS BY: PEYTON MANNING (DEN)
OVER 235.5 -110, UNDER 235.5 -110

LONGEST COMPLETION BY: PEYTON MANNING (DEN)
**(If no completion, under is the winner)
OVER 34.5 -110, UNDER 34.5 -110

MORE COMPLETIONS
CAM NEWTON (CAR) +1.5 -110, PEYTON MANNING (DEN) -1.5 -110

 

Largest lead of the game. Under 13.5 pays +170? I don't hate that one.

 

Those MVP odds on Stewart might be worth a little flutter, although if the Panthers win the fans will probably vote Newton as MVP if Stewart runs for 300 yards and four TDs.