Can a Patriot shoot down an Eagle?

By Hamish Girvan

Superbowl LII– New England Patriots v Philadelphia Eagles – Monday 5 February 12.30pm NZ time

Venue:  USB Bank Stadium Minnesota

One team is one of the more predictable finalists in world sports these days, the New England Patriots, and the other, an historical franchise starved of success recently, the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Patriots Tom Brady is 40 and still does not seem to declining with age. And his coach Bill Belichick, describes Superbowl as all about hype and the bullshit that goes with it. Maybe that’s so however here he’s going into his 8^th with 5 wins behind him. Possibly the best coach/quarterback partnership in NFL history (and perhaps one of the best coach/athlete partnerships in any sport) they face a Philadelphia Eagles them that kind of snuck up on everyone during the season

The Eagles had a 13-3 record in the regular season built around second year quarterback Carson Wentz. Wentz went down injured in the second to last week of the regular season and in stepped back up Nick Foles. Foles played the game of his life to get to the big dance owning the Minnesota Vikings in one way traffic in the NFC Championship game. Previous to that he looked like the journeyman he possibly is.

This game is no given. The Patriots are giving 4.5 points – possible based on their Superbowl history. Not once have they won by more than 6 points. Possibly the same here. Eagle’s coach Doug Pederson has been unheralded in his success this season however he’s been around long enough to know what he’s up against here.

Some pundits have suggested that this is the Superbowl that the USA in its current climate deserves. President Trump is a known Patriots fan and both Belichick and Brady have publically shown their support for him, and the Eagles fan base are described as the most obnoxious in the NFL.

This will still be a ratings bonanza for the NFL so they won’t care – imagine what a Minnesota Vikings vs Jacksonville Jaguars match up would have done for them – that was on the cards too.

The Patriots will win this – and the odds and points start reflect this. Take an Eagles/Patriots halftime fulltime as a bet. The Patriots have never scored in the opening quarter of any Superbowl under Belichick – they are a second half team – as the Jaguars found out in the AFC Championship

Best prop bets if you can find them (these are real)

Nick Foles touchdown passes—or—Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez’s total combined goals vs. Espanyol in La Liga this weekend

Or

Janet Jackson makes a surprise appearance during halftime show—or—She does not appear.

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