Bet on the 2012 Super Bowl

Even MLB fans will be looking into wagering on the Super Bowl, the biggest single-day event in the betting industry, and this year’s edition features a rematch of four years ago, when Eli Manning and the New York Giants upset Tom Brady and the then-unbeaten New England Patriots in Glendale. A lot of the pre-game attention will focus on the quarterbacks, and here is a look at the two pivots who will have a major say in how Super Bowl XLVI goes down in Indianapolis.

Brady finished third in the NFL in passer rating during the regular season, and only New Orleans’ Drew Brees threw for more yards. The Patriots are annually a Super Bowl favorite at places like 5Dimes because of the two-time MVP who has piloted New England to three Super Bowls in four trips, but you know he is drooling at the chance to avenge his loss in 2008 to the Giants. Brady was coming off one of his MVP years in which the New England offense set a slew of records, but players that work with price per head systems will remember that the New York defensive line dominated Brady in that game. They also forced him into a pair of picks in a 24-20 loss for the Patriots in New England in Week 9; it seems the Giants have Brady’s number.

Before the season, Manning claimed that he was on the level of Brady and his brother Peyton as an “elite” quarterback. It’s hard to argue after his performance this season, finishing seventh in passer rating and over the last month, you could argue that Manning has been the best quarterback in the league. Some players that buy bookie software probably counted the Giants out after a midseason four-game losing streak, but Manning has played his best when the chips are down and now, he has a chance to end all discussion as to whether he is an elite quarterback. He outplayed Brady in New England in Week 9 and in terrible conditions, powered the Giants to a tough overtime win in San Francisco.

Of course, the quarterbacks won’t be going head-to-head and the defenses are going to play a huge role in the outcome of this game. But Brady and Manning are the leaders of their team and as they go, the squad usually follows. Brady will be motivated after a subpar performance against Baltimore in which the defense actually carried him, and he wants to avenge past poor performances against the Giants; not to mention, a fourth Super Bowl would strengthen what is already a Hall of Fame career. Manning is fighting for his legacy as well as Super Bowl No.2 would cement his status as an elite quarterback. These two players will have a massive effect on your Super Bowl betting pick.