It will be the top offense in the league in the Atlanta Falcons going against the top defense in the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI on Sunday, February 5th at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas on FOX. According to the best sportsbooks in the U.S, the Falcons scored 540 points in the regular season, 8th best in NFL history while the Patriots had the top defense allowing 250 points per contest. The Patriots opened up as 3-point favorites with the total at 59.
Super Bowl 51 Odds at Sports Betting Sites
New England -3, total 59
Super Bowl 51 – Falcons vs. Patriots
The Falcons feature a potent offense led by quarterback Matt Ryan who is the favorite at the online sportsbooks to win the league MVP. Ryan threw for nearly 5,000 yards and 38 TDs this season. The Falcons can do it all on offense as they were second in total yards per game, third in passing and fifth in rushing. They have a great running back duo in Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman and a good receiving corps led by Julio Jones.
The Patriots have a great offense of their own led by Tom Brady who threw 28 TDs vs. just 2 interceptions. He was second in the NFL in passer rating this betting season. The Patriots have a ton of balance as from week to week you never know who is going to beat you. It might be running back LeGarrette Blount, running back Dion Lewis, wide receiver Julian Edelman or receiver Chris Hogan who had 180 yards and two touchdowns against the Steelers.
The Falcons do not have a great defense but they do have some good players including Vic Beasley who lead the league with 15.5 sacks. The Patriots had the best defense in the league and like their offense, a number of players stand out. Malcolm Butler is an excellent cornerback, Devin McCourty is an All-Pro safety and Trey Flowers had seven sacks in ten games. The Patriots were third in the NFL against the rush and 12th against the pass.
The two teams also have excellent kickers as New England kicker Stephen Gostkowski has made 19 straight field goals in the playoffs while Matt Bryant won the NFL scoring title with 158 points this season. He made 34 of 37 field goals during the regular season.
Super Bowl Notes
The Falcons are playing in their second betting Super Bowl in franchise history as they lost 18 years ago in Super Bowl XXXIII to Denver. Atlanta as a sports town has just one championship as the Braves won the World Series in 1995. This will be the 9th Super Bowl appearance for the Patriots and they are 4-4 in the big game. This will be the 10th Super Bowl for head coach Bill Belichick who coached in two Super Bowls with the Giants. Atlanta head coach Dan Quinn has been in two as he won one and lost one with the Seahawks as defensive coordinator.
Tom Brady is going for his 5th Super Bowl win which would give him the most all-time as he is currently tied with Pittsburgh’s Terry Bradshaw and San Francisco’s Joe Montana.
Super Bowl Trends
The sportsbook favorites in the Super Bowl are 26-23-1 ATS at sports betting sites USA in the Super Bowl. The Over has come in 25 times in the Super Bowl. Underdogs are 11-4 in the Super Bowl in the last 15 games. 7 of the last 12 Super Bowls have gone under the total at sports betting sites.
Super Bowl 51 Picks
The Falcons might have come too far too fast while the Patriots are Super Bowl veterans. We’ll look for New England to win Super Bowl 51.