It’s taken five long months, but we’re finally here — Super Bowl Sunday. Impact Sports has predicted the last two Super Bowls in this space, and our entire crew gives us their picks for tonight’s edition of American sport’s showpiece event. Everyone loves a good (legal) wager or two, so we’ve listed our favorite prop bets for the night as well.
New England Patriots (13-3) vs Philadelphia Eagles (13-3)
Sunday, Feb. 4, 2018 — 6:30 p.m. ET — NBC
U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minn.
Betting Line: New England (-4.5)
Over/Under: 48.5
Ryan Cole (@ryan_cole9)
Score Prediction: New England 20, Philadelphia 17
Reasoning: History indicates this is going to be an instant classic, because all Patriot Super Bowls in the last two decades are. I just can’t pick against the greatest quarterback of all time in Tom Brady and the greatest coach of all time in Bill Belichick. History does indicate they’ll start off slow, however; in the Belichick era, the Patriots have not scored a single point in the first quarter of a Super Bowl.
Favorite Prop bet: Receptions for James White: Over 3.5 (-130) Under 3.5 (+110)
Give me the over. White set the Super Bowl record for receptions just one year ago, and I have a hard time believing his pass-catching ability won’t be a part of the Patriots’ game plan Sunday.
Davey Segal (@DaveyCenter)
Score Prediction: New England 27, Philadelphia 21
Reasoning: Two words: Thomas Brady.
In all seriousness, the only way I see New England losing this game is if Nick Foles has the game of his life, the Patriots defense doesn’t play like a top five unit (which they were all season long), Bill Belichick forgets how to coach and Rob Gronkowski doesn’t play. Something tells me none of those things will happen, and Brady and Belichick will continue their reign of dominance and win their sixth Super Bowl. Brady is the GOAT, Belichick might be the GOAT, the Patriots as an organization are the GOAT in the NFL. Love ‘em (looking at you, Thomas Kfoury) or hate ‘em (looking at you, everyone else), you gotta respect ‘em.
Favorite Prop Bet: Rushing Yards for Tom Brady: Over 2.5 (-115) Under 2.5 (-115)
This is tough, and if I was in Vegas, I wouldn’t touch this. But I’ll take the under. Brady will be good for one or two QB sneaks on 3rd and short or 4th and inches, but he miiiiiight wind up kneeling the ball at the end of the game to run out the clock. So, give me the under.
Zachary Swiecicki (@zachswies)
Score Prediction: New England 30, Philadelphia 23
Reasoning: Vegas says this game will be within a touchdown. I’ll give Philly the benefit of the doubt and say Nick Foles’ performance last week wasn’t a complete anomaly…but even that’s not enough. New England has won 11 of their last 12, covering 10 of those games. They’ve covered in their last two Super Bowls: three-point favorites against Atlanta and one-point underdogs against Seattle (side note: the Patriots are 3-0 versus teams with bird-based mascots in the Super Bowl). NE is wearing their white uniforms (3-0 in white in Super Bowls with Belichick). Oh, and Gronk is healthy. Brady gets his sixth ring and fourth Super Bowl MVP.
Favorite Prop Bet: Will any TD be overturned by replay? Yes (+150) No (-200)
Kyle Turk (@KyleTurk5)
Score Prediction: Philadelphia 34, New England 28
Reasoning: Against a team that actually has enough offense to beat them, New England will have some problems in the late stages. Jacksonville capitulated late on due to their offensive play-calling. Between Philadelphia’s excellent rushing attack and Foles’s ability to throw the deep ball accurately, the Eagles are good enough to beat a Patriots defense that had a relatively easy road to the Super Bowl.
Favorite Prop Bet: Corey Clement rushing yards: over 15.5 (-110), under 15.5 (+110)
Clement is a sneaky-good play out of the Eagles backfield, and his explosiveness should hopefully be good for a long run or two against the NE defense.
Aidan Hunt (@TheAidanHunt)
Score Prediction: Philadelphia 30, New England 24
Reasoning: No matter how strong the Patriots look, no matter how immortal Tom Brady might seem, no matter how bold it is to believe in Nick Foles against the Patriots of all teams, I cannot bring myself to pick the Pats. I’m going with Philly. Also Jake Elliott went to my high school, so of course I have to support him.
Favorite Prop bet: How many times will Al Michaels and Chris Collinsworth say “dynasty”? Over 2.5 (-130) Under 2.5 (+100)
I am 100 percent taking the over on this. Al Michaels alone will say it 17 times.
Noah Goad (@NoahG423)
Score Prediction: New England 31, Philadelphia 24
Reasoning: You can hate them all you want, but the Patriots are the best team in football. Bill Belichick is the best coach of this generation and Tom Brady is the best football player of all time. For the Eagles to even have a chance against the Patriots, Nick Foles is going to have to have an even better performance than he did against the Vikings, which is probably not going to happen. The Patriots are top-five in football on both sides of the ball, and with the experience they have, they should have no problem overpowering this young Eagles team lead by its backup quarterback.
Favorite Prop Bet: Will Tom Brady’s jersey be stolen again? Yes (+1000)
That jersey will be on full lock down.
Angel Thompson (@thomps_angel)
Score Prediction: Philadelphia 28, New England 24
Reasoning: I think the Eagles will win the Super Bowl after seeing how they came out against Minnesota offensively. However, they will need defense to win this game. I think Nick Foles will lead the team offensively. Malcolm Jenkins and the defense will help get the job done. After Carson Wentz went down it seemed like the Eagles’ season was over. However, they are having a Cinderella season and it will end with taking home the Super Bowl back to Philadelphia and a win for Meek Mill! #FreeMeek
Favorite Prop bet: How many times Tom Brady will get sacked? Over 2.5 (EVEN) Under 2.5 (+130)
Tom Brady will be sacked three times, so I’m taking the over.
Andy Chmura (@andy_chmura)
Score Prediction: Philadelphia 31, New England 24
Reasoning: As the biggest Eagles’ fan at the station, I don’t have much of a choice on this one…but in all seriousness, the Eagles are the most balanced team in the NFL. No team has more command on both sides of the line of scrimmage. The addition of Jay Ajayi makes their backfield one of the most dangerous in the league complemented by a sneaky good receiving core. Realistically, the only matchup advantage New England has is in quarterback play. But if Nick Foles looks anything like he did against Minnesota, the Detroit Lions will be one step closer to becoming the only Superbowl-less team.
Favorite Prop Bet: How many times will they show Carson Wentz sitting on the sideline? Over 4.5 (-115) Under 4.5 (110)
The “Carson Cam” will be in full force for this one.
Kevin Raju (@kevinraju620)
Score Prediction: Philadelphia 27, New England 24
Reasoning: One reason I scored well in some of the last weeks of fantasy football was Philly’s defense and special teams. While the Patriots may have an offense led by Brady, I’m willing to go with a good defense to prevent the Pats from scoring as many touchdowns while keeping the game close.
Joey Ellis (@Jellis1016)
Score Prediction: New England 31, Philadelphia 17
Reasoning: With the track record New England has in Super Bowls, and the Tom Brady/Bill Belichick duo, it’s awfully hard to pick against the Pats. Philadelphia may have the better talent, but I’m not willing to put all my chips in on Nick Foles, who’s making just his fourth start in the postseason. The Eagles are coming off a bit of an unexpected shallacking of a Minnesota team that came out flat as can be following an improbable game-winner over New Orleans. Teams sporting their white uniforms have won 12 of the last 13 Super Bowls and are 33-18 overall. Did I mention the Patriots, who are 3-0 in Super Bowls in their whites, will be donning their road unis again? Give me the Pats … Kraft, Belichick and Brady get their sixth ring
Favorite Prop Bets: The first scoring play of the game will be a field goal (+120) instead of a touchdown (-140).
Jon Simon (@jsimon_21)
Score Prediction: New England 34, Philadelphia 17
Reasoning: Since the beginning of the playoffs all I’ve done is write off the Eagles each week, and I’m gonna do it again. Being a lifelong Bills fan and an even bigger Patriots hater I’d love to see Philly pull off the upset but I just don’t see it in the cards. New England has been here before, I truly think experience matters and what matters more is having Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. Philly’s defense is great, their front four will come after Brady early and often since people tend to think Brady plays like a mortal after suffering a few hits, but it really won’t matter. Rob Gronkowski being cleared to play is huge, Philly’s pass rush may be solid but their pass defense ranked 17th this year and with weapons like Gronk, Brandin Cooks, Danny Amendola, Chris Hogan, James White and more, the Eagles will have their work cut out for them. When it’s all said and done, this Eagles run was fun while it lasted, but the Patriots will take home Lombardi Trophy number six.
Favorite Prop Bet: How long will the national anthem by Pink last? (Starting from first note to “Brave”) Over 2 minutes (-150) Under 2 minutes (+110)
To quote a wise man many know as PFT Commenter, “betting the under on the national anthem is pretty much treason.” The Super Bowl is as American as apple pie and and reality television: sing it loud, sing it proud, and sing it long over 2 minutes, Pink.
Tino Abarca (@Abarca04)
Score Prediction: New England 35, Philadelphia 32
Reasoning: Each Super Bowl that Tom Brady has participated in has been a thriller. Each margin of victory, win or lose, has been less than six points. This time will be no different. It’s in the Brady-Belichick DNA to thrive in close, high-level games. Brady will have Rob Gronkowski– his favorite target– back and cleared from concussion protocol. Danny ‘Playoff’ Amendola will also play a big factor in the usual aerial attack we see from the Patriots. I see the Eagles keeping it close and competitive, but Brady is in his element. The Super Bowl is his home. And he’s going to win his sixth ring. Nick Foles, who tore apart the Vikings defense, will have himself a game. People will even want a competition for next year’s Eagles quarterback job between him and Carson Wentz. However, he’ll fail to keep up with his counterpart and the Patriots.
Side note: There is a rumor circulating regarding Brady’s ‘hand injury.’ It’s said to be a medical procedure that was done to add another finger on his hand so he has room for six rings.
Favorite Prop Bet: Combined Dilly Dilly’s in all Bud Light Super Bowl Commercials
Over 15.5 (-110) Under 15.5 (-110) As a fan of the Bud Light commercials, I’m inclined to take the over. Dilly Dilly!
Thomas Kfoury (@Thomas_Kfoury)
Score Prediction: New England 24, Philadelphia 21
Reasoning: The Patriots love a close Super Bowl. It would be shocking if this was a blowout for either team. Also, this game will not be high scoring. Both teams have great offenses, but it’s the defenses that will show up and play. Matt Patricia will be defensive coordinator for the Patriots for the last time and will want to leave on a high note. Meanwhile, Philadelphia has a fearsome pass rush that can get to any quarterback in the league. But when it comes down to the fourth quarter, only one team has Tom Brady. Nick Foles has done a tremendous job filling in for Carson Wentz, and Philadelphia has a scary run-pass-option offense, but it will not be enough. People tend to forget that this Patriots secondary is comprised of Stephon Gilmore, Malcolm Butler and Eric Rowe. Plus there are safeties Devin McCourty and Patrick Chung on the back end. Any passing game that the Eagles try could easily be squashed, which would give the Patriots the luxury of stacking the box against Eagles’ running backs Jay Ajayi, Corey Clement and LeGarrette Blount. Plus with Rob Gronkowski a 100 percent, Danny Amendola playing out of his mind and the three-headed running back tandem of Burkhead, Lewis and White, the Patriots will emerge victorious.
Favorite Prop Bet: What color shoes will Justin Timberlake wear at halftime? White (-120) Black (+200) Brown (+700)
John Dolan (@j_dolan9)
Score Prediction: New England 23, Philadelphia 17
Reasoning: The Patriots are an obvious pick in this game for many reasons. They boast the greatest quarterback of all time, the greatest coach of all time, two of the best coordinators in the entire NFL today, and are five-time Super Bowl Champions, including last year. While all these are incredibly enticing reasons to pick the Patriots to win this game, I’m doing it for one reason and one reason only: the Patriots are wearing white jerseys. 12 out of the last 13 Super Bowl Champions played the game in their road whites, and the only Super Bowl losses of this century for the Patriots came while they were wearing their home jerseys. Until a good streak of home-jersey-wearing teams get Ws in the Super Bowl, I’ll be riding the team in white every February for years to come.
Favorite Prop Bet: How long will it take Pink to sing the US National Anthem? Over 2:00 (-200), Under 2:00 (-150) “Betting the under on the National Anthem is pretty much treason.” – PFTCommenter. Pink really hasn’t been relevant since around 2013 either, so now’s your time to shine sister!
Tamar Davis (@Tamarrdaviss)
Score Prediction: New England 28, Philadelphia 21
Reasoning: Come on now, are we really considering this Wentz-less team scoring more points than the three-time league MVP himself? The Eagles’ pass rush will get to Brady eventually but I can’t see them doing it for four quarters straight. After halftime, the Patriots will have a new game plan like always and take over the game. The GOAT will find a way to destroy Philly while using Gronk as a security blanket and Cooks as a deep threat.
Favorite Prop Bet: Will Tom Brady throw an interception?
Yes (+105) No (135)
Absolutely not. Next question.
Andrew Birkle (@Andrew_Birkle)
Score Predictions: New England 27, Philadelphia 24
Reasoning: We’re talking about the New England Patriots here. One team has Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, one has a second-year head coach and Nick Foles. If it weren’t for Foles’ amazing performance last week, there would be no one in their right mind picking the Eagles. With that being said, the Patriots’ Super Bowls (plural Super Bowls because they are in it practically every year) are always close. I think the Eagles will get off to a fast start, but ultimately the GOAT coach/quarterback combination will come through.
Favorite Prop Bet: How many times will the temperature outside the stadium be mentioned during the broadcast? Over 1 (-350) Under 1 (+225)
This is a guaranteed push if nothing else. There is a 100-percent chance they will show a wide shot from up above the stadium at the start of the broadcast and then anytime the conversation stalls on-air, what better small talk is there than the weather?
