Seahawks, Not Patriots, Are Early Betting Favorites For Super Bowl 50

The Seattle Seahawks lost Super Bowl XLIX on Sunday night in agonizing fashion, coming just one yard short of possible being the first team to repeat as NFL champion in a decade. Yet despite the New England Patriots winning the Super Bowl it's Seattle that is the 5/1 favorite to win Super Bowl 50 next February at Levi's Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers. By the way, no Roman numerals for next year's big game, just a 50.

New England beat Seattle 28-24 in a thrilling Super Bowl that also broke records for TV rating, making it the most-watched show in American history. For some reason, the Seahawks opted to throw the ball on second-and-goal from the New England 1-yard-line in the finale minute and it was picked off by New England's little-known Malcolm Butler, an undrafted free agent rookie. Why wouldn't Pete Carroll give the ball to running back Marshawn Lynch there? Lynch, when asked if he was surprised he didn't get the ball in that goal-line situation, told ESPN's Jim Trotter: "No. Because we play football. It's a team sport."

There were 20 seconds left on the clock after Wilson's interception. That's the fourth-latest interception in Super Bowl history when the score was within seven points. Wilson's interception from the 1-yard line was the first such interception thrown this NFL season. It was the third such pick in Super Bowl history, joining the Cardinals' Kurt Warner and Bills' Jim Kelly. Warner's interception was at the end of the 1st half, and resulted in a 100-yard return TD by Pittsburgh's James Harrison back in 2009. Kelly's interception in 1993 happened on a 4th-and-goal with Buffalo down 14-7 early in the second quarter to Dallas.

New England's Tom Brady joined Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw as the only quarterbacks with four Super Bowl rings. With four TDs in Super Bowl XLIX, Brady surpassed Montana for the most touchdown passes in Super Bowl history with 13. Brady won his third Super Bowl MVP Award, tying a record.

The Seahawks are one of the youngest teams in the NFL and everyone of note should be back next season. The main offseason issue is signing Wilson to a long-term extension at something north of $20 million a season. It's possible Lynch isn't back. The team will have to replace defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who was named head coach of the Atlanta Falcons on Monday.

The Patriots are 7/1 second-favorites to win next season's Super Bowl, followed by Green Bay at 8/1, Denver at 10/1 and Dallas and Indianapolis at 14/1. The longest shots to win Super Bowl 50 are Jacksonville and Oakland at 200/1.

Of course New England will kick off the 2015 season on Thursday, Sept. 10, at home. It will be one of these eight opponents: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles or Washington Redskins. You can all but rule out Jacksonville and Tennessee because those aren't marquee teams.

Category : News

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