With the NFL calendar at the half-way mark and some form in the book, now’s a good time to assess ante-post Super Bowl plays. In what has been a muddled season to date for all but the undefeated Indianapolis Colts, the value is long gone on the 2/1 favourites.

 

Should the Colts get past current champions New England Patriots in their Monday night match-up, a perfect 16-0 record looks assured heading into the Playoffs, with the Colts Super Bowl price continuing to shorten after each regular season victory.

 

Trading at 25/1, Cincinnati Bengals are a sporting recommendation to upset the Colts in preliminary Playoff rounds and represent the AFC in Super Bowl XL, to be played 05 February 2006 indoors under the dome in Detroit’s Ford Field.

 

Finding a worthy Super Bowl representative from the NFC to take on the Colts is a bit more difficult. Carolina Panthers (14/1 best price) and Seattle Seahawks (20/1 best price) look the only value bets left to represent the NFC in Detroit. With most firms offering each-way terms of 1/2 the win odds, Seattle each-way for the Super Bowl at 20/1 is the recommendation. The 10/1 place price just to make the big game looks tempting.

 

In NFL divisional markets, Cincinnati Bengals (best price 13/8) are still trading at odds against to win their AFC North title battle with Pittsburgh Steelers. Cover a speculative Super Bowl play on the Bengals with a healthy win bet in this market. Also combine Cincinnati with Carolina (6/4 NFC South) and Seattle (1/6 NFC West) in doubles and trebles to fatten the NFL betting bankroll before the Playoffs begin in January.

 

Scott Finley