This Sunday in the dome at US Bank Stadium in balmy Minneapolis, the NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles will tangle with the AFC Champion New England Patriots in this year’s Super Bowl. Kickoff is slated for 6:30 p.m. and NBC will carry the game nationally.
Philadelphia vs. New England Game Overview
Eagles were never supposed to get past Atlanta in the Divisional Round of the playoffs with Nick Foles taking over at quarterback for an injured Carson Wentz, but that is why they play the games. Following a shaky 2-1 straight-up run in the final three weeks of the regular season under Foles while going 0-3 against the spread, Philadelphia covered as a home underdog in both of its postseason games. The total went OVER 39 points in a 38-7 pasting of Minnesota in the NFC title game.
Foles had a career day against the Vikings with 353 yards passing and three scoring strikes while completing 26 of his 33 passing attempts. Minnesota came into the playoffs ranked second against the pass as compared to a New England defense that was ranked 30th in the NFL with an average of 251.2 passing yards allowed. Philadelphia was one of the best rushing teams in the league with an average of 132.2 yards a game and its defense was fourth in both yards allowed (306.5) and points allowed (18.4).
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The Patriots’ credentials coming into their fourth Super Bowl appearance in the past seven seasons are well established. Their only hiccup in a SU 13-1 run to this game starting back in early October was their failure to cover against Jacksonville as eight-point home favorites in a 24-20 victory in the AFC title game. This still leaves New England at 11-3 ATS in those same 14 games with the total staying UNDER in 10 of the contests.
Experience on the NFL’s biggest stage must count for something and so does Tom Brady’s ability to manufacture points on a moments notice, especially if his team is trailing. He threw for 290 yards on 26 completions against Jacksonville, including a pair of scoring strikes in the fourth quarter to erase a 10-point deficit. Tight end Rob Gronkowski missed most of the conference title game with a concussion, but everything points to him being ready to go by this Sunday.
Philadelphia vs. New England Game Betting Trends
- The Eagles are 2-7 ATS in their last nine games on field turf, but they have covered in nine of their last 12 games against a team with a SU winning record. The total has gone OVER in 10 of their last 13 games playing on field turf.
- The Patriots have covered in four of their last five postseason games and they are 16-5 ATS in their last 21 games against a SU winning team. The total has gone OVER in eight of their last 10 postseason games.
- Head-to-head in this inter-conference tilt, the underdog has covered in five of the last six games and the total has gone OVER in four of the last five matchups.
