Hurley's Picks: Can Patriots Handle Seahawks' Best?
CHANDLER, Ariz. (CBS) -- This really should be an all-time classic.
When the Patriots and Seahawks take the field Sunday afternoon in Glendale, a whole host of unpredictable events could take place on the field. Whatever those may be, they should not change the fact that this should be a classic.
On one side, you've got the old guard, a Patriots team led by Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. Though they haven't won it all in a decade, they are perennially a force to be reckoned with, always flirting with greatness, now motivated to finish the job.
On the other side, you have what could potentially be the NFL's next great dynasty. A young quarterback with a .764 winning percentage paired with a swaggering secondary, in line to become the first back-to-back champs since ... the 2003-04 Patriots.
Of course, one never truly knows what will happen once a football is forcibly launched from its tee on the 35-yard line, and yes, last year's Super Bowl was supposed to pit a great offense against a great defense, and that turned out to be a great disappointment. But this year, with Belichick in charge, expect the Seahawks' opponent to give them a real run for their money.
You can break down the game a hundred different ways. Can the Patriots' D contain Russell Wilson? Who covers Julian Edelman? Does New England go heavy on the run, or do they put the entire game in Tom Brady's hands? How do the Seahawks employ Richard Sherman? Is there an answer for Rob Gronkowski? And can anybody in the world tackle Marshawn Lynch?
These are questions that only Bill Belichick and Pete Carroll have an inkling about, and even then, the answers are subject to change come Sunday night.
The line on this game has been interesting. The Seahawks opened as favorites, and the line quickly moved, settling in with New England as one-point favorites. I found this to be surprising, but I think the line -- as well as public opinion -- changed a great deal following the conference championships. One team looked like world beaters, while the other looked downright dreadful.
I personally am not putting too much stock into either teams' performance two weeks ago. The Patriots were playing the Colts, and the Colts are not a good football team. The Seahawks undeniably stunk up the joint, but they also roared back to win the game. The chances of them coming out flat and laying another egg are nonexistent.
Which leads me to the one burning question that's left for me: If the Seahawks play their very best game, can the Patriots handle it?
I say no.
For as excellent as the New England secondary has been, it can be beat. (See: Flacco, Joe.) For as much as Brady may be the guy I'd most want quarterbacking my team in a Super Bowl, there's no denying that Russell Wilson shows poise and mental toughness well beyond his years. And for as unstoppable as Gronkowski can be, the big-play Seahawks always manage to step up at the perfect moment to change a game.
Now, I'm not saying that the Seahawks are going to come out and play their very best game of the season. Nobody can know whether that will be the case. But if they do, it will be enough to beat the Patriots' best.
The Score: Seahawks 27, Patriots 21
OK, now that the pesky game is out of the way, let's get into fun time: prop bets!
Wise MVP Picks
Richard Sherman -- 25/1
Brandon LaFell -- 66/1
Sherman might win the award if he has a pick or two, just because of the hype he's created for himself. And with LaFell, hey, he's had big games before, and at 66-to-1, he's the best sleeper pick to win MVP.
Total TD Passes For Brady: 1.5
The Bet: OVER (-200)
Are you serious? Brady's going to throw fewer than two touchdowns? Is Plax playin' defense?!
Total INTs By Brady: .5
The Bet: UNDER (+130)
Picking the over at -160 is boring. Live a little, people.
Will Tom Brady Score A Rushing TD?
The Bet: YES (+450)
Um, did Vegas not get the memo that Tom can run now? At +450, the potential payoff for Tom "Usain" Brady to waltz into the end zone is too tempting to pass up.
Will Brandon LaFell Score A TD?
The Bet: YES (+150)
You already have him as your MVP, you might as well double-down.
Will Russell Wilson score a Rushing TD in the game?
The Bet: YES (+195)
The man runs the ball into the end zone quite often. Yes at +195 is a lot more fun than No at -250.
What will be higher -- Carey Price's saves for the Montreal Canadiens or Russell Wilson's passing attempts?
The Bet: Wilson (-115)
Love these. I would like to place wager on 900 of these ridiculous bets. So stupid, so fun. (I looked it up, and Montreal is playing Arizona, which averages 28.9 shots per game. I like my chances.)
What will be higher -- Tiger Woods' day 1 score at the Masters or Julian Edelman receiving yards?
The Bet: Edelman (-150)
Tiger Woods stinks!
How long will it take Idina Menzel to sing the US National Anthem?
The Bet: OVER 2 minutes, 1 second (-120)
Always -- always -- take the over on this one. Always. These singers make this moment last as long as they can. This anthem might be 19 minutes long, with a "Let It Go" interlude worked in between verses.
Will Marshawn Lynch grab his crotch after scoring a TD in the game?
The Bet: YES (+400)
You have to get in on this one because A) you just made a bet on something that included the word "crotch," and B) of course he's going to do it.
What will Katy Perry be wearing when she begins the halftime show?
The Bet: SHORTS (+240)
Your other options are pants (+300) or skirt/dress at -200. Can we get the "12th Man" to give me a "Let's Go Shorts! Let's Go Shorts!"
What color Gatorade will be dumped on the winning head coach?
The Bet: CLEAR/WATER (3/1)
Dumping Gatorade on someone is rude.
What Color will Bill Belichick's hoodie be?
The Bet: RED (+450)
If you didn't know, Belichick busted a red hoodie out of nowhere back in Super Bowl XLII, and everybody figured that's why the Patriots lost their perfect season. I don't believe he'll actually bust it out again, but wouldn't that be something?
Last week: 2-0
Playoffs: 5-5
Regular season: 129-122-5
Read more from Michael Hurley by clicking here, or find him on Twitter @michaelFhurley.
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