Super Bowl Betting: Freeney No Doubt Will Play

Dwight Freeney had 13.5 sacks during the regular season. (AP Images)

Officially, Colts star defensive end Dwight Freeney, the team’s leading sacker, is listed as questionable for the Super Bowl – but you can bet he will play.

Freeney hasn’t practiced since tearing ligament in his ankle in the AFC title game win over the Jets. If this were the regular season, he’d miss at least a few weeks but almost every report Sunday afternoon says he will go against the Saints. Freeney will test the ankle a final time around 5 p.m. ET for pregame warm-ups when his status will be made official. However, while it’s a near certainty that he will play, Freeney very well could be limited to only pass-rush situations (i.e. third downs, second-and-long).

If Freeney is slowed, the Colts might blitz more. And that could be to their benefit. According to an ESPN report, Saints quarterback Drew Brees in the two playoff games so far has thrown five touchdown passes, no picks, averaged 8.2 yards per pass attempt and had a QB raing of 127.3 when the opposing team sends four or fewer pass rushers. Against five or more rushers, Brees has thrown one touchdown and no interceptions, averaged 4.3 yards an attempt and posted a rating of 90.2.

While Freeney’s ankle certainly has been the most-talked about body part of the week, there are a few other injured players – but all should play. Colts cornerback Jerraud Powers, who missed the AFC Championship Game with a fractured left foot, participated in a light workout for the second straight day on Saturday. And star Indy receiver Reggie Wayne was back after aggravating a minor knee injury Friday.

The only Saints player of note who was dealing with an issue was cornerback Randall Gay, who missed practice Friday with an illness. He will play tonight.

As of this writing, the late money appears to be coming in on the Colts – the line at Bodog has moved back up to Indianapolis -6. And the total also has risen, currently up to 57.5. That’s the highest total for the Super Bowl in the past 25 years. There is of course live betting available on the game at Bodog.

There’s still time to bet on the Super Bowl at Bodog!