Super Bowl Betting: Patriots Linemen Hold Key to Victory or Defeat

Patriots linemen Nick Kaczur (left) and Stephen Neal hope they’re yukking it up Sunday night. (AP Images)

One thing seems pretty clear going into the Super Bowl: the Patriots’ offensive linemen will be heroes or goats. New England will go against one of the NFL’s top pass-rushing defenses. The Giants feature Osi Umenyiora and Michael Strahan, both former sack champions, and also have underrated Justin Tuck, who had 10 sacks this season.

New York will go all out to get Tom Brady on the ground, putting the Patriots’ linemen under extreme pressure. When New England escaped Giants Stadium with a 38-35 victory in Week 17 of the regular season, both Nick Kaczur or Stephen Neal sat out with injuries. The two linemen will suit up and Kaczur, especially, will be in the spotlight. He will be charged with blocking Umenyiora.

Among the Super Bowl props available for wagering are how many sacks each team will total and how many tackles key players on the two defenses will amass. Umenyiora’s total is 5.5.

Should the Giants get to Brady, the NFL’s record-setting passing offense could be curtailed. But if the Patriots do their job in the trenches, the blowout so many NFL bettors expect could unfold.

Read Bodog Nation for a complete breakdown of Super Bowl XLII and get Super Bowl odds in the Bodog Sportsbook for all your Super Bowl bets.