Super Bowl Odds: At Halftime, Records Fall as Giants Eye Upset

Lawrence Tynes launches a field goal that gave the Giants the early lead. (AP Images)

Many NFL fans expected Super Bowl XLII would wind up being a historic game. Not everyone expected the records to fall early, though. But that's what happened, thanks mostly to the New York Giants' opening drive on Sunday.

The Giants, who ended up trailing 7-3 going into the intermission, took the opening kickoff and held it for more than 10 minutes before grabbing a 3-0 lead on a Lawrence Tynes' field goal at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. Once the unbeaten and favored New England Patriots received the ball, they held on to it until the end of the quarter, leading to the fewest drives in an opening quarter of the Super Bowl.

Tynes' field goal also settled numerous Super Bowl bets, most in the favor of underdog bettors. A field goal was at +140 on the Super Bowl moneyline to be the first score because bettors and oddsmakers felt the Patriots would score a touchdown early. That didn't happen and the Giants carried a 3-0 lead into the second quarter.

Later in the first half, Giants punter Jeff Feagles became the oldest player in NFL history to appear in a Super Bowl when he delivered the first punt of the game. Feagles is 41 years old.

Among the settled prop bets for the first half are the following:

• The Giants won the coin toss (even money)
• Laurence Maroney scored the game's first touchdown (3/1 odds)
• Eli Manning (1/2 odds) and Tom Brady (1/3 odds) both completed their first passes
• The game's initial first down came on a pass (-105) from Manning to Plaxico Burress.

For more team props and player props for the second half of the Super Bowl, visit the Bodog Sportsbook. So far, Giants bettors are looking good as they trail by only four points but were getting 11.5 as the point spread favored the Patriots. But the Patriots still lead as they go after their fourth title in seven seasons.

Tom Brady celebrates when teammate Laurence Maroney scores in the second quarter. (AP Images)