NFL Betting: Super Bowl Rematch Specials Available For Broncos-Seahawks Showdown

by Bovada Sportsbook Staff | September 19, 2014

Probably the most anticipated game of the 2014 NFL regular season arrives Sunday, when the Denver Broncos visit the Seattle Seahawks in a rematch of Super Bowl XLVIII. Seattle is a 5-point favorite at Bovada with a total of 48.5. There will be live betting at the book. That line is notable because it’s the first time since Oct. 15, 2012, that the Broncos are underdogs. Denver won that at San Diego 35-24, rallying from a 24-0 deficit.

Join Bovada, make your first deposit and instantly receive a 50% Free Bet Bonus up to $250.

Denver was a slight favorite in the Super Bowl, but was blown off the field 43-8 by that top-ranked Seattle defense. On the Broncos’ first play of the game, center Manny Ramirez snapped the ball before Peyton Manning was ready and it led to a safety, just 12 seconds in. It was the fastest score in Super Bowl history and essentially was Denver’s downfall. Seattle would never trail and the game was over at halftime, with the Seahawks up 22-0.

Seahawks QB Russell Wilson completed 18 of 25 passes for 206 yards and two scores. He was better than Manning, the 2013 NFL MVP. Manning was under siege all game, and finished 34 of 49 for 280 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions. Most of those completions and yards were in garbage time. The Broncos turned the ball over four times to Seattle’s zero.

This is a rare Super Bowl rematch in the following regular season, amazingly enough, this is just the sixth time it has ever happened, and the first since 1997. In three of the previous five rematches, the Super Bowl winner won again.

Seattle comes off a surprising 30-21 loss in San Diego last week, but could have been caught looking ahead to this one. The Seahawks are still 4/1 Super Bowl XLIX favorites at the book. The Broncos have beaten Indianapolis and Kansas City each by a touchdown in Denver, but haven’t looked close to as dominant as they did last regular season, in setting an NFL record for points. The Broncos are 9/2 to win the Super Bowl.

Because of the magnitude of the game, Bovada offers a handful of rematch props. For example, Manning is -50.5 yards against Wilson in passing yards. Wilson hasn’t thrown for more than 202 yards yet this year, while Manning is averaging 255.5 yards per game. He also hasn’t faced a defense close to Seattle’s. Manning is -200 to throw more touchdown passes than Wilson (+160). Manning has thrown three TD passes in each of the first two games. He could set an NFL record Sunday, if he throws at least three again without an interception. Manning has had four

straight regular-season games with three TDs and no picks. That’s tied with Tom Brady for the league mark. Manning is also three TD passes from becoming the second player (Brett Favre, 508) with 500 career TD throws. Wilson has four TD passes this year.

The Seahawks are a run-first team behind Marshawn Lynch. He wasn’t a huge factor in the Super Bowl, with 15 carries for 39 yards and a touchdown. Lynch is given an over/under of 16.5 carries this week (both -115). He’s dealing with a back injury and had only six carries last week but will play.

The first score of any game being a safety is incredibly rare. That’s what made the Super Bowl beginning so shocking. That the first points Sunday will come from a safety is yes-only at +3300 (Seattle does have a safety this season). Finally, will Seattle score a defensive touchdown? No is -500 and yes is +350. Seahawks linebacker Malcolm Smith, on the way to winning game MVP honors, picked off a Manning pass and returned it for a 69-yard score with 3:36 remaining in the first half of the Super Bowl. Seattle has yet to score a defensive TD in 2014.

Bet on Super Bowl rematch specials at Bovada!