Colin Cowherd says the wrong
team is favored in Super Bowl XLVI. The popular ESPN radio host told his listeners he was shocked when he woke up Monday morning and saw the New England Patriots favored by 3 points against the New York Giants.
“I have been in this business 22 years,” The Herd host said in the first 10 minutes of the Monday show. “I have never seen a stranger line than this.
“I tried to guess the line on the Super Bowl,” Cowherd continued. “I had Giants about 6.5, 7 (point favorites). They’ve got the Patriots as a favorite? Wow!
“I do not encourage gambling, but if I lose my house in two weeks you’ll know why.”
Cowherd is a polarizing talking head but we’ve always loved the former Las Vegas resident because he talks spreads and odds on a regular basis.
He made headlines last fall when he claimed his opinions on games will occasionally move betting lines, and again two weeks ago when he hinted he might bet $40,000 on the San Francisco 49ers against the Saints.
He’s had a great year picking winners with his weekly Blazing Five picks, although we’re a little skeptical of that Falcons win at Seattle. According to his show's website, he’s -53-38-5 against the spread on the year, and went 2-0 ATS last weekend.
Cowherd isn’t the only media type surprised by the Super Bowl line. Former NFL player and current pro football analyst Ross Tucker tweeted, “Surprised Pats early 3-3.5 point favorites for SB, especially with Gronk injury. Feels more like a pick ‘em to me.”
Gronk is of course Rob Gronkowski, the Patriots All-Pro tight end who caught 90 balls and found the end zone 17 times this season. Multiple reports say Gronkowski was spotted wearing a walking book after Sunday’s win over the Baltimore Ravens.
“That’s a big factor, a huge factor actually, and will change things,” Jay Kornegay, race and sports director at the Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, told AP reporter Oskar Garcia. “I know he came back into the game, but I’m pretty sure he’s not 100 percent. That’s going to be a half point or so, maybe a point.”
The Patriots opened as high as 4-point Super Bowl favorites at some shops offshore but most books are dealing Giants +3 as of Monday afternoon.
