The Super Bowl line was posted on Sunday night, Jan. 20, after the Giants upset the Packers to set up the rematch of their Week 17 game vs. the Patriots. I missed out on the Giants +14 that was widely available at that time (mostly because I was working on a tight deadline for the Sports Eye Publications -- as I've said on several radio shows this week: "I hate when work gets in the way of making a bet"). I passed on the +13.5 and was hoping it would climb back up sometime before kickoff. Unfortunately, by Monday morning the line started dropping more and I bought in at +13 and posted a quick column on my Tuley the Tout blog that if anyone else likes the Giants that they'd better grab the +13 before it dropped further. Some people who subscribe to the blog (and all you have to do is click on the SUBSCRIBE box at tuleythetout.com and enter your e-mail address) were able to get down in the two hours before all the +13s were gone and the line settled at +12.
    For those who missed it, I still think the Giants are the right side at +12, though you just miss out on a push if the Patriots happen to win by 13, which is a pretty uncommon final margin as roughly 3 percent of NFL games (or one out of every 33 games) are decided by exactly 13 points, and that would include some underdogs winning by 13.
    I like the Giants for several reasons, not the least of which is the way they went toe-to-tie with the Patriots when the Pats were trying to complete their undefeated regular season and the Giants were locked into their playoff spot and could have just rolled over and rested their starters. But the Giants went all-out and have used the momentum and confidence gained in that game throughout the playoffs. The Giants were able to pressure Brady into mistakes and the offense moved the ball consistently on the Giants' defense. Besides, while the Giants have been on the improve, the oddsmakers have caught up with the Patriots and they're just 2-8 against the spread in their last 10 games. They haven't been winning by margins like they did early in the season.
    Now, the one reservation about backing the Giants is that Bill Belichick is a master of adjustments and you know the Patriots have been analyzing that Week 17 gamefilm and will have a solid gameplan in place. The two weeks between the title games and the Super Bowl favors the superior team.
    But that being said, I like my chances with the Giants.
    Proposition wagers continue to become more popular and many Las Vegas sports book now take in as much on these "games within a game" as the point spread itself. I had some of my props published in the special Super Bowl section of the Las Vegas Review-Journal the other day so I'll lead off with them but add several others that I've either bet or am still shopping around for better numbers:

Which team will score first? (Giants +165)

It's only natural that most people will look to bet props that correlate with the side or total they like, so I'm also betting the Giants on a few props. With the game in a dome, the conditions will be ideal for both offenses to click. This prop might just come down to the coin flip, so I'll take the plus money. Besides, the underdog scored first in both conference championship games and five of the last six playoff games, including each of these two teams' last two games, so there's a better-than-average chance of it happening again. A quick score would be great to have a winner in my pocket as early as possible, though it's not likely to be as quick as last year when I have the Bears to score first vs. the Colts and also Devin Hester at 30-1 to score the first touchdown.

Will the game be tied after 0-0? (Yes +130)

Since I think these teams will trade scores, this seems like a natural. The ideal scenario would be for one team (preferably the Giants) to march down and get a field goal or TD and then have the other team match it.

Will Mike Vrabel score a touchdown? (Yes +500)

Vrabel, the Patriots' Pro Bowl linebacker who comes in at tight end in goal-line situations, has 10 career TD receptions. Since he's played 160 regular-season game and this is his 19 th playoff game, you could argue that this price is cheap, but keep in mind those include his games as a Steeler before joining the Patriots, plus (more importantly) he's score a TD in each of his last two Super Bowls vs. the Panthers and Eagles as Brady looks for him and trusts him near the goal line.

Longest TD of the game (over 47.5 yards -110)

The Super Bowl usually has big plays, partly due to the more frequent commercial breaks and the ability of the offenses to really prepare and scheme. Also, Brady's over/under for longest completion is 47.5 yards and you know he'll be looking deep at least a few times for Randy Moss like he did with the record-setting TD vs. the Giants in Week 17. In addition, I also any Eli Manning TD pass of 48 or more yards, any running play or defensive or special teams play.

What will Brady throw first (1 INT before 2 TD passes +160)

There is a separate prop that asks which Brady will throw first, a TD or an interception with the TD at -350 and the INT at +290. But I prefer this one, which opened at -165/+145 and was bet to -180/+160, so I like getting odds of 8-5, plus it buys me more time to win the bet. If Brady does throw an early TD pass, I still have time for him to get an INT before the second TD, plus I buy more time if there's a New England rushing TD in there..

Laurence Maroney longest rush (over 16.5 yards +105)

Just because I'm on the Giants doesn't mean all my prop bets have to be on them or betting against the Pats like the one above. I think Maroney will break a run at some point, mainly because with the Patriots expecting to be passing the ball all over the field, the Giants will be forced to play more defensive backs. The Giants shut down the run in the first meeting, but I think they'll realize that didn't help them and will make the adjustment. Plus, with defensive ends Michael Strahan and Osi Umeniyiora hell-bent on getting to Brady, that should create lanes for Maroney to run through and into the secondary.

Will the Patriots convert a 4th-down attempt (no, +130)

I'm not sure why the "yes" is favored as the Pats have converted 16 fourth downs in 18 games. Maybe the do-or-die nature of the game leads the oddsmakers to favor the "yes." But there might not be a situation where the Patriots have to go for it on fourth down, and if they do they still have to convert so I'll take the plus-money on the "no."

Lawrence Tynes vs. Stephen Gostowski most points (Tynes +1.5 -110)

I think the teams will trade scores, so this is a toss-up in my mind anyway, plus if the Giants don't keep up, that could be a result of them having to settle for more field goals while the Patriots are scoring TDs, so that could mean Tynes is getting 3 points at a time vs Gostowski and might win the prop even if they lose the game.

Patriots points vs. Kobe Bryant points (Kobe +0.5 -110)

I have to include one wacky hybrid sports prop and I like this one. It used Bryant's points scored earlier in the day vs. the Wizards and then the Patriots' points in the Super Bowl. Bryant averages 28 points per game this season and I'm on record predicting a 27-24 New England victory, so that would be perfect. However, I'm hoping not to cut it that close. Kobe loves attention and I'm thinking he'll be trying to have a big day when everyone is talking Super Bowl, and then I just have to cheer for the Giants to keep the Patriots under that number.