Those playing 2010 Super Bowl odds will have a difficult choice in Sunday’s NFC championship contest, as New Orleans will host Minnesota for the right to go to the big game in Miami. The crowd will play a huge factor in this game, and it’ll be on the shoulders of a 40-year-old quarterback who is “just having fun out there”.Vikings vs Saints odds – Sunday, January 24, 6:40 PM ET
Favre was on fire in a 34-3 rout of Dallas at home, where he got comfortable quickly in his first year with the Vikings. Favre was 15-of-24 for 234 yards and four touchdowns, and his play in the Metrodome was a huge reason for his success in Minnesota. However, Favre’s numbers were slightly lower across the board away from home, and the Vikings lost their last three road games of the season. His numbers in losses at Arizona, Carolina and Chicago? A completion percentage of 64.9%, 273.3 yards per game, with four touchdowns and three picks and a passer rating of 86.5.
The Saints lost their last two home games of the regular season to Dallas and Tampa Bay, but reclaimed the Superdome with a 45-14 mauling of Arizona last week. The offense, which had struggled down the stretch, came alive behind Drew Brees, who was 23-of-32 for 247 yards and three touchdowns, while Reggie Bush had a pair of big touchdowns and 217 all-purpose yards, showing the big-play ability that New Orleans thought they were getting with the second overall pick in the 2006 draft. The defense, after giving up a big play on their first drive, pulled their sleeves up and dominated the Cardinals for the rest of the game, even knocking Kurt Warner out of the game twice.
The Saints are 3.5-point favorites at home according to US sportsbook odds (US sportsbook reviews), and the Brees we saw last week is more like the one that finished second to Peyton Manning in the MVP race, and who also had a 120.1 rating at the Superdome this year. Favre will need to be at his best in front of the Metrodome crowd, and he’s 1-1 in conference-championship games on the road in his storied career. But the edge goes to the Saints, who will be aiming for their first Super Bowl appearance, and the key will be a front seven that pressures Favre all day long.
Super Bowl betting pick: Saints -3.5
