Patriots start as favourites against Falcons in Super Bowl 51

THE New England Patriots will enter Super Bowl 51 against the Atlanta Falcons as the $1.64 favourites at Sportsbet.com.au after comprehensively thrashing Pittsburgh in the AFC Championship game.

The Patriots had the game under control for the majority of the contest and never looked like conceding defeat as the Steelers failed to generate any solid form of offense after superstar running back Le’veon Bell suffered a game-ending groin injury.

New England wide receiver Chris Hogan scored the first and second touchdowns of the match to put his team in the lead early in the match and they were never headed as the Pats progressed through to their second Super Bowl appearance in three years.

The Patriots were incredibly impressive, but the Falcon’s shutout win over the Green Bay Packers was arguably more eye-catching.

Against one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time in the form of Aaron Rodgers, the Falcons kept the Packers scoreless in the opening half, piling on 24 points in that timeframe to effectively book their place in Houston.

Atlanta – the $2.40 outsiders at Sportsbet.com.au to win Super Bowl 51 – went into cruise control in the second half to run out 44-21 winners in an NFC Championship rout.

Falcon’s superstar wide receiver Julio Jones did the damage for the home side, scoring two touchdowns on either side of half time to help his team to victory.

.@juliojones_11 out here dropping jaws… ?#GBvsATL #NFLPlayoffs https://t.co/o74b5hryBi

— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) January 22, 2017

Jones is the joint favourite at Sportsbet.com.au to be the first touchdown scorer in Houston at the $9 quote.

The win marks Atlanta’s first Super Bowl appearance in nine years, and for the man they call ‘Matty Ice’, quarterback Matt Ryan, Houston will be his first ever shot at the NFL title.

The favourite for this year’s regular season MVP said he is going to make the most of the experience leading up to what is undoubtedly the biggest game of his career.

“We’ll enjoy it because it’s hard to get to this point. I know that from experience,” Ryan said.

“But our ultimate goal is still in front of us.”

Chris Hogan ($13) is on the sixth line of betting at Sportsbet.com.au to score the first touchdown of Super 51.

Super Bowl MVP betting – Brady favoured to stick it to the man in Houston

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady ($2.00 at Sportsbet.com.au) and Matt Ryan ($2.80 at Sportsbet.com.au) are the only two men entering Super Bowl 51 under double figures to be named the Super Bowl MVP in two week’s time.

Brady – who is seeking his fourth Super Bowl MVP crown – enters Houston as one of the shortest priced favourites for the MVP crown in Sportsbet history despite having one of the hardest roads to the big dance in NFL history.

The governing body handed Brady a four-week suspension at the start of the season for his role in the ‘deflate-gate’ scandal, which NFL commissioner Roger Goodell held the three-time MVP personally responsible for.

We’re so close to the scenario where Roger Goodell hands Tom Brady the Super Bowl MVP trophy.

— Kyle Madson (@KyleAMadson) January 22, 2017

Now in the ultimate twist of irony, if the market is any indication Goodell may be forced to hand over the Lombardi Trophy alongside the Super Bowl MVP title to the man he tried to bury.

It is another added dimension to what looms as the most fascinating Super Bowl match ups in recent memory.

Super Bowl MVP Betting

Market provided by Sportsbet.com.au

Tom Brady $2

Matt Ryan 2.80

Julio Jones $12

Julian Edelman $14

Dion Lewis $21

LeGarrette Blount $21

Tevin Coleman $23

DeVonta Freeman $23

Chris Hogan $36

Vic Beasley $51

Martellus Bennett $56

Taylor Gabriel $71

Mohamed Sanu $71

Malcolm Mitchell $71