Philadelphia Eagles vs. New England Patriots (-4.5, 48.5)
**video
No team has won back-to-back Super Bowls since the New England Patriots held off the Philadelphia Eagles in February 2005 - the franchise's third championship in four seasons. Thirteen years later, the Super Bowl script is unchanged: The Patriots are vying to win consecutive titles and the Eagles are trying to prevent Tom Brady and Bill Belichick from hoisting a third Lombardi Trophy in four years.
Making its eighth Super Bowl appearance in 17 seasons behind the most successful coach-quarterback combination in NFL history, New England has won five championships in that span, including last season's dramatic 34-28 overtime victory over Atlanta that featured the greatest comeback on the NFL's grandest stage. “It’s just been an unbelievable run and I think everyone should be really proud of what we’ve accomplished," said four-time Super Bowl MVP Brady, who is hoping star tight end Rob Gronkowski will be available. "I’m proud of our team. It’s been a great year and it would be really great if we can take care of business in the next game.” Top-seeded Philadelphia is on quite a run of its own, embracing its underdog status following a season-ending injury to starting quarterback Carson Wentz and rallying behind backup Nick Foles to stomp No. 2 seed Minnesota 38-7 and earn its first trip to the Super Bowl since that 24-21 loss to the Patriots. "We know what we’re faced against, we know the opponent we’re going against,” Eagles second-year coach Doug Pederson said. "Lot of respect for them obviously and what they’ve done and what they’ve accomplished. It’s about what we do. How our players handle this week and eliminate distractions and eliminate the noise and how well they prepare and get themselves ready to go.”
TV: 6:30 p.m. ET, NBC.
LINE HISTORY: The Patriots opened as 5.5-point favorites but a steady flood of Eagles money during the first week and a half of betting has pushed the pointspread down to 4.5. The total hit betting boards at 48 and was been steady heading into the weekend before pushing up slightly to 48.5 on game day. Check out the complete line history here.
WHAT SHARPS SAY: "The biggest x-factor in Super Bowl 52 is how well Eagles' backup QB Nick Foles will play. He has been excellent in the two playoff games so far, but both of those games came at home. Now he is on a much bigger stage and on a neutral field against Tom Brady who is the most experienced quarterback in Super Bowl history. The Eagles have played better than the Patriots so far in the playoffs this year, but in order to win this final game, Foles must continue to play at a high level." - Covers Experts' Steve Merril.
WHAT BOOKS SAY: "Pointspread betting is all Eagles' money so far. Three times more money on account coming in on Philadelphia, and over the counter seeing about two times more money on Philadelphia, as well. (Re: moneyline betting) This line's gone from (Patriots) -220 to -180. Four times more money on Philadelphia on account. Over the counter has actually kind of evened out a little bit. It's 55 percent Philadelphia money on the moneyline." - Will Bernanke, lead analyst for CG Analytics in Las Vegas.
INJURY REPORT:
Eagles - DT Fletcher Cox (Probable, Calf), QB Nick Foles (Probable, Ribs), RB Jay Ajayi (Probable, Ankle), RB Kenjon Barner (Probable, Illness), DT Tim Jernigan (Probable, Illness), LB Dannell Ellerbe (Probable, Hamstring), CB Sidney Jones (Questionable, Hamstring), QB Carson Wentz (I-R, Knee), K Caleb Sturgis (I-R, Quadricep), S Chris Maragos (I-R, Knee), LB Joe Walker (I-R, Neck), LB Jordan Hicks (I-R, Achilles), T Jason Peters (I-R, Knee), RB Darren Sproles (I-R, Knee), RB Donnel Pumphrey (I-R, Hamstring), CB Randall Goforth (I-R, Knee), WR Dom Williams (I-R, Achilles), DT Aziz Shittu (I-R, Knee).
Patriots - DL Malcom Brown (Probable, Knee), CB Malcolm Butler (Probable, Flu), DL Alan Branch (Probable, Knee), TE Rob Gronkowski (Probable, Concussion), DL Deatrich Wise (Probable, Concussion), DB Devin McCourty (Probable, Shoulder), QB Tom Brady (Probable, Hand), DB Brandon King (Questionable, Knee), RB Mike Gillislee (Questionable, Knee), OL LaAdrian Waddle (Questionable, Knee), DT Vincent Valentine (Questionable, Knee), DB Jonathan Jones (I-R, Foot), WR Malcolm Mitchell (I-R, Knee), OL Marcus Cannon (I-R, Ankle), OL Tony Garcia (I-R, Illness), OL Andrew Jelks (I-R, Knee), DB Nate Ebner (I-R, Knee), TE Martellus Bennett (I-R, Shoulder), LB Dont'a Hightower (I-R, Pectoral), LB Shea McClellin (I-R, Concussion), LB Harvey Langi (I-R, Back), DL Keionta Davis (I-R, Neck), CB Cyrus Jones (I-R, Knee), WR Julian Edelman (I-R, Knee), DE Derek Rivers (I-R, Knee).
MATCHUP CHART:
ABOUT THE EAGLES (15-3 SU, 12-6 ATS, 9-9 O/U): With Foles no longer looking like a weak link following a superb performance against Minnesota, in which he threw for 352 yards and three touchdowns, Philadelphia presents a balanced offense the likes of which New England hasn't faced since Week 15 at Pittsburgh. Foles has multiple weapons in wideouts Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith, who combined for 10 catches and three touchdowns in the NFC title game, along with tight end Zach Ertz (11 receptions in both playoff games). Jay Ajayi has rushed for 127 yards in the two postseason games and is complemented by sledgehammer back LeGarrette Blount, who has 10 career playoff touchdowns and won a Super Bowl last season with the Patriots. Philadelphia's defense ranked No. 1 against the run (79.2 yards per game) and also tied for fourth with 19 interceptions.
ABOUT THE PATRIOTS (15-3 SU, 12-6 ATS, 8-10 O/U): Brady has been spectacular in the past two Super Bowl victories, rallying New England from 25 points down last season and erasing a 10-point, fourth-quarter deficit against Seattle three years ago. The Patriots also had to come from 10 points down in the AFC Championship Game despite the absence of Gronkowski, who was limited in practice Wednesday and remains in the league's concussion protocol. Danny Amendola caught a pair of fourth-quarter TD passes versus Jacksonville and has 18 receptions in the two playoff games while speedster Brandin Cooks has nine. Ex-Eagle Dion Lewis has carried the running game over the second half of the season but all three backs are threats in the passing game, particularly James White. New England's defense looked vulnerable against Jacksonville but has 11 sacks in the postseason.
CHEERLEADER BATTLE:
TRENDS:
* Eagles are 11-4 ATS in their last 15 games overall.
* Patriots are 16-5 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
* Under is 10-4-1 in Eagles' last 15 playoff games.
* Over is 8-2 in Patriots' last 10 playoff games.
* Underdog is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 meetings.
View a full list of betting trends for this matchup here.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. The Patriots are looking to join the Steelers as the only team with six Super Bowl championships.
2. Foles is the only QB to post a passer rating of at least 100 in his first three postseason games.
3. Gronkowski has 10 postseason touchdowns, including seven in his last seven playoff games.
COVERS CONSENSUS: The Covers public is siding with the underdog Philadelphia Eagles at a rate of 62 percent and the Over is getting 67 percent of the totals action on Covers. View full consensus data here.
