Super Bowl 2015: Updated Betting Odds After Patriots' Deflate Gate Controversy

The Seattle Seahawks began the playoffs as the favorites to win the 2015 Super Bowl. Despite beating the Carolina Panthers in the divisional round and topping the No.2 seed Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship, the defending champs find themselves as underdogs against the New England Patriots in the final game of the season.

The betting odds at most Las Vegas casinos favor New England’s chances of winning. Several sportbooks have the Patriots giving the Seahawks one point. The point spread at Sportsbook.ag is 1.5 points, while the AFC champs are two-point favorites at Bovada.lv.

Ahead of the conference championship games, the Seahawks were projected as three-point favorites over the Patriots, assuming both No.1 seeds both won at home and reached the Super Bowl. A day after the conference title games, though, many casinos listed the betting line as a pick’em.

Seattle was not particularly impressive in their win over Green Bay. The Seahawks trailed for most of the game, and needed to score 15 points in a 44-second span to make a miraculous comeback. Russell Wilson threw four interceptions in the contest.

New England won the most lopsided AFC Championship in 24 years. They routed the Indianapolis Colts, 45-7, in a game that was never close. The Patriots outgained the Colts by 188 total yards, and held Andrew Luck to just 12 completions and 126 passing yards.

The Patriots’ win over the Colts has become controversial, since it was reported that New England used deflated footballs that might have given them an advantage over Indianapolis. However, the allegations of cheating have yet to affect the betting odds. A significant penalty, such as a suspension for head coach Bill Belichick, could make Seattle the favorite, but such a punishment appears highly unlikely.

Following their Week 1 game in 2007 against the New York Jets, the Patriots were accused of illegally filming their opponent’s defensive signals. In their next game, New England easily beat the San Diego Chargers, 38-14.

With the Patriots being favored by one point at many casinos, their moneyline has moved from -110 to -120. Bettors that pick the Seahawks to win outright can win the same amount of money that they wager, with Seattle’s moneyline listed at +100.

The over/under has decreased to 48 points at several sportsbooks, but it remains at 48.5 at others. Last year’s Super Bowl totaled 51 points.