The Super Bowl XLIV odds are a big showdown between two excellent offenses. We all know about the Indianapolis Colts explosive offense and the New Orleans Saints had the No. 1 unit in the NFL. Furthermore, we all know about Peyton Manning and Drew Brees. Here is a position-by-position breakdown of the offenses minus the quarterback comparison, which is a wash.

Running Backs

While the quarterback matchup is basically even, the Saints have the edge in the backfield. Talent-wise, Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas are probably only slightly better than Joseph Addai and Donald Brown, but the edge clearly goes to the Saints in productivity.

They just find a way to have offensive balance while the Colts don’t.

Offensive Line

Both teams have similar offensive lines in caliber and both teams have Pro Bowlers in their front five but when you boil it down, numbers speak the loudest.

The Colts offense allowed only 13 sacks on the year and three of them came when the backups were in and Curtis Painter was playing quarterback in the last two weeks.

By the numbers, the Colts have the edge here.

Receivers

This is another area where the race is tight but the Colts have the slight edge when you do the math and they again leave with the edge.

Reggie Wayne is a better receiver than Marques Colston, Pierre Garcon is more rounded than Robert Meachem while Austin Collie and Devery Henderson are probably about even but offer different skills.

Meanwhile, Dallas Clark is a Pro Bowl tight end while Jeremy Shockey is battling a knee injury.

When you add it up, the Colts have the better pound-for-pound unit and the better pound-for-pound offense.

With the Super Bowl odds up and a total set of 56.5, nobody is thinking that this year’s Super Bowl will be a defensive showdown. Even so, here’s a position-by-position breakdown of the two Super Bowl defenses:

Defensive Line:

Hard to argue in this case as the Indianapolis Colts have two Pro Bowlers on the edges while the New Orleans Saints really only have one good rusher.

The Colts have Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney while the Saints have Will Smith. The edge goes to the Colts in this battle.

Linebackers:

This one is a bit tougher to gauge. While the Saints have the best playmaker of the bunch, the Colts have the best trio.

The Saints have Jonathan Vilma, who is a playmaker and a Pro Bowler, but the Colts have Clint Session and Gary Brackett, which gives them the better threesome. Scott Shanle and Scott Fujita leave much to be desired in the Saints linebacking corps.

Secondary:

The edge in the secondary has to go to the Saints because of their Pro Bowlers. They have two (Darren Sharper and Roman Harper) while the Colts just have Antoine Bethea. The Saints also have the better cornerbacking crop while the Colts employ a couple of inexperienced players.

Overall:

Most betting tips say this is going to be an offensive showdown but the defense that can slow the other team down will win. In this category, the Saints have the edge.

Overcoming the 2010 Super Bowl odds would be a great story for the New York Jets, but the team that they beat to start a run to the playoffs, Indianapolis, will have revenge on their mind.

Jets vs Colts odds - Sunday, 6:40 PM ET

The Jets are 7.5-point underdogs in this contest, and they’ll need their running game to be at its best, because it’s a tough ask of rookie Mark Sanchez to beat the Colts on his own. The defense is a bit banged up as Shaun Ellis and Bart Scott limped through practice, and someone may need to step up in the front seven.

The Colts took their starters out with a 15-10 lead in their Week 16 meeting with the Jets before losing 29-15, and they’ll be out to avenge that loss. Peyton Manning had success against New York coach Rex Ryan’s defenses when Ryan was in Baltimore, and he’ll look to Dallas Clark a lot. No one on the Jets can guard Clark one-on-one, and he’ll need to have a big game as Reggie Wayne will be watched closely by New York’s Darelle Revis.

NFL picks: Indianapolis -7.5

Those waiting for the Super Bowl line will first have to get through the conference championships, and they’ve probably been following the Brett Favre story throughout the year. Favre came back to win a Super Bowl in Minnesota, but they’re facing a team of destiny in the New Orleans Saints, who will make their first appearance in the big game.

Vikings vs Saints odds – Sunday, 6:40 PM ET

The Saints stumbled down the stretch, but came back hard in a 45-14 thumping of Arizona at home, and they recovered some of the swagger they had lost. The Vikings destroyed Dallas 34-3 at home, but it’ll be a different story at the Superdome as Minnesota has lost their last three games on the road. In particular, the quarterback matchup will be one to watch as Drew Brees was a force at the Superdome this season, while Favre struggled on the road after beating such teams as Cleveland, Detroit and St. Louis. Their only decent road win was in Green Bay, and you can bet that emotion carried Favre through that game. Expect a big play or two from New Orleans safety Darren Sharper, who played with Favre for eight seasons in Green Bay, and another two against him in Minnesota. Take these betting tips and go with the Saints.

NFL betting players are gearing up for a big weekend, so let’s jump right into this week’s divisional-playoff picks.

Cardinals vs Saints odds – Seven points is far too big of a spread for the Saints to have, even at home. The Cardinals are rolling behind Kurt Warner, and the Saints were awful to end the season. I’ll take Warner over Drew Brees, thank you very much. CARDINALS +7

Ravens vs Colts odds – The Baltimore defense looked very good against New England, but the Patriots were missing Wes Welker, who is a huge part of their offense. Peyton Manning and the Colts will be deadly, and it doesn’t hurt them that Joe Flacco is hobbling around with a hip problem. COLTS -6

Cowboys vs Vikings odds – In this highly-touted matchup between Minnesota’s Brett Favre and Dallas’ Tony Romo, I’ll take Favre’s experience. Look for Adrian Peterson to break out of his slump, as well. VIKINGS -2.5

Jets vs Chargers odds – The Jets are a good story, but a team with a rookie head coach in Rex Ryan, and a rookie quarterback in Mark Sanchez against a team that has won 11 in a row? No thank you. Anyone who gives out betting tips will tell you how much experience counts at this time of the year. CHARGERS -6

Super Bowl odds are against the New York Jets this weekend, and their star cornerback, Darelle Revis, was slighted in the Defensive Player of the Year award, losing to Green Bay’s Charles Woodson. But did the former Heisman winner deserve these accolades?

The answer is yes, and actually, you could have given it to either. Revis emerged as the best cover corner in the league, shutting down the best receivers in the league. The Jets were also the best in the league in pass defense, and obviously Revis had a huge part in that. But Woodson was tied for the NFL lead in picks with nine, and some say, “teams don’t throw at Revis”, and that’s a fair statement. But Woodson forced four fumbles, tackled very well, and he played multiple positions as the Packers switched from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense, and he showed that there is more to being a great secondary player than just coverage. Revis is a great cover corner, and he’ll be more well-rounded as he gets older. But for Woodson to have the season he did, under those conditions, and at age 33, no less, the Green Bay and former Michigan standout is very deserving of the award, and a reason while Green Bay will have some very good bookmaker odds (bookmaker reviews) next year.

Super Bowl odds proclaimed Indianapolis as the favorite to win professional football’s biggest prize, but they’ll have their hands full on Saturday when they host a dangerous and hungry Baltimore team.

Ravens vs Colts betting – Saturday, January 16, 8:15 PM ET

The Ravens had three sacks and forced four turnovers in a 33-14 dismantling of New England on the road, and Ray Rice also had a big day, rushing for 159 yards and a pair of scores. Joe Flacco wasn’t called upon much, and he’s been bothered by a hip injury.

The Colts lost their last two after deciding to sit their starters, but Peyton Manning still won his fourth MVP award in a landslide. Manning has continued to put up big numbers while losing some of his weapons, along with a subpar running game. The defense has also been bit by injury, particularly on the corners.

Indianapolis is a 6.5-point favorite in this contest, and they’ve won seven in a row over the Ravens, including a 17-15 victory in Week 10 in Baltimore. The Colts need to shore up their run defense to keep Rice under wraps, but their main priority is Manning. If they can keep their leader on his feet, the Colts always have a chance. After a week of rest, take the Colts this weekend.

Bookmakers odds (bookmaker reviews) pick: Indianapolis -6.5