Friday

Super Bowl by the Numbers: Should Saints be favored?

The Colts are giving 5.5 on the point spread and the majority of NFL experts are picking them to beat the Saints on Sunday. Take a close look at the regular-season statistics, though, and you might wonder if Drew Brees and Co. shouldn’t be the ones getting the backing.

Here is a look at offensive and defensive categories where the Saints’ numbers top the Colts’ (with overall league rankings in parantheses):

OFFENSE
Time of possession
Indianapolis: 27:40 (31st)
New Orleans: 31:36 (11th)

Turnover ratio
Indianapolis: +2 (14th)
New Orleans: +11 (3rd)

Yards per game
Indianapolis: 363.1 (9th)
New Orleans: 403.8 (1st)

Rush yards per game
Indianapolis: 80.9 (32nd)
New Orleans: 131. 6 (6th)

Average yards per completion
Indianapolis: 7.7 (10th)
New Orleans: 8.3 (3rd)

DEFENSE
Interceptions
Indianapolis: 16 (15th)
New Orleans: 26 (3rd)

Total TDs off turnovers
Indianapolis: 2, both INT returns (5th)
New Orleans: 8, 5 INT returns, 3 fumble returns (1st)

Total penalties committed
Indianapolis: 92 (14th)
New Orleans: 82 (8th)

Sacks
Indianapolis: 34 (13th)
New Orleans: 35 (16th)

First downs surrendered per game
Indianapolis: 20 (27th)
New Orleans: 19.4 (22nd)

SUPER BOWL ODDS and GAME INFO

Who: New Orleans Saints vs. Indianapolis Colts
Date: Sunday, February 7, 6:30 p.m. ET; TV: CBS
Point spread: 5.5; over/under: 56
National anthem performer: Carrie Underwood
Halftime act: The Who
Location: Sun Life Stadium, Miami

RELATED SUPER BOWL PICKS, PREDICTIONS AND NEWS

From Dec. 14: Super Bowl XLIV preview: How Colts, Saints match up
Five Super Bowl matchups to watch
Super Bowl XLIV Preview – Manning, Colts to march over Saints
How the Super Bowl contenders, the Saints and the Colts were built
Super Bowl bets we wish we could make

Bet on the Super Bowl – Colts vs. Saints!