Sunday

Super Bowl weather forecast: Clear skies filled with football

Sun Life Stadium figures to live up to its name when Super Bowl XLIV kicks off on Sunday evening. The weather forecast for the NFL’s championship game between the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints calls for sunshine, clear skies and a cooler-than-average 64 degrees.

With the effects of the heavy rain earlier in the week gone, quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Drew Brees won’t have to worry about handling slick footballs or altering their attack to suit the conditions. That’s good news for fans, who can expect a game with so much scoring it should threaten the record of 75 total points set in XXXIV when the 49ers beat the Chargers 49-26.

The game will be played on natural grass, which should favor the Saints. They are a much stronger running team than Indy and the grass should also slow the Colts’ pass rush, which will be disadvantaged because of Dwight Freeney’s injured ankle. The defensive end remains listed as questionable to play and even if he does play he will be hindered by the injury. The grass field will force him to put more pressure on his ankle to get off the line of scrimmage than he would on an artificial surface.

NFL bettors remain doubtful that either Freeney’s ankle or the plusses of playing on a grass field will be enough to lift New Orleans to an improbable win. The Colts are favorites against the point spread, although the odds have dropped to 5 points after opening at 5.5.

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; over/under: 56
National anthem performer: Carrie Underwood
Halftime act: The Who
Location: Sun Life Stadium, Miami

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