Betting Odds on the Arizona Cardinals to Win the Super Bowl

Most online sportsbooks were offering betting odds on the Arizona Cardinals to win the 2009 Super Bowl at a peak of 50/1 odds over the last year, a payout that would mean $5000 for every $100 bet at places like Sports Interaction.

Today, the Arizona Cardinals still get little respect.  Sports Interaction had them as the +7 underdog to win Sunday's game.  But as we learned last year, long Super Bowl odds plus Underdog can translate into a hefty payday (witness the New York Giants who at one time paid $10,000 for every $100 bet and continued to reward gamblers throughout the Super Bowl). 

So what are the real odds of the Cardinals winning the 2009 Super Bowl?  They're not as long as one might think.

The Bleacher Report (BleacherReport.com) had this to say:

"The Cardinals are a pass-first team, but they should make a serious commitment to the running game. Edgerrin James needs to carry the ball at least 15 times, even if he mostly gets short gains or no gain. The idea is to make the Steelers respect the running game."

Additionally, while they believed it all stars with quarterback Kurt Warner, it was Edgerrin James who held the key to a Super Bowl win.

"He has to force the Steelers to account for him on every snap, when they'd rather focus on his team's other stars. If he breaks a few long runs, he could get more attention than the Steelers want to give him.  That could free up Arizona's downfield threats and lead to an obligation at the trophy stand."

Meanwhile, Larry Fitzgerald may be the most underrated of the 2009 Super Bowl prop bet offerings.  Many believe he is also the key to an Arizona Cardinals Super Bowl win and - if that happens - will be named Super Bowl MVP (he would pay $500 for every $100 bet at Sports Interaction).

ESPN had this to say about Fitzgerald's play:

"Just look at how Fitzgerald torched the Eagles on Sunday in University of Phoenix Stadium. He caught nine passes for 152 yards and three touchdowns, with all three scores coming as Arizona built a 24-6 halftime lead. What made those numbers all the more impressive was the fact that the Eagles had to know what was coming. After all, Fitzgerald already had torched both the Carolina Panthers (eight receptions, 166 yards and a touchdown) and Atlanta Falcons (six receptions, 101 yards and another score) in earlier playoff wins.

"But that's the level Fitzgerald's game has reached these days. Even when he should be the first concern for any opposing defense, he still manages to be a deadly target for quarterback Kurt Warner. Fitzgerald actually was so good that it was hard to believe he didn't have more to say about his effort."

"It's my job," Fitzgerald said. "I just try to make sure I'm accountable when I'm out there. If I don't, then I get the death stare from Kurt."

Edferrin James, Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald:  These are all names that define the Arizona Cardinals as a team that could very well go on to win the 2009 Super Bowl.

Fans think the same, says Don Shapiro of Gambling911.com.

"Around 55 percent of the sports betting public likes Arizona to cover the +7 line," he points out.  "But even more telling is the fact that over 85 percent of the money line action is on the Cardinals to win outright, paying around $200 for every $100 bet."

Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher