Nat Coombs' Super Bowl LX Tips For Patriots Vs Seahawks
The New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks meet at Levi's Stadium to contest Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara.
Will the Patriots get their hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy for a seventh time, or will the Seahawks be crowned champions for just the second time?
TalkSPORT presenter and FIVE TV pundit Nat Coombs is once again sharing three more tips for this weekend's contests, using the latest odds from BetMGM.
Nat Coombs' Super Bowl LX Tips:
- Nat Coombs' Panel Pick 1: Patriots Vs Seahawks: Patriots (+4.5) - 10/11 With BetMGM
- Nat Coombs' Panel Pick 2: Patriots Vs Seahawks: Under 45.5 Total Points - 10/11 With BetMGM
- Nat Coombs' Panel Pick 3: Patriots Vs Seahawks: Smith-Njigba Anytime Touchdown Scorer - 17/20 With BetMGM
A cluster of compelling narratives surround Super Bowl LX as the Patriots (number two seeds in the AFC) take on the NFC top dogs - the Seattle Seahawks.
For Sam Darnold, the much maligned but reborn Seahawks quarterback, Sunday is a chance for the greatest redemption arc in the history of the NFL - from first round bust on the scrap heap to Super Bowl winner, and possible MVP, in just two years.
For his counterpart Drake Maye, the Patriots' sophomore slinger, this is a chance to establish his status as a bona fide super star in the NFL.
Mike Vrabel, New England's first-year head coach and former playing legend in Foxboro, can join the inner circle of elite coaches in the game.
Patriots Vs Seahawks: Patriots (+4.5) - 10/11 With BetMGM
There’s a strong British slant to consider, with the emergence of Aden Durde, Seattle’s defensive coordinator - a coach who cut his teeth with the London Warriors, before heading to the NFL.
Durde has found great success with the Seahawks, which may well lead to a head coaching opportunity of his own in the future.
Seattle are the clear-cut favourites as far as betting apps are concerned, an edge determined by a few key factors.
The Seahawks possess what is arguably the best defense in the NFL, ranking first in scoring, EPA, DVOA, and third down conversions – and they are unequivocally a top-five unit, with range, depth and versatility that threatens to stifle and ultimately throttle Maye and his supporting cast.
Patriots Vs Seahawks: Under 45.5 Total Points - 10/11 With BetMGM
New England's offense is led by the deeply underrated, erstwhile Bill Belichick lieutenant Josh McDaniels, who I feel is a critically under-the-radar piece in this match-up, doesn’t boast much star quality on paper.
It's more of a collection of underestimated role players that get things done.
Receiver Mack Hollins is perhaps the prototype here - a key part in their blocking game, with a propensity to make clutch plays and he is also a huge presence in the locker room.
Fellow receiver Stefon Diggs is as close to an X-factor talent as you can get and he still has the ability to make big plays, but he’s not the receiver he was four years ago.
Kayshon Boutte is a deep threat for New England and the ground game has packed a punch at times.
Patriots Vs Seahawks: Smith-Njigba Anytime Touchdown Scorer - 17/20 With BetMGM
Maye’s ability to scramble is an asset against Seattle's defense, where coverage may need him to extend plays, or pick up a first down with his legs when all (other) bets are off.
Tackle Will Campbell, on the left side of the New England offensive line, has come in for criticism.
Seattle's defensive front will look to exploit this side of Maye’s protection and conversely, the Patriots front.
In particular defensive tackles Christian Barmore and Milton Williams will feel they can exploit the middle of Seattle’s offensive line and put Darnold under duress.
Seattle's quarterback has thus far held off the almost weekly suggestion that he’s about to fall off a cliff, due to last season’s play-off meltdown after an impressive year in Minnesota.
That added fuel for the haters that he’s just one or two plays away from the erratic, error prone, ghost-seeing quarterback of his early career.
However, situation is everything in football and Darnold has built on positive foundations and scheme suitability with the Vikings, with a level up under the direction of offensive coordinator Clint Kubiak.
Kubiak has transformed Jackson Smith-Njigba into a top-three receiver in the NFL, crucially the most versatile out of elite receivers, giving defensive coordinators nightmares.
The coordinator presided over a ground game with a genuine one-two punch that enabled Darnold to lean on the play action, and the addition of Rashid Shaheed as an alternative burner option.
The loss of running back Zach Charbonnet is a blow to that offensive rhythm, and New England will look to force Darnold to roll the dice as much as possible, so shutting down the Hawks ground game is pivotal to a Pats victory.
As the fab Mike Carlson pointed out on my podcast this week, Vrabel will most likely look to take out Jaxon Smith-Njigba though the old Belichick fashion of putting his number two corner on him and give him safety support.
That will free up their number one corner Christian Gonzalez to take care of Cooper Kupp or Shaheed.
If they can execute this well enough to force Darnold into dangerous manoeuvres, things will get interesting.
I think the Patriots are being underestimated here and recency bias plays a part especially with the struggles that Maye has had in the playoffs – and I feel not only will New England keep it close, but they’ve got a great shot at winning straight up.
It’s a play that requires a lot of near perfect upside, whereas there’s more margin for error with Seattle.
However since Maye has come into the NFL, I’ve admired his moxie and big-game occasion.
As much as Mike MacDonald has done an impressive job with Seattle, I’m leaning into the Vrabel/Maye ticket.
Nat's Super Bowl LX treble pays out around 9/1 With BetMGM.
Which bet do you like in Sunday's showdown?
Let us know in the comments below.
