We’re creeping ever closer to Super Bowl 60 between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.
This matchup is a rematch of Super Bowl 49, which saw the Patriots prevail 28-24 thanks to Malcolm Butler’s game-saving interception of Russell Wilson near the goal line.
That iconic Super Bowl moment was made possible by Seattle’s bold decision not to hand the ball to Marshawn Lynch from the one-yard line.
Seemingly every Super Bowl has at least one unpredictable moment or outcome, so we’re doing our best to try to predict some possible Super Bowl happenings below.
Below, you’ll find The Game Day staff’s Super Bowl bold predictions for Patriots vs Seahawks.
Super Bowl 60 Bold Predictions
First TD is Scored by Defense or Special Teams
The last Super Bowl when a defense scored first was when the Seahawks opened Super Bowl XLVIII with a safety after the snap flew over Peyton Manning’s head. Seattle went on to win that game behind the famous Legion of Boom defense, dismantling Manning and the Broncos, one of the most potent offenses in league history.
With the Seahawks D/ST (+3000) and Patriots D/ST (+4000) being priced at longshot odds, it’s worth taking the small gamble on them. Both teams boast stout defenses, which will face quarterbacks making their Super Bowl debuts.
It’s not far-fetched to think we could see some early jitters from these offenses before getting settled in when you consider all of those factors. We could also see special teams make a big play early, as Rashid Shaheed did for Seattle in the Divisional Round, and Devin Hester did for the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI. — DAVID KAESTLE
🏈 Get ready for Patriots vs Seahawks with our Super Bowl 60 betting predictions.
Seahawks to Throw a Touchdown Pass from On or Inside the New England 1-Yard Line (+1600)
Isn’t it great when oddsmakers have a sense of humor?
We all know about Malcolm Butler’s interception to win the Super Bowl between the Seahawks and Patriots 11 years ago. With +1600 odds, DraftKings will let you bet on the Seahawks to throw a touchdown pass from the 1-yard line, erasing the memory of Butler’s famous interception.
- Find the end zone with our Super Bowl Touchdown props.
With the way the Seahawks cut Sam Darnold loose in the NFC Championship Game, it’s clear they trust him in any situation, even throwing the ball at the goal line. Keep in mind that Zach Charbonnet, who got most of Seattle’s goal-line carries this season, is out with an injury.
Not that Kenneth Walker isn’t capable of powering his way in from the 1-yard line, but throwing the ball in that situation will be on the table. — BRYAN ZARPENTINE
Patriots Win by 20 Points
While the Seahawks are favored by 4.5 points, the Patriots’ defense matches up fairly well with Seattle.
New England will have Christian Gonzalez shadowing Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Terrell Williams’ unit allows the second-fewest rushing yards per game to running backs (71.3).
Finally, the Patriots have 69 pressures this postseason, the most of any team. Under pressure during the regular season, Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold had 10 turnover-worthy plays. — RICHARD JANVRIN
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TreVeyon Henderson Records 25+ Receiving Yards (+571)
This may not sound like a bold prediction because it’s such a low number, and we’ve seen TreVeyon Henderson make big plays at times this year.
However, the rookie played only four snaps in the Patriots’ AFC Championship win over the Broncos. Plus, Henderson’s receiving yards prop is set at 2.5 yards, so this would definitely qualify as a bold pick.
The angle here is that the Seahawks run two-high coverage at the highest rate in the NFL, which opens up room underneath for running backs to rack up receptions. We saw that throughout the season, as Seattle ranked 32nd in receptions and 27th in receiving yards allowed to running backs. — FRANK AMMIRANTE
Drake Maye is Super Bowl 60’s Leading Rusher (+550)
Maye’s mobility has been a crucial factor for New England’s offense this postseason, especially in clutch moments, and I expect he’ll rely on his legs early and often in Super Bowl 60.
The Patriots’ quarterback has rushed 24 times for 141 yards across three postseason games, posting a 66-yard outing against the Chargers on Wild Card Weekend and a 65-yard game in the AFC Championship win over the Broncos.
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (72 yards) was the leading rusher in Super Bowl 59, and Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes (66 yards) finished just 14 yards behind Christian McCaffrey in Super Bowl 58.
New England and Seattle are elite at shutting down opposing running backs, so this bold prediction doesn’t feel that far-fetched. Consider this wager with one of your best NFL bets today. — JOHN ARLIA
Rashid Shaheed Wins Super Bowl MVP (+3000)
Fellow Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (+550) is more likely to overcome his Super Bowl MVP odds. But if we’re talking bold predictions, I’ve got my eyes on Rashid Shaheed (+3000), who is capable of changing the game whenever he touches the ball.
Remember the 41-6 rout of San Francisco in the Divisional Round? It was Shaheed’s 95-yard return touchdown to open the game that really set the tone.
Shaheed also brought back two kicks for touchdowns in the regular season after coming over in a deadline trade from the Saints. Of course, he remains a weapon in the passing game, as well.
It’s enough to strike fear into the hearts of Patriots fans from yesteryear, who still remember Desmond Howard ruining New England’s hopes in Super Bowl 31. — DOUG BONJOUR
