Sportsbook odds list the New Orleans Saints as one of the favorites to win Super Bowl XLV. The defending Super Bowl champs are 7-1 at the Internet sportsbook to defend their title but winning two in a row is never easy, plus the Saints have to overcome the Madden curse.
Sportsbook odds are low on the Saints because of they have a lot of talent including Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees. The problem for the Saints and Brees is that the quarterback is on the cover of this year’s edition of the “Madden NFL” video game. And although this is a great honor and sounds good, history has shown it is not.
Brees was excited to be on the cover saying it was “a great way to cap off an amazing year.” Athletes love to get the exposure of the cover but the cover has been a curse in recent years. Donovan McNabb, Michael Vick and Shaun Alexander were injured after appearing on the cover. Brees believes he can beat the curse though. “I believe in fate, and if it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be,” Brees said. “But destiny is stronger than any curse, and this team is destined for great things.” Fans actually voted on who would be on the cover of the Madden game. The other choices were Indianapolis wide receiver Reggie Wayne and Minnesota defensive end Jared Allen. EA Sports will release Madden NFL 11 with Brees on the cover on August 10th.
Super Bowl champs can oftentimes struggle against the odds at the sportsbook the following season. The Saints have to deal with Brees on the cover of the Madden game and they also have what could be a tough schedule. They start the season by opening at home against the Minnesota Vikings in a revenge game for Minnesota since they lost the NFC Championship to the Saints. The Saints then have to travel to San Francisco in Week 2 for a Monday night game on ESPN. The Saints will be featured in prime time a total of four times. In addition to the games against Minnesota and San Francisco, the Saints host Pittsburgh in a NBC Sunday Night game and they are at Atlanta in a late season Monday night game. The Saints are talented but they have a lot to overcome if they are to win vs. the Internet sportsbook odds in 2010-2011.