Getting off to a fast start is essential, especially during the biggest game of the season. Both Seattle and New England will be looking to build a lead immediately in Super Bowl 60. Teams to hold a halftime advantage have gone 42-13 in the Super Bowl (four have been tied at half).
Ahead of the big game, which side will enter the tunnel on the right side of the scoreboard? Below is my breakdown for Seattle and New England’s halftime chances ahead of Super Bowl 60.
The Seahawks are favored by 2.5 points in the first half on DraftKings Sportsbook, with the total set at 21.5 points.
Will Seahawks or Patriots lead at halftime?
To the surprise of absolutely no one, the AFC and NFC champions are both quite good! That’s especially true when it comes to first half scoring. New England is averaging an NFL-best 16.5 first half points per game. On the flip side, Seattle ranks third (14.9 PPG). The Seahawks have held opponents to the fewest first half points per game (7.5 PPG), while the Patriots rank sixth (9.1 PPG). In short, it’s hard to get a lean on either side in this spot.
With that being said, the setting of Sunday’s matchup could play a key role. Keep in mind, the Patriots spent their last two games playing in extreme cold. That includes a second-half blizzard in Denver during the AFC Championship Game. Kickoff in Santa Clara should be nice and sunny, opening up the offense for both sides. New England hasn’t had a need to unleash Drake Maye this postseason. Sunday’s must-win affair could look a bit different.
The biggest factor behind the Patriots’ early success is ball control. They’ve had 53.06% time of possession during the first half. That’s the fourth-best mark in all of football. In comparison, Seattle is second-lowest in the NFL at 46.44%; only the Jets ranked worse. Granted, the Seahawks excel at creating explosive plays. However, those could be hard to come by against an elite New England secondary this weekend.
With Zach Charbonnet injured, Seattle’s run game isn’t operating at full strength. That’s not ideal, especially in what looks like a formidable matchup. New England’s interior lineman duo of Milton Williams and Christian Barmore have dominated opposing running backs. Even with the dynamic Kenneth Walker II out of the backfield, the Seahawks could struggle to establish the run. Should that occur, the Patriots would have more opportunities to put up some points.
At the end of the day, there’s a major value angle to consider here. At +154, you can buy into the NFL’s highest-scoring first half club. With respect to a terrific Seattle defense, that’s an enticing play for most bettors. In addition, this wager doesn’t bear a major outcome on the final score. We’ve seen New England blow leads before; look no further than the 21-point collapse vs. Buffalo in December. Expect the Patriots to get off to a fast start in Super Bowl 60.
