CHRIS JORDAN
This is a number that has been bet down in some places from the original number of 12' penalties. I still like it Under, as both teams come into Sunday as two of the most disciplined teams in the league. It's why they're in this game, because the don't make silly mistakes and because there is quality coaching on both sidelines. Figure this, the Patriots - with 6.0 penalties per game - and the Rams, who averaged 5.9, ranked in the top-10 in fewest penalties committed this season - including the playoffs.
And when you're talking about the Super Bowl, the reins are tightened and both teams might commit 3 each.
In the Patriots last five Super Bowls, they've been penalized five times or less in all five games. Over the last 31 Super Bowls, there has been less than 13 accepted penalties in 22 of those big games.
One thing I think we can all agree on is the officials have been letting the teams play more, and that will translate into this game. We saw it in last year’s Super Bowl shootout with record yardage and 74 points scored, as there was only a mere seven penalties on record and only one against New England.
Expect this one to stay well under the number, as I'm guessing there will be 6 or 7.
1* UNDER Total Penalties