An estimated $10 billion is projected to be bet on Super Bowl XLVII worldwide, and over half of all adult Americans are expected to bet on the game in some form. Most bets to date have been on the Ravens, moving the opening line of San Francisco favored by five points to the current line of the 49ers favored by 3.5 points. You can check the latest odds up to the minute:
Some folks will prefer to gamble on what are known as "proposition" bets, which are isolated from the actual game itself. Here are some of the goofier "Prop Bets" you can actually wager:
1. How long will it take Alicia Keys to sing the national anthem? Vegas over/under: 2 minutes, 15 seconds
2. Will Alicia Keys be booed during or after her rendition of the national anthem? Yes 5/1
3. Will Beyonce be joined by Jay-Z on stage during the Super Bowl halftime show? Yes +110 (11/10) …………No -150 (2/3)
You get the idea.
Meanwhile a lot of football analysts are making a case for the signing by the Eagles of current Ravens practice squad quarterback Dennis Dixon.
Dennis Dixon, 6-3, 209, former Steelers backup QB and current PS8 QB on the Ravens, was the first guy at Oregon to run Chip Kelly's spread offense when Kelly was first hired there as OC.
On the surface it makes sense. Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com writes that former Oregon Ducks quarterback Dennis Dixon will likely be added to the quarterback mix for Kelly and the Eagles:
"If Kelly plans to build an offense that not only fits his vision but also can compete from the get-go, he needs a quarterback that understands his scheme and has the skill set to flourish in it. Nobody on the current roster fits that description, but all signs point to Kelly having his man by next week. There are strong indications that Kelly won’t waste too much time after the Super Bowl before reaching out to Ravens practice squad quarterback Dennis Dixon and bringing him to Philadelphia."
Chip Kelly arrived at Oregon in 2007 as the offensive coordinator, and in his first season he was largely responsible for senior quarterback Dennis Dixon winning Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year honors.
The Steelers took Dixon in the fifth round of the 2008 draft, and Kelly became Oregon's head coach in 2009.
Now Dixon's on the Ravens' practice squad, where he's responsible for running the scout team, and is playing the part of Colin Kaepernick in his team's practices at Tulane University this week. .
"I had to thank a number of coaches [for my success in college] because I started under center when I first got to [Oregon], and then things started to progress into Chip Kelly's [offense] towards my junior year," Dixon told CBSSports.com at Super Bowl media day. "But Chip Kelly had a lot to do with that, and I hope nothing but the best for him in the NFL and I know that whatever scheme that he brings he'll bring the best out of everybody."
CBS asked Dixon if he would want to play in Philadelphia, and he said, "If that time does come, but right now I'm very focused on the Super Bowl and giving my defense the best Colin Kaepernick possible." That's the answer that he has to give, but it's reasonable to think he'd rather be fighting for a starting job instead of pretending to be the next opponent's quarterback.
Much of the talk in New Orleans this week has been about the longevity of the read option, which, unlike the wildcat, many — including Dixon — seem to think isn't going anywhere soon. "I agree [that the read option could be around for awhile]. The thing that brings the true zone read to life is a quarterback that can run and pass," Dixon told CBSSports.com. "You have to be able to pass — you have to make sure the defense is on their toes. Once you have that dual-threat quarterback, it's kind of tough to stop."
The one extra dimension I like about Dixon is he is capable of being a "passer-first". He can be patient in the pocket and find open receivers. He needs to work on short accuracy, but he throws a real nice deep ball. As far as his running ability goes, he is not blazing fast…but he is fast enough, runs instinctively, and knows how to slide.
Dixon suffered a devastating ACL injury near the end of his first year under Chip Kelly at Oregon. At the time he was being considered for the Heisman Trophy, and the injury probably cost Oregon a national championship. It definitely cost Dixon a higher spot in the NFL Draft, as even quarterbacks from Delaware and San Diego State ended up drafted ahead of him.
Now a new chapter of the Dennis Dixon story is in the works. If Geoff Mosher's information is correct, the new chapter could begin in Philadelphia.
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