SOURCE: Las Vegas Review-Journal

Not long after winning the Super Bowl, Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts were knocked to No. 2 on the NFL's pecking order.

The New England Patriots became slight favorites to win the championship in early April, and bettors never stopped backing them.

"It was a steady stream of Patriots money," MGM Mirage sports book director Robert Walker said. "The Colts were under the radar the whole season."

After a 16-0 run through the regular season, the Patriots are now prohibitive favorites to win the Super Bowl. The betting value on the futures board, however, appears to be with the Colts.

Tom Brady stole the spotlight from Manning and broke his record for touchdown passes in a season Saturday with his 50th, but Walker said the underdog Colts might get the last laugh.

"I'm predicting a Colts victory over the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game," Walker said.

The odds on New England to win the Super Bowl are 1-7 at MGM Mirage books and as high as 1-8 at Caesars Palace and Station Casinos. The Patriots are a more reasonable 1-2 at the Las Vegas Hilton. Indianapolis looks more attractive at 4-1 odds.

In early April, before New England traded for wide receiver Randy Moss, the Hilton posted the Patriots as 5-1 favorites to win it all, and the Colts were at 9-1.

"The Colts are basically getting no respect," Hilton sports book director Jay Kornegay said. "Do I believe the Patriots are the best team? Absolutely. But it wouldn't surprise me if the Colts win.

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