Super Bowl XLIV is shaping up to be not only one of the highest-betted Super Bowls of all time, but paradoxically almost, one of the closest. Arguments for the frequency in betting usually lie with the fact that since the spread is one of the smallest in history, people aren’t taking as big of a risk by laying down points.

Currently, lines are hovering at around the Colts winning minus five (for betting newbies, that means that the Colts are giving the Saints five points. In other words, if the Colts win the game by four points or less, the Saints win the bet).

You can find a variety of about one point by doing some research online. SBGGlobal.com offers the Colts (-5), while Bodog.com offers the Colts (-6). If you are hesitant to bet on the point spread, you can also wager your money on a team winning straight up, where again some web research will turn up a strong variety. SportsBetting.com is offering the Saints at +190 odds. Bodog.com has the Colts at -190 (down from -210).

What the + and – refer to are odds on that team winning. Since the Colts are the favorite, if you pick them to win straight-up, then you win less money for your bet. If you bet on the Saints, you win more. A betting line that is Colts -190, means that for every $190 (or $19 if you want to reduce all these bets by ten percent) you bet, you win back your original bet, plus another $100 (or $10). So if you bet $190 for the Colts at -190 odds, you will win back your $190, plus another $100, or $290 total (a $100 profit). However, if you pick the Saints at +190, that means that for every $100 (or $10), you win $190 (or $19). Therefore a $100 bet on the Saints to win outright means you could win $190. The same $90 win, with $90 less of a wager.

Over under on intense close-ups is 40

EgoTV is not an official gambling site, nor are we giving you the company’s opinion. This is just this writer, who strongly believes in Peyton Manning, and feels like he wouldn’t have much trouble overcoming a four- or five-point spread. The Colts are undefeated in games where they didn’t pull their starters in the second half, and Manning is having one of his best seasons of his career.

Our other gem could be the over/under. This means you are betting that the combined point score of both teams will be more or less than a total number, in this case around 56 points. For these offensively-charged teams, the over seems like a good bet, but not so fast. The Super Bowl is high-pressure game, and many offensive juggernauts have been stymied from racking up their usual regular-season point totals under the huge expectations of America’s biggest game.

Remember never to bet money that you can’t lose, and most important to enjoy the game.