Oddsmakers consider Bradshaw an X-factor

Now that the Super Bowl is finally here, it can’t hurt for bettors to take a closer look at the last meeting between New England and the New York Giants.

The Patriots rallied from a 12-point third-quarter deficit at Giants Stadium to win, 38-35, in the final regular-season game for both teams. Quarterbacks Eli Manning and Tom Brady each had strong games and skilled players Randy Moss, Laurence Maroney and Plaxico Burress combined for five touchdowns.

But one player who did not play may have a key role in today’s game and that’s New York rookie running back Ahmad Bradshaw.

That fact has not gone unnoticed by many experienced bettors, who have factored in Bradshaw for many of their wagers on this year’s Super Bowl.

“The Giants’ winning percentage is highest when Bradshaw is the primary running back getting 20 carries,” said Stephen Oh of AccuScore.com, which simulated today’s game 10,000 times with a variety of scenarios.

“Bradshaw is worth around two points on the scoreboard so if the Giants are losing by 10 in the baseline, they lose by just eight with Bradshaw as primary back. Given the Patriots have won three Super Bowls, each by three points, you can see the value of even one additional point.”

Although Bradshaw, who did not play against New England during the regular season because of a bruised leg, has carried the ball only 62 times in his career, he has averaged 5.7 yards per rush.

That’s why oddsmakers consider him an X-factor for today’s game.

At Bodoglife.com, Bradshaw is involved in 13 proposition bets, including: total rushing attempts, over 10.5 (-110) or under 10.5 (-120); total yards rushing, over 48.5 (even) or under 48.5 (-130); total yards rushing on first attempt, over 3.5 (-105) or under 3.5 (-125); player to score first touchdown for Giants, Bradshaw (6-1); and player who will record the longest single reception in the game, Bradshaw (20-1).

With the point spread for today’s game at 12 points after opening on most boards at 14, the Giants have maintained an edge in bets at 67% of the action against the spread, according to theSpread.com’s betting chart.

But at Wagerline.com, New York’s support against the spread was at 60.87% (1,951 to 1,255) after hovering above 65% for most of the last two weeks.

Baseball

Odds for baseball’s top power hitters have been set for this season’s leader in home runs with Philadelphia’s Ryan Howard listed as the favorite at 4-1, according to Sportsbook.com.

Howard, who hit 47 home runs last season, is followed by the New York Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez at 9-2, Milwaukee’s Prince Fielder at 5-1, St. Louis’ Albert Pujols at 12-1 and then the field at 15-1.

lonnie.white@latimes.com