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The Daily News' Ed Barkowitz on the Super Bowl

The point spread. The line opened at 4 1/2 and the early money went on Baltimore. It was an understandable reaction after the way the Ravens flustered and frustrated the Patriots. But the insertion of Colin Kaepernick has injected a juice through San Fra

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco warms up during an NFL Super Bowl XLVII football practice on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013, in New Orleans. (Patrick Semansky/AP)
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco warms up during an NFL Super Bowl XLVII football practice on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013, in New Orleans. (Patrick Semansky/AP)Read more
    by By Ed Barkowitz, Daily News Staff Writer | Columnist
    Published 

The point spread. The line opened at 4 1/2 and the early money went on Baltimore. It was an understandable reaction after the way the Ravens flustered and frustrated the Patriots. But the insertion of Colin Kaepernick has injected a juice through San Francisco's roster that would make Lance Armstrong blush. The only time he has really looked handcuffed in the last month was when the Seahawks hammered the 49ers up in Seattle. The stat that just jumps off the page: The Ravens are 1-5 indoors with Joe Flacco. On the fast Superdome track, the Niners will cover the 4.

Team to call first timeout: Shame Andy Reid isn't coaching in this game, his team would be a lock. As much as I love Kaepernick, I'm going to take the 49ers here at -$110. Figure the kid might get a little jittery in the early part of the first quarter.

Team to score last: This is one of the best props. No matter how all the others have gone, there is still something to root for in the fourth quarter. I'm going to take the Ravens at +$110, because I figure they will be chasing the 49ers late in the game.

Joe Flacco's rushing yards: Flacco doesn't have Kaepernick's wheels (who does?), but he's not a statue either. Vegas has set the over/under on Flacco's rushing yards at 4 1/2, and I'll take the over. The 49ers have a very fast, active, set front seven that will flush Joe Cool out of the pocket several times. Flacco was -3 against Indy, had +7 against the Broncos and +12 at New England. Surely, he can get me at least a five-spot on Sunday.

Beyonce's first song: The joke going around cyberspace is that there's a football game on Sunday right in the middle of the Beyonce concert. Other than her being married to a guy who owns a piece of the Brooklyn Nets, that's the extent of my Beyonce knowledge. Put a ring on it at your own risk.

Player to score first touchdown: The Niners gave up eight touchdowns to tight ends, tied for fifth-most during the regular season, so gimme some odds with the Ravens' Dennis Pitta at 12-1. Since the betting window is open, I'll also grab Kaepernick at 10-1 just as a hedge.

- Ed Barkowitz