Super Bowl Betting: Tom Coughlin, Head Coach of New York Giants

by Bodog Sportsbook | Feb 1 2008

Just over a year ago, things weren’t looking too good for Tom Coughlin. He was on the verge of being fired after the New York Giants were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for the second year in a row. He convinced ownership that he could take the Giants to the Super Bowl as well as turn Eli Manning into a star quarterback. Looks like he’s made a successful comeback.

Under Coughlin, the Giants’ 16th head coach, the Giants have improved as a team. They went from averaging 285 points per season before Coughlin to 360 per season under Coughlin. Yes, at times they’ve been unstable but they’ve pulled through with wins over Tampa Bay, Dallas and Green Bay, and won even though everyone said they wouldn’t.

Coughlin has pushed his players to be better. Tiki Barber improved, playing better in his three years with Coughlin than he had in his previous seven seasons. Disappointingly, Barber criticized Coughlin for over-coaching and suggested that he would have considered playing longer under a different coach who didn’t work him so hard.

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Eli Manning’s inconsistency worried ownership but throughout this season he got progressively better with Coughlin’s help.

Plaxico Burress was said to have too hot a temper but Coughlin worked with him and found a way to channel that fire to create beneficial outcomes on the field.

Coughlin has valued both his experienced players along with his newer players. He’s pushed them hard when he’s needed to, but he’s also sat down to listen to their concerns – important, since they’re the ones who have that first-hand experience on the field.

Like Belichick, Coughlin also coached under Bill Parcells, a man who helped shape the head coaches of today’s NFL.

Finding a way to beat Belichick’s mastermind plays and win the Giants the 2008 Super Bowl could mean great things for Coughlin’s future and his underdog team.