Las Vegas bookmakers say Indianapolis and New England remain the teams to beat in Super Bowl XL, but bettors love Lovie and his marauding Chicago Bears.

"We have a good price on the Bears (6 1/2 to 1 to win the NFC) and we're getting a lot of action on them," said Stewart Kramer, a supervisor at the Stardust Race and Sports Book. "A lot."

"Chicago teams traditionally draw well in the futures and the Bears are no exception," said Palms Race and Sports Director Richie Baccellieri. "Right now we have more futures tickets on them than anyone but New England, the defending champs."

The Bears, who are in their third season under Coach Lovie Smith, have a bye this weekend, along with Seattle, Indianapolis and Denver.

The Palms currently lists Chicago at 3/1 to win the NFC and 9/1 to cop the Super Bowl, which will be played at Detroit's Ford Field on Feb. 6.

The Bears are 4/1 to capture the NFC and 10/1 to take the Super Bowl at Wynn Las Vegas, according to John Avello, one of Sports Director Vinny Margulies' top aides.

"The NFC is wide open," Avello said. "It's anybody's (title) to win or lose. We're seeing a lot of Bears money, even at a low price.

"Chicago's had a great season."

Baccellieri points out he normally dislikes siding with favorites, but it's hard to go against Seattle to win the NFC.

"They have the home-field advantage and I think those folks up in Seattle will be ready," he said.

"The other teams are kind of marginal, but the Bears are the best of the rest."

Baccellieri and Avello believe Indy is still the top team in pro football, despite their two late-season losses.

"You can throw out those late (Colts') losses," Baccellieri said. "When the chips are down, Indy will be there. They have the home-field advantage throughout the playoffs and the Super Bowl is being played in a dome."

The Palms has Indy at minus $1.25 (4/5) to nab the NFL's mid-winter extravaganza.

Avello, a dean of Sin City bookmakers who was at Bally's/Paris for years until moving to Wynn last summer, pretty much echoed Baccellieri's sentiments.

"They have to play two games at home to get there, then the Super Bowl's in a dome," Avello said.

"My only questions are if they'll be hurt by the time off and how they'll be affected by the (Coach Tony) Dungy thing (his son's pre-Christmas suicide).

"They're the best team."

Kramer says the Pats are Super Bowl champs until someone dethrones them.

"They've been there before and they're playing well at the right time," he declared.

Most books reported minimal line moves on this weekend's wild card games, but the Stardust's Kramer noted a major one.

"We've had one big switch," he said.

"We opened the Bengals at minus 2 1/2 and we're now at Steelers minus 3. We've had a lot of action on that game.

"Otherwise, it's been mostly two-way."