Tiger Woods begins his 2012 golf season this week in Abu Dhabi as a slight underdog to co-favorites Martin Kaymer and Rory McIlroy. Kaymer is the two-time defending champion at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, and has won here three times overall. World Number One Luke Donald is also in the field, as is reigning Masters champ Charl Schwartzel.

Tiger is paired with McIlroy and Donald for the first two rounds. The magnificent threesome will tee off at 10:40 p.m. ET on Wednesday night for their opening round and 3:05 a.m. ET on Friday for their second.

Donald says he’s no longer intimidated by playing with Tiger.  “There’s a little bit more of an atmosphere,” said the game’s current top-ranked player. “You’re going to feel a little bit differently. Certainly my experiences over the last few years — and I have played with [Tiger] quite a few times in the past — that feeling of being intimidated certainly dissipates.”

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning says despite all the uncertainty and rumors, he’s going forward assuming he’s staying put as the franchise’s starting quarterback after a year lost to injury, while also focusing on his brother Eli Manning coming to Indy to play the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. Peyton also discussed the rumor of his retirement started on Twitter by actor Rob Lowe.

“I’m still under contract to the Colts,” said Peyton, whose playoff record pales compared to his younger brother’s. “I’m still the quarterback of the Colts. That’s why I’m in the building every day trying to get healthy.”

The New York Giants capitalized on two special teams turnovers to steal the NFC Championship with an overtime road win over the San Francisco 49ers. The New England Patriots won the AFC Championship when Baltimore Ravens kicker Billy Cundiff did his best Scott Norwood impression, missing a chip shot field goal that would have sent that game to overtime.

And so we have a rematch of one of the worst Super Bowls in recent memory, when the 18-0 Patriots choked away their perfect season against a mediocre Giants squad not unlike this one. Early lines have the Patriots as three-point favorites to win the rematch, and surely Tom Brady and Bill Belichick will be motivated to avenge their only Super Bowl loss.

The Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots will meet on Sunday to determine who represents the AFC in the Super Bowl.  The Patriots are nine-point home favorites, and the game’s Over/Under is at 50.5 points. However, there’s plenty of prop bets available featuring stars like Joe Flacco, Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski, plus many other players on both squads.

Joe Flacco Props:
Total Passing Yards: 245.5 (Over -125, Under -105)
Total TD Passes: 1.5 (O -135, U +105)
Total Interceptions: .5 (O -190, U +155)

Tom Brady Props:
Total Passing Yards: 315.5 (Over -130, Under EVEN)
Total TD Passes: 2.5 (O -135, U +105)
Total Interceptions: .5 (O -155, U +125)
Times Sacked: 2 (Over -130, Under EVEN)

Rob Gronkowski Props:
Total Receiving Yards: 85.5 (O -125, U -105)
Touchdowns Scored: 0.5 (O -180, U +150)