The Pittsburgh Steelers' win over the Seattle Seahawks in last year's National Football League championship game drew a record $94.5 million in wagers.

It was the sixth straight year the total amount legally bet in Nevada on the Super Bowl has increased and Frank Streshley, a senior gaming analyst for the Nevada Gaming Control Board, said he expects the trend to continue. The Colts are favored by 7 points over the Bears in the Feb. 4 game in Miami.

"We won't be surprised if it exceeds the $100 million mark," Streshley said in a telephone interview. "The two teams have a fairly big fan base and in prior years, we've seen increases with clubs with a big following."

The Colts ranked third and the Bears tied for fifth in a 2006 Harris Interactive poll tracking the NFL's favorite teams.

Chuck Esposito, assistant vice president of the Caesars Palace Race and Sports Book, said high-scoring offenses also draw in bettors. The Colts and Bears both averaged 26.7 points a game during the regular season, tied for the second-most in the NFL behind the San Diego Chargers.

Indianapolis is led by two-time NFL Most Valuable Player Peyton Manning at quarterback, while Chicago has increased its scoring average in the playoffs to 33 points a game.

"Offense always plays," Esposito said in a telephone interview. "People like the high-scoring affairs."