Super Bowl, the pinnacle of American sports, is not just a championship game; it’s a colossal entertainment spectacle. Over 100 million viewers globally tune into the Super Bowl every year. NFL football presents a variety of betting opportunities, and the Super Bowl, marking the climax of the season, provides numerous types of wagers that bettors love. We will thoroughly explore these favored Super Bowl betting options, providing explanations for each.
Super Bowl: A Brief History
The Super Bowl, an annual NFL championship game, debuted in 1967. It’s evolved into a global phenomenon, attracting millions of viewers worldwide. Way beyond football, it’s about halftime shows, commercials, and, of course, betting.
During a series of regular season and playoff games, the top team from each conference is determined. These two premier teams face off in a single game, where the victor claims the NFL Championship.
Quick Super Bowl Facts
- 🔹 There have been 57 Super Bowls to date.
- 🔹 The inaugural Super Bowl took place in 1967 in Los Angeles, California.
- 🔹 The original name of the Super Bowl was the AFL-NFL World Championship Game.
- 🔹 The New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers share the record for the most Super Bowl victories, each with six.
How Are Super Bowl Teams Selected?
The Super Bowl marks the NFL season’s pinnacle, but what’s the process for selecting the teams that make it to the Big Game?
Every NFL teams participates in 17 regular season games. Based on their records, seven playoff teams are selected from each conference. These playoff teams engage in a single-elimination tournament to establish the NFC and AFC conference champions.
Securing victory in their respective conferences earns a team a ticket to the Super Bowl. The AFC and NFC champions then compete for the Lombardi Trophy and the prestigious title of the NFL’s best team.
Most Super Bowl Appearances By NFL Teams
In terms of Super Bowl appearances, five NFL teams stand out prominently. The New England Patriots lead the way with 11 appearances, followed by the Denver Broncos, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Dallas Cowboys -each with 8 appearances- and the San Francisco 49ers with 7. Together, these five teams have contributed to 42 of the 112 slots in all Super Bowl games to date, accounting for over a third of all appearances. Remarkably, at least one of these teams has participated in 18 out of the 56 Super Bowl games held.
It’s no surprise that recent Super Bowl history has been marked by Tom Brady‘s dominance. The renowned quarterback has secured victory in four of the past ten Super Bowls (three with New England and one with Tampa Bay), consistently guiding his teams deep into the playoffs.
The most significant underdog story in recent Super Bowl memory occurred in 2017 when the Eagles triumphed over Brady’s Patriots in the championship game. Remarkably, they achieved this feat even after losing their top quarterback, Carson Wentz, to injury late in the season. Nick Foles, the backup quarterback, stepped in and not only led the team but also earned the Super Bowl MVP title, providing outstanding preseason odds value to those who bet on Philadelphia in Super Bowl 52.
Super Bowl Betting Trends
- 🔹 AFC teams have claimed victory in 7 of the past 11 Super Bowls.
- 🔹 In the last 15 Super Bowl wins, 12 were secured by quarterbacks aged 27 or older at the time of their victory.
- 🔹 Notably, no rookie quarterback has ever won the Super Bowl as a starter.
- 🔹 A cost-effective approach to running backs has prevailed, with the leading rusher on each of the last 10 Super
- 🔹 Bowl champions earning a base salary of $2.5 million or less.
Over the past 22 years, Super Bowl MVP honors have been awarded to a quarterback on 14 occasions.
Football Betting Odds and Lines
Understanding odds and lines is crucial. Odds reflect the probability of an event occurring. The favorite has negative odds (e.g., -150), while the underdog has positive odds (e.g., +200). Lines show the points by which a team is favored (e.g., -3.5 points).
The Vital Role of Line Changes in NFL Betting
These adjustments are a linchpin in NFL wagering due to the season’s intense focus, substantial bet volumes, and substantial stakes.
The instincts of oddsmakers, coupled with heavy bets, cause spreads to oscillate, altering the betting dynamics to attract more action. For newcomers, this might seem perplexing, but line changes teach a fundamental sports betting lesson: timing is paramount.
The ebb and flow of betting lines aren’t limited to the playoffs; they hold significance throughout the entire football season. While Super Bowl Sunday magnifies everything and introduces modifications, NFL gambling offers both risks and rewards throughout the year.
This is why prop bets, which maintain relevance in the regular season, gain substantial popularity leading up to the Super Bowl, offering a plethora of options that wouldn’t otherwise exist.
In essence, as Super Bowl weekend approaches, every conceivable bet experiences heightened activity, evident in the ever-evolving odds. To maximize your wagers, explore various sportsbooks, and closely monitor these dynamic betting lines to extract the utmost value from each bet you place.
Also Learn About How to Understand Betting Scores and Odds
Types of Super Bowl Bets Available
When it comes to wagering on the Super Bowl, the list of betting options can be quite extensive. In addition to traditional NFL games bets, you’ll encounter an exciting array of prop bets.
Here’s a brief overview of the various Super Bowl betting options you can anticipate for next year’s game:
Moneyline Betting
A moneyline bet is a simple wager on the team you believe will win the game, making it one of the fundamental Super Bowl bets.
Your potential payout varies depending on the team’s perceived likelihood of winning and the betting trends of others.
For instance, in 2022, the LA Rams were favored against the Cincinnati Bengals, opening at -195 on the moneyline. The initial odds were as follows:
LA Rams (-195)
Cincinnati Bengals (+170)
Point Spread Bets
A point spread bet is a slightly less simple option. You don’t need to predict the winning team; instead, you must estimate the difference in the final scores. The sportsbook establishes a line indicating how many points they expect the favorite to win by.
Here’s an example based on Super Bowl 57’s lines:
Philadelphia Eagles (-1.5) 
Kansas City Chiefs (+1.5)
If you wager on the favorite and they win by more points than that, you win. Betting on the underdog means you win if they either win the game or lose by fewer points than the spread.
Using this year’s Super Bowl betting odds as an illustration, the Eagles (-1.5) must win by at least two points to cover their spread. Kansas City only needs to lose by one point or win the game outright to cover the spread.
Totals Betting
A total bet involves predicting the total number of points scored in the Super Bowl. The sportsbook establishes a line indicating their expected point total. If you believe more points will be scored, you bet the over.
Conversely, if you anticipate fewer points, you bet the under. If your prediction is correct, you win the bet, regardless of the game’s winner or who scores the points.
For instance, the total score bet for last year’s Super Bowl was as follows:
Super Bowl 57 Total Score: Over/under 50.5 points
The line for Super Bowl 57 is set at over/under 50.5 points. To win this wager, the combined score of the Eagles and Chiefs must be at least 51 points.
Live Betting
Live Super Bowl betting offers an exhilarating experience for sports enthusiasts. It allows you to place bets on the game even after it has already begun. This means you can make real-time wagers on moneyline, spread, and totals as the score changes and events unfold.
One remarkable instance highlighting the value of live betting occurred during Super Bowl 51. In the fourth quarter, Tom Brady and the Patriots, trailing 28-3 against the Falcons, were listed at 16-1 odds. New England went on to achieve an incredible comeback, securing substantial winnings for live bettors.
Depending on the Super Bowl betting platform you choose, you may have the opportunity to bet after each quarter, at halftime, or even after every single play.
Future Bets
If the Super Bowl is fast approaching, this type of bet won’t be an option. However, before the conference championship games are played, you can place a futures bet.
A Super Bowl futures bet is essentially a wager on the eventual winner of the game. It’s similar to a moneyline bet, but the key difference is that you can make this bet when there are more than two potential winning teams.
You can place a futures bet at several points: at the end of the previous season, during the preseason, anytime in the regular season, or even during the playoffs. The NFL odds for each team will fluctuate based on their performance and chances of winning the Super Bowl.
Depending on when you decide to bet, there might be odds available for up to 32 teams. Teams with shorter odds are considered more likely to win the Super Bowl, according to oddsmakers.
For example:
Kansas City Chiefs (+108) Philadelphia Eagles (-128)
Futures bets offer an excellent opportunity to profit from an underdog team. Before the season began, the Philadelphia Eagles had 20-1 odds to win Super Bowl 57. Now, they’re just one win away from potentially making some futures bettors very wealthy.
Super Bowl Proposition (Prop) Bets
A prop bet is essentially a wager on whether a specific event will occur during the game or even during the Super Bowl festivities.
Your task is to predict whether or not that particular event will happen. Sportsbooks offer prop bets for every game throughout the year, but when it comes to Super Bowl 58 betting, you’ll have the opportunity to choose from a vast selection of prop bets.
Some of these prop bets are strategy-focused and can be a valuable component of a winning betting strategy. Here are a few examples:
- 🔹 Which player will score the first touchdown?
- 🔹 Will the first score be a field goal or a safety?
- 🔹 Will Quarterback X throw for more than 269.5 yards?
- 🔹 Will the team that scores first win the game?
Additionally, there are Super Bowl prop bets designed purely for entertainment. While gaining an advantage on these bets may be unlikely, they are undeniably enjoyable to make. Here are a few examples:
- 🔹 Will the National Anthem last over 1 minute and 53 seconds?
- 🔹 Will the coin toss result in heads or tails?
- 🔹 Will the halftime singer wear red?
- 🔹 What will the Gatorade color that’s poured on the winning coach?
Super Bowl Betting Tips and Strategies
Super Bowl MVP Betting Strategy
Bet on the Quarterback
In the world of NFL awards, be it in the NFL, College Football, or even varsity leagues, Quarterbacks are undeniably the favored contenders. It doesn’t matter if you’ve achieved 14 catches, 110 receiving yards, 3 total TDs, and a game-changing two-point conversion to propel your team to Super Bowl glory – as James White did. The player under center usually walks away with the MVP honor.
Julian Edelman was the last non-QB to claim the Super Bowl MVP title just two years ago. Nevertheless, among the last 11 MVPs, eight have been quarterbacks. Edelman, Von Miller, and Malcolm Smith – remember him? – were the exceptions.
Despite the unmistakable quarterback bias that pervades the NFL, these players often make the difference between victory and defeat, as witnessed with instances like Nick Foles, Eli Manning, Joe Flacco, Drew Brees, and most recently, Tom Brady leading the Bucs to victory. It’s worth noting that Miller and Smith are exceptions to this trend.
If you anticipate a closely contested game where a dominant defender could be the game-changer, consider placing your bet there. Wide Receivers also offer reasonable value and provide a viable alternative to the QBs – you can explore more in Dimers’ NFL bet hub.
NFL Season Specials Futures
NFL Season Specials Futures bets are wagers on long-term outcomes within the NFL, such as division winners, conference champions, or Super Bowl winners. These bets are typically placed before the NFL season begins and are designed to test your ability to predict the overall success of teams in various categories.
For example, you can bet on which team will win their division, which team will represent their conference in the Super Bowl, or even which team will ultimately win the Super Bowl itself. These bets add an exciting layer of anticipation to the NFL season as they require you to forecast not just individual game results, but the performance of teams throughout the entire season and postseason.
By placing NFL Season Specials Futures bets, you’re essentially making a long-term investment in your predictions, with the potential for substantial payouts if your foresight proves accurate. These bets are an excellent way for NFL fans to engage with the sport on a deeper level and to demonstrate their faith in their favorite teams or underdogs before the kickoff of the season.
Super Bowl Betting Pros and Cons
🔷 Pros of Betting on the NFL Super Bowl
Betting on the NFL Super Bowl can enhance your enjoyment of the game. It adds an extra layer of excitement and engagement as you follow the action closely, cheering for your bets to win.
Successful Super Bowl bets can lead to substantial profits. With a wide range of betting options, including spreads, totals, and prop bets, there are numerous opportunities to find value and secure financial gains.
Betting on the Super Bowl requires research, analysis, and strategic thinking. It’s an opportunity to test your sports knowledge and betting skills, making it an intellectually stimulating endeavor.
🔶 Cons of Betting on the NFL Super Bowl
Betting on sports, including the Super Bowl, carries the risk of losing money. It’s possible to experience significant financial losses if your bets do not pan out as expected.
Betting can lead to heightened emotional involvement in the game, which might not always be enjoyable. Losses can be particularly disheartening, impacting the enjoyment of the Super Bowl.
For some individuals, sports betting can become addictive, leading to financial and personal problems. It’s essential to approach Super Bowl betting responsibly and set limits to avoid falling into this trap.
Summary
Super Bowl betting transcends mere scoreboard predictions, offering a captivating expedition into the realm of odds, prop bets, and long-term forecasts. It caters to a diverse audience, accommodating both seasoned bettors who relish the intricacies of NFL wagering and newcomers seeking an exciting introduction to the world of sports betting.
This event brilliantly amalgamates the exhilaration of football with the sheer entertainment value of its extravagant halftime shows, unforgettable commercials, and a multitude of prop bets that add excitement and intrigue to the game. So, whether you’re a die-hard football fan or just someone looking for an exhilarating way to enjoy the Super Bowl, Super Bowl betting stands as a thrilling and multifaceted experience that brings together the best of both worlds.
