Sporting events don’t come much bigger and much grander than the Super Bowl. Held on an annual basis, this one-off contest brings the curtain down on the NFL season and is usually packed full of drama and excitement. The whole event is a showcase of US sport and entertainment with plenty of talk surrounding the half-time entertainment. It is watched around the world and is an event that is viewed by football fanatics and non-NFL fans-alike.
This annual Championship is played between the two sides who have made it through the NFL play-offs and it is a game which has been won by a number of different franchises over the years.
The event has a tremendous history and has been competed each year since it’s inception in 1967. The merger between the NFL and AFL was behind the creation of this monumental sporting event and it has slowly gained in popularity outside of the USA with each passing year. Commercial airtime is highly sought-after and companies will shell out huge amounts of money to feature their brand.
In America, it is considered an unofficial bank holiday and many sports fans will put the whole day aside to watch the build-up to the action. In the UK, it is also a hugely popular event but the time difference can often restrict the number of the viewers. It is also a huge betting event and the majority of the biggest bookmakers will have prices available throughout the season.
When and Where?
Although Super Bowl I was held at the end of January, the game tends to take place at the start of February, usually on the first weekend of the month. This has been the case since 2004 and it takes place exactly five months after Labor Day which signals the opening weekend of the NFL season.
The Super Bowl takes place at a different stadium each season with a variety of locations getting the chance to host this iconic event. The 2019 Super Bowl will be held at the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
The Popularity of the Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is hugely popular around the world and provides an opportunity for NFL fans to enjoy a feast of entertainment.
It’s the most watched annual sporting event on TV alongside the UEFA Champions League Final. An estimated 111 million viewers tuned in last year.
What Betting Opportunities are Available?
There are hundreds of betting opportunities available ahead of the Super Bowl. Each bookmaker will have each of the team’s chances priced up at the start of the NFL season and they will change as the campaign progresses.
For the Super Bowl itself, there are thousands of different betting markets and special wagers available. It is also a hugely popular event for punters who like to bet in-play.
The markets aren’t just restricted to sport with additional markets focusing on the national anthem, outfit colour of the performer through to the words spoken by the commentary team.
Popular Betting Markets
Moneyline Betting
This is the simplest of all the markets but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a decent option. This is predicting which side will win the Super Bowl and add their name to trophy. Each Franchise will be priced up according to their chances and this will be based on history in the event, play-off form and head-to-head record. If your side triumphs, this will be paid out. Prices can often be quite restrictive although they can shift depending on the weight of money in the market.
Points Spread
Although it isn’t as simple as the moneyline market, the points spread remains the most popular betting option for Super Bowl punters. This market will indicate how the bookmakers forsee each side’s chance of success. The minus (-) handicap will be attributed to the favourite and will offer them a headstart. For example, betting -5 on the Super Bowl favourite will require them to win by a six-point margin.
The plus (+) handicap will be available on the underdog and it requires them to stay within touching distance of the favourites. For example +5 on the underdogs would require them to lose by no more than four points.
Points Totals
Another hugely popular betting market which doesn’t require either side to win the match. Bettors who don’t fancy nailing their colours to the mast can use this market to predict either a high-scoring or low-scoring encounter.
This market will be set by the bookmaker and will depend on the teams offensive record throughout the regular campaign.
Over 35.5 points would require at least 36 points to be scored by both teams combined in order to payout.
Prop Betting
Prop betting is very much an umbrella term for all of the other bets which have been priced up by the bookmakers. These can vary from individual player performance through the duration of the national anthem. There are hundreds of them available and each bookmaker will have various different options and lines.
Winning Margin
This is a specific market which offers greater returns for predicting the winning margin. These can vary from 1-6 points through to 5-9 points and each bookmaker will have different options available.
Super Bowl MVP
The MVP market will also appear under prop betting and it is very popular with US punters. MVP (most valuable player) is awarded to the key player and it is voted for by the fans during the game as well as a panel of sporting broadcasters and experts. The quarterbacks are usually the shortest prices in this market.
Bobbys Big Betting Tips for the Super Bowl
- Explore the different markets. The bookmakers now offer multiple markets and it is advised to take full advantage of the variety on offer. If you fancy a bet on the moneyline market, that’s perfectly acceptable but value can often be found elsewhere by exploring the prop betting options.
- Don’t neccessarily write off the underdogs. In order to reach the Super Bowl, you have to be pretty special. The two teams will have won several games in a row by the time they reach the season finale and the final will see two in-form sides lock horns. Although the odds are likely to be stacked against the underdogs, it’s important to remember that they will not simply rollover and let their opponents win easily.
- Experience can play a significant part. Some teams reach the Super Bowl for the first time and they can often be overrawed by the occasion. it is always advised to back teams with more experienced players and those teams who have several Super Bowls under their belts. With a huge crowd and so much riding on the event, it can be easy for players to underperform.
- Two high-scoring teams don’t neccessarily lead to a high-scoring game. The Super Bowl is completely different to any other game during the regular season with two in-form sides sometimes cancelling one another out. Just because each side is offensively potent, it doesn’t always translate to the big game itself. Don’t fall into this trap.
