How To Bet Super Bowl

Bets Available on the Super Bowl

If you already know how to bet on NFL football games then you won't have any trouble understanding how to bet on the Super Bowl. We'll start by outlining the most popular types of bets that are offered and explaining how they work. We'll then give you some tips and strategies that you can use to try and turn your knowledge of the game into a winning bet or two.

For all of the game betting opportunities described below, we will illustrate how they work with a matchup between the New England Patriots and Dallas Cowboys.

How to Bet on the Super Bowl Moneylines

If you’ve ever wondered how to bet the Super Bowl moneyline, then you’ve come to the right place. A moneyline bet is simply picking the outright winner of the Super Bowl.

Points and point spreads don’t matter as long as you pick the team that is on the podium when the clock ticks down to zero. Here is an example of what a moneyline bet looks like:

When reading moneylines, you need to know that the team named with the (-) before their odds is considered the favourite by the sportsbook odds makers. The team with the (+) before their odds is viewed as the underdog.

The odds for the favourites, in this case the Patriots, show you how much you need to be in dollars to make a profit of $100. You would therefore need to bet $155 on the Patriots in order to get $255 back if they win the game.

The odds for the underdogs, in this case the Cowboys, show you how much profit you will make if you bet $100 on them. Here you would get $245 back if the Cowboys win, which is $145 profit and the $100 that you bet in the first place.

How to Bet on the Super Bowl Spread

Betting against the spread is the most common bet that is placed on the big game. That's because you don't necessarily have to pick the winning team. You simply have to predict how close the game will be and see if you can beat the sportsbook.

Here is an example of a Super Bowl spread bet:

Here you can see that the Patriots are quoted at -3.5 points, and the Cowboys at +3.5 points. This means that the final score of the Patriots will be reduced by 3.5 points if you bet on them, and the final score of the Cowboys will be increased by 3.5 points if you bet on them.

In other words, if you make a bet on the Patriots to win the Super Bowl, then they must win the game by at least four points for your bet to succeed. However, a bet on the Cowboys can be a winner if they keep the game within a field goal (three points) if they lose or if they win the game outright. 

How to Bet on the Super Bowl Over/Under

Super Bowl over/under betting is another extremely common betting opportunity that is offered by the sportsbooks. You might also hear bettors refer to this type of bet as a 'total' bet because it deals with the total number of points scored in the Super Bowl.

One reason that this betting type is popular is that it doesn’t require bettors to pick the winner or loser of the Super Bowl. As long as you can make a correct prediction about the total number of points scored, then you can win this bet.

Here is an example of how this betting type looks:

Sportsbooks will usually offer the same lines for both betting options in an Over/Under market. Here you can see that you would need to bet $110 on either Over or Under to make a profit of $100. Your task is simply to decide the teams will score a combined total of 44 points or more, or 43 points or less. 

How to Bet on the Super Bowl Futures

A Super Bowl Futures bet is so-called because it is usually placed well in advance of the game being played. Sportsbooks will begin offering Super Bowl futures bets for next season immediately following the conclusion of this season's Super Bowl game. 

Most Super Bowl Futures markets will close as soon as the Super Bowl is kicked off, although some will keep them open and adjust the lines in play so that live betting can take place. 

A few common Super Bowl Futures bets will require you to:

• Predict which team will win the Super Bowl.
• Specify the conference that will win Super Bowl.
• Name the player who will be the Super Bowl MVP.

If you make a bet and your prediction turns out to be correct, you will win.

Super Bowl Live Betting

The Super Bowl attracts a large number of spectators, with the majority watching the game live on television. A large portion of those viewers want to place bets while watching the game, and they can do exactly that.

Sportsbooks will update their betting odds in real-time throughout the game. This will give you the chance to make bets on the point spread, total, or moneyline as the action unfolds. For example, the favorite to win the Super Bowl might change as the game plays out, and you can make bets accordingly. 

The principles of live betting markets are exactly the same as described in the previous sections of this guide. As far as practicalities are concerned, live betting is most easily done through an online sportsbook or mobile betting app. However, it can also be done by visiting a retail sportsbook. 

Super Bowl Props Betting

Super Bowl prop bets are extremely popular, and even the non-football fan can get in on the action. There are three main types of prop bets available, and we will discuss all three in more detail in a moment. 

Odds for Super Bowl prop bets are drastically different depending on the type of prop bet that you are making. 

Pre-game Prop Betting

Pre-game prop bets are bets that are placed on events that take place before the kickoff. Two of the most common pre-game Super Bowl prop bets are:

Super Bowl Game Prop Bets

Sportsbooks love offering unique prop bets during the Super Bowl. In addition, they also provide plenty of prop bets on the actual game. Some of these prop bets will involve player statistics, while others will focus on how points will be scored. 

Here are a few examples:

Halftime Show Prop Bets

The Super Bowl the biggest football game of the year, and the halftime show is one of the biggest musical events of the year. With that in mind, sportsbooks love offering prop bets on the halftime show. 

Here are a few prop bets that you might see offered:

Super Bowl Betting Tips and Strategies

Now that you know what the main Super Bowl betting markets are and how they work, you probably want to know how to pick winning bets. There is no easy answer to that question, because football is a game in which almost anything can happen. Fortunately, we can give you a number of tips and strategies that should help you to improve your chances.

Know the Game

Your chances of making winning bets are directly proportionate to your knowledge of the game. The more you know about the NFL teams, their key players and how they have previously performed, the better.

Also spend some time getting to know the Super Bowl as an event in its own right. Look at previous Super Bowl games. How often do the underdogs tend to defeat the favourites? Have the current teams performed in previous Super Bowls, and if so, how did they fare? Also consider how confident the teams are. Do they look and sound like winners, or do they just seem glad to have gotten this far?

Watch the Playoffs

Following on from the previous tip, if you plan on betting on the Super Bowl, then you need to watch the playoffs leading up to the big game. Reading about teams and players and actually watching them play are two different things. Watching the playoffs can give you a gut feel for the game like no form book or game report ever can.

Check the Injury Report

Football players aren't machines, and the way they get knocked around on the field it isn't surprising that they get injured from time to time. If one or more key players gets injured before the big game, that could have a big effect on the chances of their team winning.

There is a two-week layoff between the conference championship games and the Super Bowl. Each team will have an injury report every day leading up to the big game, so it makes a sense to check it out each day. 

Of course, not every injury is a potential game-changer. Some players will recover rapidly, and go into the Super Bowl in no worse shape than they originally expected. Other players will be downgraded as time goes on, and you need to take that into consideration before deciding how you want to bet.

Spread Your Bets

Betting on the Super Bowl is usually a once-per-year thing, so if you want to maximise your chances of getting a return you should spread your bets. By all means predict which team you think will win, based on your knowledge of the game, but also predict how close you think the game will be, and whether or not you think the game will go into overtime.

By making several predictions about the game, you can place several bets in different markets and thereby give yourself several chances of winning. You could bet the moneyline for the overall result, you could bet the spread and totals markets as well, and have a little on the game going into overtime, or not. This not only spreads your risk, but it could also help you to land multiple winners.

Where to Bet on the Super Bowl

If you plan on betting on the Super Bowl, then you need to know where to place your bets. The traditional way is to head to a land-based casino or sportsbook, but now online sportsbooks make it possible for many to place their bets online.

Best Super Bowl Bookmakers and Sportsbooks

All legal sportsbooks in the USA are likely to have plenty of Super Bowl markets for you to choose from. That said, a few sportsbooks stand head and shoulders above the rest, so here are the ones that we'd particularly recommend.

FanDuel

If you are someone that enjoys playing daily fantasy sports, then you have probably heard of FanDuel already. They are one of the leaders in the DFS industry, but they have also grown into a leader in the sports betting industry as well. 

FanDuel will have some great Super Bowl promotions leading up to the big game, so keep your eyes peeled for those.

DraftKings

Another big sportsbook to be consider is DraftKings. This company is also a leading player in the DFS industry, and will still have plenty of fantasy games available on the Super Bowl, but their sportsbooks will be open for business as well. 

PointsBet

One of the newest sportsbooks to hit the United States is PointsBet, but it has built up a great reputation already. PointsBet offers unique betting opportunities, and there is a chance to win some real money by betting on the Super Bowl at this sportsbook.

William Hill

William Hill is one of the biggest and best sportsbooks in the United States, and they specialize in football and basketball. However, they will have some of the best Super Bowl betting odds and lines available, and they are located in many states throughout the country. 

Betting on the Super Bowl in Vegas

The popularity of the even makes Super Bowl day one of the biggest partying days in the United States, and Las Vegas is one of the best places to party. If you are looking for a great experience while betting on the Super Bowl, then Las Vegas is the place to be.

Betting on the Super Bowl in Vegas works just like it does anywhere else, but there are casinos and sportsbooks everywhere. You can bet on the Super Bowl in Vegas and also watch the game on a big-screen television. And if your team wins, you can celebrate in style!

Photo Credits: AL BELLO / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP