The Super Bowl is the biggest individual game of the year. It’s one of those rare times when millions of eyes are focused on the same exact thing in real time. Viewership numbers and wing consumption are both impressive.
The same holds true for betting action. In fact, the sheer number of bets that you can place related to Super Bowl Sunday can be downright overwhelming. As opposed to stressing yourself out, though, consider keeping things simple. Here’s a look at three of the easiest Super Bowl bets you can place.
3 easiest Super Bowl bets to focus on
The Super Bowl betting menu is packed with choices, but you don’t have to spend hours upon hours researching all the possibilities. Here are three easy Super Bowl bets you can jump in on quickly and painlessly:
1. The opening coin flip
Sportsbooks have a ton of nontraditional, entertaining props. The coin flip is one of the most popular Super Bowl prop bets in that group. You’re simply betting on the result of the opening coin flip — heads or tails — before the game kicks off.
Despite any analysis you may see, the bottom line is that you have a 50-50 shot. To date, tails holds a slight edge over heads at 29-27 in all-time Super Bowl coin toss results.
2. Picking the moneyline winner
Heading into the big game, it’s pretty tough to find anyone who doesn’t have an opinion on which team will win. If that includes you, why not take your chances with a simple moneyline bet on the eventual winner?
There are no points or spreads to worry about, just the winner of the game. Favorites have a great track record here, with a mark of 37-18 to date. However, don’t be shy about rolling with the underdog if you think that’s the right call.
3. Betting on the Super Bowl MVP
Before the game begins, you can pick a player to win the Super Bowl MVP award. Quarterbacks have won 31 times, leading all other positions by a wide margin. One approach you could take is to place two bets to spread out the risk: one on the QB of the team you like and another on a player you think could be in line for a big game.
By putting in some effort, you have a decent chance to win with all three of the above bets. However, that doesn’t mean that you’ll automatically be cashing tickets by placing them. There are no guarantees when it comes to betting on sports.
How to pick your Super Bowl bets
When you start scrolling through the list of Super Bowl betting options, it can feel overwhelming. Top NFL betting sites will have hundreds of live betting odds. To avoid unnecessary head pain, try answering the following questions:
- What’s your betting style? Do you like to play it close to the vest (or betting unit) or prefer taking some risk? Or would you rather mix it up? By understanding the type of bettor that you are, you’ll have a clearer sense of what you’re looking for as you devise a Super Bowl betting plan. From there, you can approach the board with much more confidence.
- Which bets interest you the most? When you stick to what you like, you won’t have to wrestle with as much frustration as you try to make sense of what bets to place.
- Where are your gut instincts and research pointing you? Ultimately, the goal is to cut down the list of options to a much more manageable size, but there’s still something to be said for paying attention to the bets that jump out to you. Listen to your gut to point you toward certain bets, and let research be your guide for where you ultimately decide to put your money.
It’s normal to feel a little nervous or excited when it’s time to bet on the Super Bowl, but it should still be an entertaining venture at the end of the day. If you focus on what you like most, you’ll be more likely to enjoy and let the chips fall where they may.
Advice for betting on the Super Bowl
OK, so the Super Bowl is here and you’re ready to bet. Now what? While there’s no magic answer about which bets will win, there are steps you can take to try to put yourself in a solid position. Here’s a trio of them:
- Lay out a plan: It’s challenging to win with sports betting consistently, but you’ll be more likely to do so with a game plan in place. Heading into the Super Bowl, set your budget and stick to it. From there, focus on the bets that you want and devote your research there. Your plan may not always work to perfection, but it does let you look back to see where you went wrong.
- Tune out the noise: Opinions are everywhere in the run-up to the Super Bowl, and some arguments may seem convincing. However, you have to be careful to not let that sway your own convictions. There’s nothing wrong with digesting the opinions of sources that you trust, but don’t overdo it. Use your own instincts and research for your Super Bowl bets.
- Stick to what matters: It’s easy to get lost down the rabbit hole of research. There are many stats, trends and angles to consider. Many of them amount to little more than interesting talking points. For the Super Bowl, some simple research will let you know what both sides bring to the table. Examine the strengths and weaknesses of both teams, look for notable advantages, consider injuries and momentum, and decide where you want to bet.
How to bet on the Super Bowl
Sportsbooks will go all out with their Super Bowl bets. Here’s a quick look at how the various options work:
- Moneylines: For this bet, you’re picking which team you think will win the game. What do negative or positive odds mean? The odds will be negative for the favorite and positive for the underdog. If you pick the right team, you win your bet.
- Spreads: This bet takes the margin of victory into account. If you bet on the favorite, that team needs to outscore the spread number. If you back the underdog, that team needs to either win by any score or lose but keep the margin within the spread number.
- Totals: Wager on the total combined score of the game. Oddsmakers will set a line, and you can bet whether the total score will be over or under that line.
- Alternates: Sportsbooks will also provide alternate lines on the main spread and total. The odds will move to reflect the change; they can rise and fall substantially based on how far you move from the original numbers. If you want to, you can buy or sell points.
- Props: These are some of the most popular Super Bowl bets, with hundreds of choices available. Many are bets on player performances, but there will be others on one of the teams or specific game circumstances.
- Parlays: You can put together a same-game parlay on the big game. With SGPs, which some books may call single-game or one-game parlays, you include multiple selections on the same betting slip, such as a team to win and a couple of player props. If you get all your choices right, you win, but you lose with a single wrong pick.
- Live bets: Once the game kicks off, you can place bets in real time. Live betting odds and lines will update frequently throughout the game. It’s a fast-moving market that can be highly entertaining.
- Futures: You don’t have to wait for the Super Bowl to back a team to win. The futures market for the winner of the big game is open all year round. If you land on the right choice at appealing odds, you can make quite the score.