So you’re getting ready for the big game and you’ve decided to take up betting. Super Bowl LI is almost here and you’re wondering how much you would make if you decided to bet on the New England Patriots. Now, you might be tempted to place a small bet, just to make some extra cash but you should think twice about that. Here’s why.
Why Super Bowls Are Special
The Super Bowl may not be the most popular sports league in the world but there’s good reason why it’s the most iconic. The TV show follows a formula for ratings success and has kept the interest of sports fans alive. Here’s a brief history of the Super Bowl.
In 1966, the American Football League and the National Football League merged forming the NFL. Up until the Super Bowl’s inception, the champions of the AFC and NFC met in the NFL Championship Game. It was then that the idea of combining the two conferences into one was conceived and the first Super Bowl was played in 1967. Since then, the game has become more and more popular and the largest audience ever watched the Super Bowl was in 2016 with 111.3 million Americans tuning in. With more people watching football than ever before, it’s no wonder the Super Bowl is so popular.
Special Teams Are Key
Besides Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, and a few other big names, the New England Patriots have an excellent special teams. Led by Adam Vinatieri, the Patriots have one of the most potent strike teams in the NFL. The Super Bowl is a spectacle because of Vinatieri. He’s always been one of the greatest placekickers ever and in recent years has been even better. In 2017, Vinatieri made all 23 of his field goal attempts and two of his three extra point attempts. He was 12-of-12 on field goal attempts in the Super Bowl and even more impressive considering he missed a 28-yarder wide right with no time remaining on the clock.
Brady Is The Ultimate Gamble
Most people think of the New England Patriots when they think of betting on football but it’s not actually Bill Belichick’s team. It’s Tom Brady’s team. Brady is the greatest quarterback of all time and it’s not even close. He’s led the Patriots to 16 straight wins and three Super Bowls. In 2018, he became the winningest quarterback in NFL history with his fifth Super Bowl victory. For a quarterback to win five Super Bowls is incredible. You might not get the same odds on a longshot as you would for a quarterback to win the Super Bowl five times but it’s still very much a possibility.
The Pats Are An Early 3-to-1 Favorite
The odds makers at Bookmaker are in the business of making money and they don’t mess around when it comes to betting on football. As good as Brady is, the Patriots aren’t a one-man show. They’ve got a lot of talented players across the board and if you look at their roster, it’s easy to see why they’re an early 3-to-1 favorite to win the Super Bowl. Here’s a look at their roster.
A Football Ring For Every Position
The only way to describe the Patriots’ roster is that it’s stacked. At least 20 players are vying for a spot on the field and there’s a ring for every position. If you’re a rookie looking to break into the NFL you have to dream about playing for the New England Patriots. Even the punter and the kicker have got rings. It’s the ultimate show of respect. Besides, the quarterback is usually the one given the honor of throwing out the first pitch at a major league baseball game. It’s a very prestigious and influential position in American society. Not many people get to hold that position but it’s definitely something that sets the Patriots apart from other teams.
Make Sure You Bet On The Right Matchup
The Super Bowl isn’t all about the Patriots. It’s about Tom Brady and the New England Patriots but it’s also about the Atlanta Falcons. You see, earlier this year the NFL fixed a few games where New England was the opponent. That’s why, even though it may be the most prestigious game of the year, it’s not necessarily a fair fight. The NFL seeded the Pats to avoid having them lose too many games this season so that they could keep the trophy all to themselves. Even though it’s a one-sided rivalry, it’s still good to bet on the NFL since odds are you’ll end up winning since they’re usually either 1) Controlling the clock or 2) Having the ball last.
The Experience Of Watching The Super Bowl Is Unparallelled
With millions of people watching the game, it’s fair to assume that at least some of them might be interested in taking a peek at what’s going on. People love to bet on the Super Bowl but the unique thing is that, even though it’s a single game, it feels like it lasts forever. It’s difficult to put into words the experience of watching the Super Bowl live but you can imagine how unique it must be. Seeing a game that massive on the big screen must be something. You might be tempted to watch a small sample video just to get a taste of what’s going on but you would do better to sit back and enjoy the whole thing.
The Game’s Most Influential Figurehead
If you watched one TV show this past year, it’s a safe bet you’ll remember the name Lawrence Taylor. The Buffalo Bills linebacker is the game’s most influential figurehead. It’s not just because he leads the league in tackles but it’s also because of the massive hits he dishes out. In one of the more memorable moments of the 1997 NFL season, Taylor sacked San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana, knocking him out of the game and causing him to sustain a serious injury. The quarterback would go on to miss the rest of the season.
Since then, Taylor has become a prominent face in NFL Films’ Greatest Matches collection. It’s an annual compilation of the greatest NFL matches. In 2018, his name was mentioned among some of the greatest players in NFL history. The compendium is a great piece of memorabilia to have and it’s not something you can get easily online or even at your local bookstore. It’s probably best to wait until the offseason to make your purchase. You can bet on Taylor continuing his legacy of great play into the future.
The Pressure Is On
If you’ve got money to waste then you might as well bet on the Patriots. It’s almost certain they’ll cover the spread and it’s good for an underdog to cover the spread in a bet. The game’s pre-game emotion is definitely high. On one end of the field, you’ve got Atlanta looking to prove a point to their fans. On the other end, you’ve got the Patriots looking to redeem themselves after being seeded. It’s not just about winning or losing. It’s about proving which team is the better team and it comes down to one thing: competition.