The Super Bowl is arguably the most prestigious championship in American sports, and the game itself is one of the most popular spectator sports in the world. However, the biggest game of the year doesn’t always mean the most profitable one for bookmakers. It can be difficult to predict the outcome of a game, which makes it more difficult to set the odds. For instance, in the 2017 NFL season, the betting lines for the Super Bowl were mostly solid until late February, when they started to skew in favor of the underdog New England Patriots. Prior to their Super Bowl LI victory against the Falcons, the betting odds were heavily in favor of Atlanta. The Patriots had been an incredibly popular pick to win the big game with odds as long as 4-1. However, as the season progressed, it became apparent the underdogs were going to stand a chance of bringing home the Vince Lombardi Trophy. In fact, as the season came to a close, the Patriots were 8-1 to win the Super Bowl, with the Chiefs, Packers, and Raiders the only ones providing some competition.
NFL Games Are More Predictable Than You Think
The odds often change based on a variety of factors, but one of the key elements that influence the betting lines for NFL games is record. The better the teams’ records are, the more likely it is that those games will have higher totals and better odds. In the 2017 NFL season, only eleven of the league’s fourteen teams were undefeated going into their postseason games. Six of those undefeated teams made it to the playoffs, with the Indianapolis Colts winning the Super Bowl. While it’s always exciting to witness a team go undefeated during the regular season, it’s not always the case that they’ll make it to the Super Bowl. History books will tell you that the 2017 season was quite possibly the most dominant season in NFL history. The league as a whole went 11-5 against the spread, as opposed to its usual 8-8 or 9-7 record. In the same vein, the betting lines for those eleven wins were the sharpest they’ve been in years. This is largely because many people saw those games as a final flourish before the league’s best team, the Dallas Cowboys, lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Green Bay Packers. Those same Packers went on to win the Super Bowl against the Patriots, a team many people did not expect to beat New England in the big game.
Which Teams Are Most Valuable to Bet On?
The last few seasons have seen parity slowly permeate the league, which is a great thing overall. However, it does mean that there are some extremely talented teams that you may not want to bet on. In the 2017 NFL season, only two teams were unquestionably better than their previous seasons’ statistics. Those teams were the Los Angeles Rams and New England Patriots. The Rams had won just four games total the previous two seasons, but they exploded for a 12-4 record in 2017. Their +12 point differential (44-32) was the largest in the league and second-largest in the NFL since the 2012 season. One of the reasons the Rams went 12-4 is due to the superb performance of their rookie quarterback, Jared Goff. Prior to 2017, Goff had never started a game in his entire professional career. In his NFL debut, he threw for 284 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. Since then, he has started every game and led the Rams to three victories in the playoffs. Needless to say, his play has been worth the hype, and people are now willing to pay big money to see him lead his team to a championship.
As for the Patriots, they had finished second in the AFC East for the previous two seasons, but they ended up winning the division for the first time in franchise history. They also went 12-4 and posted the largest point differential in the NFL (66-26). Although they lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Steelers, it was still a successful season for the defending champions. While it’s always great to beat the teams you’re supposed to beat, it’s not always great for your wallet. Seeing as how there are no guarantees in life, especially when it comes to sports, it’s best to avoid betting on certain teams. It’s never fun to lose money, but at least you’ll feel you’re getting value for your money. Plus, you can always turn it around and use it to buy more DirecTV.
What’s the Line For The Super Bowl?
The Super Bowl is the culmination of the NFL season, and it’s one of the most popular sports betting events of the year. It’s not uncommon for the line to change multiple times leading up to the big game, so be sure to check back frequently. Just like any other NFL game, there’s no telling what the betting lines will be until kickoff. However, because it’s such an important game, the line is usually pretty stable a few days prior to the big game.
The Super Bowl is played between the champion of the National Football League (NFL) and the champion of the American Football Conference (AFC). Historically, the Super Bowl victor is decided by a field goal or a touchdown scored in regulation. However, in the case of a tie, the National Football League chooses the “Greatest Showdowns” series, which pits the two teams against each other until a winner is crowned. The 2017 NBA Finals, for example, were a perfect example of a Super Bowl-like finale, with the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers going into overtime before the latter prevailed in Game 7. The previous season’s Super Bowl was also a memorable example of a game that went into overtime, as the New England Patriots beat the Philadelphia Eagles 12-10 in the 2016 edition.
Why Are The Patriots So Popular To Bet On?
It’s no secret that the New England Patriots are one of the most popular teams in the NFL. Much of their appeal comes from quarterback Tom Brady, who has won five Super Bowls and nine league MVP awards. However, it’s not just because of Brady. There’s also a reason people are willing to bet on the Patriots. In the last three years alone, they’ve covered the spread in seventeen of their twenty-one regular season games. Those are pretty good odds. It also helps that the Pats are one of the more consistent teams in the NFL. They’ve never had a losing record and, as mentioned above, have gone 12-4 and posted the largest point differential in the league in each of the last two seasons. Finally, it’s not a bad idea to bet on the Patriots simply because they’re from New England. If you’re from Massachusetts or Connecticut, then you know what kind of loyalty the Patriots inspire. Seeing as how most of the state’s residents are likely to be pulling for the home team, it might not be a bad idea to join them. Plus, it’s never fun to bet against Tom Brady.
What’s The Line For The Conference Championships?
The NFL season is coming to a close, and as we’ve established, it’s one of the most important games of the year. However, it’s not just about the big game. While the conference championships may not mean much to the casual fan, it’s an important stage in the development of any professional football team. The winners of these games go on to play in the Super Bowl. For example, the winner of the AFC Championship Game will play the winner of the NFC Championship Game for the right to face the Patriots in the Super Bowl. In other words, these are games that can essentially decide the outcome of the NFL season. Because of this, it’s not a surprising that the lines for the conference championships are usually among the most heavily wagering games of the year. These are the last games for some players on the roster, and many will be competing for a spot on the final team or one of the three final berths in the playoffs. Naturally, people will be keeping an eye on these games, and as a result, the lines will move around a lot.
What About The Wild Card Games?
The NFL doesn’t always follow the same path to the Super Bowl as we’ve discussed. Some years, there’s no conference championship game, and the NFL simply crowns the winner of the biggest game. However, in other years, there are still conference championship games. In those cases, the following week’s wild card games are vital for deciding who will compete in the Super Bowl. The champions of the four most powerful conferences—the AFC, NFC, American Football Conference (AFC) West, and NFC West—go to the playoffs. The winners of the wild card games then play against each other for the right to go to the Super Bowl. While it’s great to see any team make it to the Super Bowl, it would be great to see the league expand its postseason so that more than two teams could qualify. Sadly, this is often subject to the vagaries of fate, and it can be difficult to make money off those particular games. Despite this, it’s always an interesting thing to follow.