The 2019 NFL season is now less than a month away and the big game is less than 48 hours away! Since the beginning of the year, sportsbooks have adjusted their lines and adjusted their odds to match the promise of the American football season. And now that the dust has settled and the games have been played, what are the betting odds for the Super Bowl?
To find out, let’s dive into the numbers and see who the bookmakers think will win tonight’s big game!
The Spread
If you’ve been keeping up with the Super Bowl news over the past year, you would know that the spread has been steadily going up. The five-star game used to be the most expensive tickets in sports, with the over/under on the total score often reaching 57 points. Well, those days are over. Nowadays, the over/under on the total score is around 41 points, which makes it more affordable for the average person. For the season’s first four weeks, the five-star game was the most popular wager on the Las Vegas sportsbooks, with bettors backing the Los Angeles Rams at +600 and the New England Patriots at +400. Those are the current odds for the Super Bowl.
Meanwhile, the early favorite is the New York Giants at -140, with the Jacksonville Jaguars at +120 and the Philadelphia Eagles at +190 also available. Those are also the current betting odds for the Super Bowl.
The Over/Under
One of the most interesting things about Super Bowl betting is how there’s no clear-cut favorite in either direction. Like with the spread, this year’s Super Bowl has produced some odd results when it comes to the over/under on the total score. For the season’s first four weeks, bettors laid the under on four of the five five-star games, with the over/under on total scoring reaching 56 points in every game. However, the trend has flipped since, as the over has won four straight and seen its odds decrease to +200. This likely has to do with the fact that teams have figured out how to score effectively in the 5th Quarter. Nevertheless, the under still has a bit of a run in it. The Los Angeles Rams are 7/11 to win the Super Bowl this year, which is the best odds for an underdog in recent memory. The over/under on the final score remains a tough number to call, as it’s been even in recent weeks. For Sunday’s game, bettors are favoring the New England Patriots over the Los Angeles Rams by 6 points, which is a big increase from last year’s Super Bowl. Nevertheless, it will still be close as ever!
Total Points
For those looking to bet on the Super Bowl, choosing an option that pays out based on the total score is the way to go. But with no clear-cut favorite in either direction, it can be a bit tricky to choose the right team. For the season’s first four weeks, bettors chose the under in four of the five five-star games. The trend has shifted in favor of the over in recent weeks. For the season’s final week, the under/over on total points was 8/5, with the Buffalo Bills at +3, the Cincinnati Bengals at +3, the Green Bay Packers at +3 and the Washington Redskins at +3 also available. Those are also the current odds for the Super Bowl.
The under/over on the total points is a great way to bet because it gives you a chance at winning big or losing big. For instance, if the game is close at halftime and the underdogs score more points at the end, you win. If the game is lopsided at halftime and the overdogs score more points at the end, you win. If the game is even at halftime and the scores are close at the end, then it’s a tie!
Props
If you’re looking to bet on the Super Bowl, props can be a great way to increase your chances of winning. For instance, if you’re betting on the underdogs, you can take the point spread into consideration and choose the under on the over/under for first downs, turnovers and sacks. You can also choose the under on whether or not the touchdown will be scored. While it’s not always the case, underdogs are often beneficiaries of the props bet. For the season’s first four weeks, bettors chose the over on all of the props, with the exception of first downs, which was chosen by 42% of those who backed the Rams. But things have changed since, as the Rams are now +400 to win the Super Bowl with the over/under on first downs at +275. The under is also the preferred choice when it comes to turnovers and sacks, with 43% and 45% of those who backed the Rams selecting those options. Still, underdogs are usually the right side of the prop bet. You’ll notice that teams with poor pass defenses like the Giants and the Bears have seen an increase in interest in their games this year. That’s likely because many people are looking to ride the wave of the moment and get a leg up on the competition for the Super Bowl. So far, it seems to be working!
Recent Game Results
Another great way to determine the winning odds for the Super Bowl is by looking at the results of the teams’ most recent games. This is largely due to the fact that teams are in a better position to predict the results of their games once they’ve played a few. The Rams are +400 to win the Super Bowl based on their 4-1 record in 2019, followed by the Jaguars at +300, the Eagles at +190, the Giants at +160 and the Patriots at +140. However, these are all odds that fluctuate, which makes it important to check the books sometimes to stay on top of the trends!
The Super Bowl is undoubtedly one of the biggest sporting events of the year. Not only is it the culmination of the season but it’s one of the few chances we have to witness some of the most memorable football matches. While it would be awesome to get in on the action and place a wager on the game, the majority of us will have to settle for attending the game or following the action via the internet. But that doesn’t mean we can’t have a good time cheering on our favorite team! Just remember, as the saying goes, ‘When football is done, so is my free time’… Well, at least until the next game!