The biggest sporting event of the year has arrived, and so has the speculation on who will win the big game. While the odds may be out there to back your favorite team, it’s always a good idea to check the actual line to see who the bookies have actually taken the time to predict will win the big game. From early morning NFL games to the late game, prop bets, and extended parlay, the Super Bowl line has everything you need to know to make you a small profit (or bigger depending on your perspective) on the biggest day of the year! Let’s dive in.
Early Morning Games
The NFL season is in full swing, and early morning games are just what everyone needs in order to get a leg up on the day. The half-time shows have already started, the commercials have been released, and it’s time to play some football. Typically the early games are the absolute best part of the Super Bowl. Quarterbacks who are playing above average football in the early games will continue to elevate their games for the majority of the day, and that in turn makes a massive difference. Whether you think Russell Wilson or Tom Brady is the better quarterback, their early morning performances will make it evident as to which one you should back on February 4th.
One of the big changes this year is that the line for most of the early games has gotten really interesting. Usually when the season starts we see the underdogs have a significant advantage over the division rivals or the favorites. The early games between the Chiefs and Raiders, the Texans and Colts, and the Steelers and Jaguars are prime examples of this. But this year those teams are all pretty even, which makes the early games a great opportunity to get in on the action and potentially make some money. We’ll see how it plays out, but it’s always a good idea to check the odds before making any bets to see how the bookie views each game.
The Spread
You’ll also notice that the spread has increased this year, especially in late games. The over/under has moved from being a single digit number to being a more substantial number. This means that if a game is closer than expected then the line will move in the direction of the expected results. The 49ers are the perfect example of this; while the line has gone from -3 to -4, the over/under has now ballooned to 54 points! That’s a lot of points to make up, and those who backed the over/under at -3 would have lost out big time if they were matched up against someone who was accumulating points at a rapid pace!
One important thing to note regarding the spread is that while it often goes up in the late games, it can also go down depending on how well the teams are playing and the circumstances surrounding the game. Take the Steelers over the Jaguars in early hours Tennessee, that’s a classic case of the spread going down as expected even though the game’s outcome was predetermined. We’ll see how it all plays out on February 4th, but it’s always a good idea to check the spread before placing any bets because it can (and often does) change throughout the day and even during the game itself!
The Moneyline
The moneyline is the odds set by the bookie for each game. These are the odds on which team will win the game, and so far this year moneyline bets on the Super Bowl have paid off pretty well for gamblers. The Patriots are heavily favored to win the game (they’re 11/2 point favorites), but that doesn’t mean that the money on them doesn’t get tested sometimes. The big game has seen some pretty big spreads and huge over/under numbers, but that doesn’t mean that the moneyline has been an easy game to predict. The Patriots have played some great football this year, but they’ve also had some pretty ugly games where they’ve been completely outplayed (usually by the more popular team). It’s always a good idea to follow the money and see where it leads you, especially before placing any serious wagers!
The Total
The total is the final score of the game. If you are a fan of watching games that go into the extra point and actually winning then the total is the game for you. The over/under for the total has also increased this year, and that means that the oddsmakers believe that as the game’s scores have increased the point totals will continue to go up. The 49ers and Patriots are the standouts this year, as both of those teams are perfect examples of why the total is an exciting game to bet on. You’ll see a lot of two-point totals on the NFL’s biggest stage, and that’s because people are always trying to squeeze in an additional point for whatever reason. Sometimes it’s just to settle an argument about which team is better or which one is best at finishing games off score-wise (the 49ers obviously come out on top in that department), but sometimes it’s all about making it to the next level of the game or about proving a point to the world. Just know that if you are betting the total, you are always going to come out on the losing end of the bet!
So there you have it, a complete guide to what was the Super Bowl 49 betting line. As always, thanks for reading!