Everyone wants to know who won the bet on New England beating the Pittsburgh Steelers. Well, we may never know the exact amount of money that was staked, but we do know who took the largest wager. That would be BetOnline, with a grand total of $2,500. For those keeping score at home, that’s nearly 50% of the grand prize pool. Not too shabby.
The Patriots ended up winning the Super Bowl 52.5-41.5, with Aaron Rodgers and Co. taking home the Vince Lombardi Trophy. It’s safe to assume that most of the sportsbooks took the Patriots as the overwhelming favorites to beat the big green machine. But, what happens when betting odds of 2.5-1 favor the underdogs?
Let’s take a quick trip down memory lane and rewind to Super Bowl 50, when the Denver Broncos traveled to Miami to take on the Carolina Panthers. With the score at 7-3 midway through the third quarter and the betting line at 6.5, it wouldn’t be unusual for the sportsbooks to shift the odds in favor of the underdog. But, that’s not what happened. Instead, the lines moved in favor of the underdogs, with the Panthers giving the football fans in Miami a surprise 17-15 victory. Many people thought that the Broncos were the clear favorites to beat Carolina, as they had won eight of their previous nine games. The upset victory gave the underdogs hope and ultimately proved to be the winning wager, providing them with an uplifting result that brought joy to millions of sports fans around the world.
What Does The Upset Victory Mean For Sports Bettors?
For those who staked money and placed a wager on the New England Patriots to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers, what does the upset victory mean? First of all, it’s great to see the team you backed come out on top. But, it’s even better when your wager paid off. In the grand scheme of things, your money might as well be doubled, as the team you backed won 52.5-41.5. That’s right — your $2,500 just got doubled, thanks to the New England Patriots. What’s more is that the Patriots have now gone an entire season undefeated, which has never happened in NFL history. So, even if you didn’t win any money, you still walked away a wealthy man. For those keeping score at home, that’s $10,000 in winnings for a $2,500 wager. Not too shabby at all.
Of course, it doesn’t end with the money for the Patriots. As someone who staked $2,500 on the underdogs, you’re now in a league of your own. You’re one of the few people who ever made a successful wager on the New England Patriots and can add another chapter to your sports betting story. That’s something to be proud of.
On the other side, those who bet on the Pittsburgh Steelers to win typically took the points with them. The line moved in favor of the home team and it was a defensive struggle the rest of the way. The final score was 28-17 and the betting public isn’t too happy about that outcome. To add insult to injury, the Steelers failed to cover the spread, as 12.5 points were offered by the oddsmakers. It wasn’t a pretty sight and it’s safe to assume that the fans in Pittsburgh were less than impressed, leading to the biggest upset of the year so far.
Why Are The New England Patriots So Popular As An Underdog?
Numerous factors contribute to New England’s popularity as an underdog team. On one hand, you have the Patriots themselves, who always seem to find a way to surprise people. Then, you have the other 19 teams in the NFL, who are all well-established brands and have all the cards stacked against them. Finally, you have the public, who love a dark horse and are always looking for the underdog team that could pull off a shocking upset. All of those factors make the Patriots a great choice as underdogs and it seems to work every time they play. So, if you’re looking to back a team that has a good chance of coming out on top, take a look at the Patriots.
Will The Pats’ Unbeaten Streak Continue In The Playoffs?
Although it’s only the second round of the playoffs and the New England Patriots are already undefeated, it’s safe to assume that the rest of the season is still in front of them. The defending Super Bowl champions will have their hands full with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the next round and beyond. Pittsburgh is a solid favorite to knock off the undefeated Patriots and the betting odds reflect that. But, it’s never wise to write off any team in the playoffs, as anything can happen. The underdog success story continues.