How to Bet on the Super Bowl
How to Bet on the Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is one of the most significant sporting events of the year. It’s a weekend when millions of fans, from seasoned sports bettors to enthusiastic newcomers, dive into the action on their sports betting apps.
During Super Bowl week, you’ll find every type of bet imaginable - from predicting the champion months in advance to wagering on the result of the coin toss or halftime show, and everything in between, including moneylines, spreads, player stats, game events, and same-game parlays.
But the betting opportunities don’t stop at kickoff! Thanks to live, in-play markets, you can react to every thrilling drive, turnover, and touchdown as the game unfolds. Odds shift dynamically, creating new opportunities throughout the game.
The Super Bowl is also an excellent opportunity for bettors to take advantage of a range of great promotions, as we provide a range of generous promotions leading up to the big game. Boosted odds, risk-free bets, sign-up bonuses, and special parlay insurance offers are available, alongside many enticing welcome bonuses to add extra value to our betting.
Whether you’re a committed bettor who meticulously analyzes the stats or wants to add excitement to Super Bowl Sunday, this guide will give you the knowledge to bet successfully on the big game. This guide will walk you through how to bet on the Super Bowl across all its incredible markets, helping you place your wagers.
Super Bowl Futures Betting
Wanting to get in on the Super Bowl action long before the big game kicks off? Super Bowl futures betting might be for you! This market allows you to wager on which team you believe will win the Vince Lombardi Trophy, often months before the season begins. It’s a hugely popular way to secure potentially massive payouts by backing a team early when the odds are highly favorable.
Here at Fanatics Sportsbook, you’ll find a section labeled “Futures,” “Super Bowl,” or “NFL Championship.” You might be able to find this using the search bar, if it is available. Here you’ll see all 32 NFL teams (if still in contention) alongside their current odds to win it all.
These odds are usually presented in the American format, but you can change the format in which the odds are displayed using the settings page. With American odds, the odds will be presented as either a positive or negative number. A positive number indicates the profit you’ll receive on a $100 bet, while a negative number indicates the amount of money you’ll need to receive $100 in profit.
For instance, the Panthers might have +30000 odds. If you place a $100 wager, you’ll receive $30,100 in total—$30,000 in profit, $100 of your original stake. If the Chiefs are -110 to win the Super Bowl and you place a $110 wager, you’ll receive $210 - $110 in your original stake and $100 profit.
The odds in the futures markets are dynamic - they’ll shift constantly based on team performance, injuries, trades, and overall perception of a team’s ability to win the Super Bowl. A team might start with +3000 odds, but these odds might shorten if the team secures several early wins.
Conversely, these odds might lengthen should the team struggle. This doesn’t necessarily mean the team is less likely to win the Super Bowl. However, this simply means that betting traffic and consensus seem to believe that the team is unlikely to win the Vince Lombardi Trophy. If you can see the odds drift and still think a team can win the Super Bowl, you can potentially profit from this drift.
Betting on the Super Bowl Once the Matchup is Set
The real betting frenzy begins when the AFC and NFC champions are crowned, and the Super Bowl matchup is locked in. This is when the most familiar and heavily wagered markets open up, offering countless bet types, variations, and promotions, allowing you to engage with the year’s biggest game.
If you’re wondering “how do I bet on the Super Bowl,” then wonder no more. Below, we’ve provided a guide to some of the most common types of wagers for Super Bowl betting.
The simplest and most common wager type is a moneyline, which asks you to pick the team to win the game outright. For example, a two-way moneyline for a game between the Chiefs and Eagles might have the Chiefs priced at -130 and the Eagles priced at +150. This would indicate that the Chiefs are the favorites to win the game.
Another common bet type is a point spread bet. These bets level the playing field by giving points to the underdog and taking points from the favorite. You're betting on a team to "cover" the spread. For example, the Chiefs might be listed at (-2.5) and the Eagles might be listed at (+2.5). If you bet on the Chiefs, they must win by 3 or more points for your bet to pay out. If you bet on the Eagles, they must win outright or lose by 2 points or less.
Finally, another of the most common wagering types is an over/under, or totals bet. With this bet type, you bet on whether the combined score of both teams will be over or under a number set by the sportsbook.
For example, we might set a total points line of 48.5. If you bet on the over, there will need to be 49 or more total points for your bet to payout, for instance, a 28-21 game. If you bet on the under, the game will need to score 48 or fewer points, for example, a 24-20 game.
Understanding these bet types is crucial when deciding how to bet on the Super Bowl. Once you’ve mastered the difference between these popular markets, you can start to research and use statistical analysis to make informed decisions on placing a bet on the Super Bowl.
Super Bowl Player Props
Beyond the game outcome itself, player propositions, or props, offer a thrilling way to wager on individual performances during the Super Bowl. These bets focus solely on the statistics and achievements of specific players, independent of which team ultimately wins. They're immensely popular for the big game, fueled by intense fan interest in how star athletes perform on the most significant stage.
When considering how to bet on the Super Bowl beyond the main markets, player props provide a vast array of options for bettors. Below, we’ve covered some of the most common prop markets available right here at Fanatics Sportsbook.
One of the most common types of player props is statistical markets. Much like totals bets, with this bet type, we will set a betting line, and you will need to predict whether the total number of a particular stat for a specific player will be above or below that number.
Popular statistical bets include quarterback passing, rushing, and receiving yards. Sometimes you can also bet on combinations of two players in different stats, like quarterback passing yards and receptions from a player.
Another popular market is touchdown scorers, where you bet on whether a specific player will score a touchdown - rushing, receiving, or even passing during the game. You’ll often find odds for Anytime TD scorers, the first and last touchdown scorer, or whether a player will score two or more touchdowns.
A hugely popular player prop to wager on is the Super Bowl MVP. This market usually includes prominent quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, and sometimes defensive standouts. Odds reflect their perceived likelihood of having a game-defining performance.
How to bet on the Super Bowl using player props is straightforward. Once the matchup is set, navigate to the Super Bowl section here at Fanatics and look for tabs or menus labeled "Player Props," "Player Performance," or "Props." You'll find a comprehensive list of players from both teams with various stat lines and odds. For instance, you might see lines for a dominant defensive player's total tackles or sacks, or a tight end's number of receptions.
Super Bowl Game Props
Game props might be for you if you look beyond who wins or how many points are scored. Game props allow you to wager on specific events or occurrences during the Super Bowl, often unrelated to the final outcome or individual player stats.
These bets add a layer of excitement and variety, appealing to casual viewers looking for extra fun and experienced bettors seeking diverse opportunities. Game props offer an expansive playground if you’re exploring how to bet on the Super Bowl in untraditional ways. They cover a vast range of events.
Some of the most common Super Bowl game props include first team to score markets, self-explanatory, or first scoring play, which involves you wagering how the first points will be scored - touchdown, field goal, or safety?
Other markets include total field goals made, winning margin, whether there will be a safety in the game, or the longest touchdown scored.
How do I bet on the Super Bowl using these game props? Once the matchup is set, we will roll out hundreds, sometimes thousands, of prop bets. Navigate to the Super Bowl section on your app or website and look for tabs labeled game props, special Bets, or simply props. You'll find these markets organized under clear headings.
For instance, first half props, second half props, or specific event categories. How to place a bet on the Super Bowl prop is simple: find the particular prop you like, click or tap to add it to your bet slip, enter your stake, and confirm.
Super Bowl Same Game Parlays
If you want to take your wagering to the next level, Same Game Parlays (SGPs) might be for you. This bet type lets you combine multiple bets from the single Super Bowl matchup into one powerful wager. It allows you to please several interconnected predictions into a single ticket and multiply the odds. For your bet to pay out, every bet you make must win for your same game parlay to win.
For example, you might parlay the Over on the total points, a specific quarterback to throw over a certain number of touchdowns, and that quarterback's team to win outright – like taking Over 49.5 points + Patrick Mahomes 3+ Passing Touchdowns + Chiefs to win. If all three come in, your bet will pay out.
These wagers have emerged on the scene in recent years and have become incredibly popular for the same reason standard parlays are popular - they allow you to leverage your knowledge and use it to multiply the odds.
Since Fanatics offers Same Game Parlays, you’ll see an option for them on the Super Bowl betting page. You may also see them with different branding, like Parlay+ or Super Parlay. You’ll usually need to go to a separate betting page on the app to construct your betting slip. We will offer a final price; you’ll need to enter a stake and confirm to place your wager.
During Super Bowl week, you’ll find a range of promotions and bonuses available for Same Game Parlays, including boosted odds, special bet insurance, and bonus bets. You’ll also find betting features like suggested parlays and expert opinion on SGPs.
Super Bowl Live (In-Play) Betting
Once the game has started, it doesn’t mean your betting fun is over. In-play betting, sometimes called live betting, lets you wager on the game as it unfolds, turning every drive, turnover, or scoring play into a potential opportunity. If you’re wondering how to bet on the Super Bowl while watching, this is your answer.
Live betting features odds updated as the game flows - the point spread widens or tightens, moneylines swing, totals adjust, and even prop odds shift second-by-second. For example, imagine an underdog starts strong with an early touchdown. The pre-game moneyline of +350 might shorten to +150; conversely, the favorite might drift from -200 to -110, meaning that if you still believe the favorite will win, you can profit from the unexpected setback.
Spreads will also react to the action on the field. For example, if a team is down by 10 points, the point spread might adjust from -3.5 to -6.5, while totals might drop after a half of a defensive stalemate or increase after back-to-back scores.
Live betting markets will become available when the Super Bowl kicks off, and we will usually display them prominently during the game. Wagering on live markets operates similarly to your standard wagers - simply select your preferred wagers, add them to your slip, and confirm the wager.
Super Bowl Specials and Fun Props
For many Americans, the Super Bowl isn’t just a football game; it’s a huge cultural event packed with unique moments and surprises. Whether you’re a casual football fan, not interested in the game at all, or somewhere in between, Fanatics offers a range of novelty markets and entertainment-based bets.
These markets are a fun, light-hearted alternative to the stats-heavy and expert other bets offered for Super Bowl Sunday. These are perfect for casual viewers or party bettors looking to add excitement to the spectacle. Below, we’ll look at some of the novelty markets you can look for here at Fanatics Sportsbook.
One of the most common markets is simple - who will win the Coin Toss? As you’d expect, this is a 50/50 shot, although you’ll usually see odds of -110 for each option.
Some common markets include the length of the National Anthem, whether it will go above or below a set time, the first commercial break, how many songs will be included in the halftime show, and whether a special guest will appear.
Another widespread market is the color of the Gatorade Shower—will it be orange, yellow, or lime green, or will the winning coach be doused in nature’s Gatorade: water?
Glossary of Super Bowl Betting Terms
Before you bet on the Super Bowl, you’ll need to understand some key language before getting stuck in here at Fanatics. Below, we’ve listed some key terms to know when deciding how to bet on the Super Bowl.
- Spread (Point Spread): A handicap set to level the playing field. Betting the favorite means they must win by more than the spread. Betting the underdog means they must win outright or lose by less than the spread.
- Moneyline: A bet on which team will win the game outright. Positive odds show potential profit on a $100 bet; negative odds show how much you need to wager to win $100.
- Over/Under (Total): A bet on whether the combined points scored by both teams will be Over or Under a number set by the sportsbook.
- Prop: Otherwise known as a proposition bet, this is a wager on a specific event within the game or surrounding the game, such as quarterback passing yards or even the number of songs in the halftime show.
- Futures: A bet placed on a significant event in the future, like the Super Bowl winner, MVP, or Conference Champion.
- SGP (Same Game Parlay): A single bet combining multiple selections from the Super Bowl into a single slip. For the bet to pay out, all selections must win.
- Push: When a betting line is set as a whole number (e.g 200 passing yards), a push occurs when a stat lands exactly on the line that we set.
- Odds: A number used to represent the probability of an outcome and determine your potential payout.
Final Tips for Betting on the Super Bowl
Mastering Super Bowl betting involves more than understanding the markets; it involves balancing several different things to ensure that you hone your strategy.
Firstly, we recommend sticking with Fanatics for all your Super Bowl betting needs. Our spread, total, and moneyline odds and prices are super competitive, and we offer a huge variety of NFL bet types for all sorts of US bettors.
Secondly, you should always take advantage of sports betting bonuses and promotions. Here at Fanatics, you can sink your teeth into generous new sign-up offers, risk-free bets, profit boosts, and odds boosts on popular markets. These offers can provide extra value to your Super Bowl betting.
Thirdly, while strategy is essential, remember the Super Bowl is a massive entertainment event. Betting adds excitement, but focus on enjoying the game, the commercials, the halftime show, and the camaraderie. Make informed choices but have fun.
Most importantly, before kickoff, decide exactly how much you are comfortable risking on Super Bowl Sunday—your bankroll for the day. Set it, stick to it, and never chase losses. Betting should enhance entertainment, not create financial stress.