Super Bowl Bets: How to Bet on Super Bowl

Where to Make Your Super Bowl Bets

Knowing where to bet on the Super Bowl (and where to find the best odds) is obviously quite important if you plan on wagering on this massive event. The traditional way of placing Super Bowl bets is to head to a land-based casino or sportsbook, but now online sportsbooks make it possible to place your wagers directly from your cell phone, laptop or tablet. The principles of how to bet on the Super Bowl are valid with both land-based and online operators.

And if you want to see in which states you can wager online, we've prepared a list to help you out. How To Bet will update this table constantly so that you can feel comfortable knowing you’re on the right side of the law when you place a bet on Super Bowl.

States Where Sports Betting is Legal

How to Bet on Super Bowl Moneyline

If you’ve ever wondered how to bet the BIg Game moneyline, you’ve come to the right place. In this type of market all you have to do is to outright bet on the Super Bowl winner. Points and point spreads don’t matter as long as you pick the team that is on the podium when the clock ticks down to zero. For those of you who are brand new to the field of Super Bowl bets, here is an example of what a moneyline wager would look like:

When reading moneylines, you need to know that the team named with the (-) before their betting odds is considered the favorite by the sportsbook oddsmakers. The team with the (+) before their odds is viewed as the underdog.

The odds for the favorites, in this case, the Rams, show you how much you need to wager in dollars to make a profit of $100. That means you would therefore need to bet $190 on Los Angeles in order to get $290 back if they win the game.

The odds for the underdog, in this case it’s the Bengals, show you how much profit you will make if you wager $100 on them. Here you would get $255 back from your Super Bowl bets if Cincinnati wins, which is $155 profit and the $100 that you bet in the first place.

How to Bet on the Super Bowl Point Spread

Betting against the spread/ ATS (also known as the point spread) is one of the most common Big Game bets. It's also very appealing to those who have only just discovered how to bet on the Super Bowl because you don't necessarily have to pick the winning team. You simply have to predict how close the game will be and see if you can beat the sportsbook. The odds for both outcomes will usually be much more balanced thanks to the favorite being given an advantage and the underdog having a disadvantage.

Here is an example of a potential Super Bowl spread bet:

Here you can see that the Rams are quoted at -3.5 points, and the Bengals at +3.5. This means that the final score of Los Angeles will be reduced by 3.5 points if you bet on them, and the final score of Cincinnati will be increased by 3.5 if you wager on them.

In other words, if you make a bet on the Rams to win the Super Bowl spread, then they must win the game by at least four points for your bet to succeed. However, a wager on the Bengals can be a winner if they lose but keep the game within a field goal (three points), or if they win the game outright.

How to Bet on Super Bowl Over/Under

Over under betting is another extremely common opportunity that is offered by sportsbooks. You might also hear fans of online betting Super Bowl markets refer to this type of wager as a 'total' bet because it deals with the total number of points scored in the Big Game. The odds here are usually the same whatever way you choose to wager.

One reason for the huge popularity of the over/under market is that this kind of Super Bowl bets doesn't require punters to pick the winner or loser. As long as you can make a correct prediction about the total number of points scored, you can win this bet.

Here is an example of how a Super Bowl over/under market would look like:

All the leading online sportsbooks will usually offer the same lines for both betting options in a Super Bowl over/under market. Here you can see that you would need to bet $110 on either Over or Under to make a profit of $100. Your task is simply to decide the teams will score a combined total of 50 points or more, or 49 points or less. 

How to Bet on Super Bowl Futures

A Super Bowl futures bet is so-called because it is usually placed well in advance of the game or event being played. Sportsbooks will begin offering this type of wagers for next season immediately following the conclusion of this season's Big Game.

Most futures markets will close as soon as the Super Bowl is kicked off, although some will keep them open and adjust the lines in play so that live betting can take place.

A few common Super Bowl Futures bets will require you to:

If you make Super Bowl bets about such outcomes and your predictions turn out to be correct, you will be a winner in the end. The amount you win will be determined by the odds you take on your wager.

In-Game Super Bowl Bets

This mega event attracts a massive number of spectators, with the majority watching the game live on television. A large portion of those viewers want to place their best wagers while watching the game, and when they know how to bet on the Super Bowl they can do exactly that.

Sportsbooks will update their odds in real-time throughout the game. This will give online betting Super Bowl fans the chance to make bets on the point spread, over/under, moneyline, etc. as the action unfolds. For example, the odds for the favorite to win might change as the game plays out, and you will be in a position to make your Super Bowl bets accordingly. 

The principles of live betting markets are exactly the same as described in the previous sections of this guide. As far as practicalities are concerned, in-game wagering is most easily put in practice through an online sportsbook or mobile betting app. However, it can also be done by visiting a retail sportsbook. 

Make sure to check our Super Bowl Odds page with real-time updates in order to get the best value for your bets.

Super Bowl Prop Bets

They are extremely popular, and even the non-football fans can get in on the action. There are three main types of Super Bowl props available, and we will discuss all three in more detail in a moment. You should know that the odds for the Big Game prop bets usually are drastically different depending on the kind of wagers that you are making.

Pre-Super Bowl Props

Pre-Super Bowl props are bets that are placed on events that take place before the kickoff. Two of the most common are:

Super Bowl Game Props

Sportsbooks love to compete for offering the best Super Bowl prop bets, including plenty of props on the actual matchup. Some of these best Big Game side bets will involve player statistics, while others will focus on how points will be scored. Knowing how to bet on Super Bowl novelties means that you are capable of enjoying all available markets. On top of that, the wagering horizons in front of you are expanding bigtime because you can pick and choose between hundreds of new opportunities.

Here are a few examples of Super Bowl prop bets:

Super Bowl Props for the Halftime Show

The Super Bowl is the biggest football game of the year, and the halftime show is one of the biggest musical events of the year. With that in mind, sportsbooks love offering props on the halftime show. 

Here are a few side bets that you might see offered:

Super Bowl Parlay Bets

The online betting Super Bowl menu is so diverse, that you are completely forgiven if you want to take a bigger bite of what’s offered in front of you. The bettors who feel more confident in their own skills and luck often go for ‘same game parlays’ and the biggest sporting showdown in the US provides hundreds of opportunities for a better payout via the numerous props. For that reason, Super Bowl parlay bets are never off the table when the moment comes, and the fun is on a whole different level when you have more than one motive to follow the Big Game.

So what you have to do is pick two or more outcomes that you think or/and feel will turn out to be correct and merge them into one bet slip. This increases the value of your ticket because the odds combine with each new leg that you add. Of course, Super Bowl parlay bets are in danger of failing if even one of the picks crashes. Yet many online sportsbooks will still give you a second chance in such a case returning the sum you wagered if you have predicted the other three, four, or five legs right. This restorement will come mostly in the form of free bets.

The opportunity to win big from even the smallest stakes is the huge attraction with this type of wagering. Look out for the best offers around the market and go for it! And use our Super Bowl bet calculator (it’s located in the main menu) to plan your parlays more precisely.

Super Bowl Betting Tips and Trends

Now that you know the main betting markets, you’ll probably want to learn how to pick winning Super Bowl bets. There is no easy answer to that question because football is a game in which almost anything can happen. Fortunately, we can help you out. Our team of experts will give you a number of Super Bowl betting tips and strategies that should improve your chances. And that’s not all. We will also show you how to benefit from understanding the latest Super Bowl betting trends in order to predict different outcomes better. Let’s start from the foundations…

Know the Game

Even when you know how to bet on the Super Bowl with a deep understanding of the markets and odds, success isn't guaranteed. Your chances of betting effectively are directly proportional to your knowledge of the game. The more you know about the NFL teams, their key players, and how they have previously performed, the better.

Just as you have invested time in learning how to bet on the NFL, you should also dedicate hours and days to get to know the Super Bowl as an event in its own right. Look at past games. How often do the underdogs tend to defeat the favorites? Have the current teams performed in previous editions, and if so, how did they fare? Also, consider how confident the teams are. Do they look and sound like winners, or do they just seem glad to have gotten this far? All of these things can affect their chances.

Watch the Playoffs

Following on from the previous tip, if you plan on betting on the Super Bowl online or in-person, you’d need to watch the playoffs leading up to the Big Game. Reading about teams and players and actually seeing them play are two different things. Watching the playoff games can give you a gut feel for the game like no form book, how to bet guide, or game report ever can. Even taking a look at practice footage may help you uncover some significant information. You'll then be able to read the Super Bowl betting lines with a much greater degree of insight.

Check the Injury Report

Football players aren't machines and, considering the way they get knocked around on the field, it isn't surprising that they get injured from time to time. If one or more key players gets injured before the Big Game, that could have a massive impact on the chances of their team – and your bets – winning. And that applies no matter what your level of knowledge is on how to bet on the Super Bowl.

There is a two-week layoff between the Conference Championship games and the Super Bowl. Each team will have a daily injury report leading up to the big occasion, so it makes sense to check it out each day. 

Of course, not every injury is a potential game-changer or odds influencer. Some players will recover rapidly, and go into the matchup in no worse shape than they originally expected. Other players will be downgraded as time goes on, and you need to take that into consideration before deciding how you want to wager. Of course, odds may fluctuate accordingly.

Along with official injury reports, check also the weather conditions. Some teams just don’t fare well in heavy rain or snow for instance, so this sort of data may help you uncover the best Super Bowl bets possible.

Go for a Super Bowl Betting Spread

Super Bowl betting spread is a clever strategy to maximize your chances of getting a return because the final showdown is a once-per-year thing. By all means predict which team you think will win, based on your knowledge of the game, but also forecast how close the game will be, and whether or not it will go into overtime.

By making several predictions about the game, you can place many wagers in different markets and thereby give yourself bigger chances of winning. You could bet the moneyline for the overall result, you could bet the point spread and totals markets as well, and have a little on the game going into overtime, or not. There are hundreds of ways to spread your wagers beyond the traditional markets, like props, alternative lines, derivatives, team totals, etc. This not only manages your risk, but could also help you to land multiple winners by taking advantage of more than one betting line. That’s the beauty of the Super Bowl betting spread approach.

Don’t over-spread your bets though. They should be easily manageable and you must stick to the wagers you’ve researched well enough to keep you confident.

Play the Game in Your Head Beforehand and Stick to Your Original Opinion

When you spread your Super Bowl bets, it’s a good idea to create a narrative for how the Big Game will play out. Back up your main predictions with different props in the same lines and don’t contradict your wagers.

Middling is an Approach for Experienced Bettors

This is the term used when a bettor wagers on both sides of the matchup trying to mitigate the risk. The middling strategy must only be applied by experienced punters though, as it requires some higher scale skills. It is most common in cases of significant line movement on a game within a week. Or two weeks, as is the case with the Super Bowl.

Shop for the Best Odds and Benefit from the Line Movement

Look out for the best odds on the Super Bowl bets you’ve marked out and compare the offerings of as many different online sportsbooks as possible. Fortunately, How To Bet provides you with up-to-date odds and line movement saving you precious time and effort. See how you can benefit from it.

Fade the Public

The NFL playoff contests attract way more wagered money compared to regular season games, and the Super Bowl has a much larger handle than all the previous playoff matchups combined. The oddsmakers try to keep close to their opening odds, yet the enormous cash streams on one side of such a huge game or betting market often compels them into action.

The naked truth is that the Super Bowl might represent the best opportunity to follow the sharp bettors against the public because this mega event attracts the largest number of average Joes who are wagering for fun. The influence of the betting masses on the odds movement is at its peak during the Big Game and in most cases the popular opinion sides with the favorite in the matchup and the Over. At least these are the Super Bowl betting trends from previous years. The massive inflow of money provokes a line movement to a point where the favorite and the Over are favored by an unrealistic amount.

The masses lose often though and sharps benefit from that when they find a tangible edge. Don’t forget that the betting window for the final NFL showdown of the season is unique because it’s open for two weeks and not one as in all other cases. The line movement has its peaks in the first hours after sportsbooks release their odds and in the last 24-48 hours before the Big Game. So if you discover appealing odds, you better take this chance early, otherwise wait until the final moments before kickoff. Something that you must keep in mind is that the early line movement has predicted the ATS winner in 10 of the last 13 Super Bowl editions which is a pretty high percentage.

Use Advanced Statistical Data

In the paragraph above we talked about the importance of sharp betting over doing it as an average sports fan. The matter of fact is that there are sources of knowledge based on advanced statistical data which can help you bet with your head and not with your heart, thus leading you to overcome your bias. These types of metrics are available not only for the main betting markets, but also for team-based or individual props.

It’s good to remember that the Lombardi Trophy contestants will run similar defensive and offensive schemes and depend on similar personnel as they did the whole season. Check out how they fared against different schemes and different types of players. These two teams may have also already met each other in the regular season, hence there might be some concrete data to look at in detail.

So make the best use of the two-week break between the Conference Championship games and the Super Bowl. Learn all about the players, coaches, and game plans if you can find the right sources of advanced NFL data. If you don’t have the time nor the money to do so, there’s still a tremendous alternative left: just go to our Super Bowl predictions and picks. They are the end result of the betting algorithms created by the How To Bet experts after testing special stats and performance metrics for years, combined with their deep knowledge of the game and their hunch.

Check the Super Bowl Betting Trends from Previous Years

Bet on the team that strikes first

Important fact: the team that scored first has won 36 of the past 55 Lombardi Trophies, including winning seven of the last 10. Keep that in mind for your Super Bowl bets when you decide to wager on a moneyline.

Super Bowl ATS trends

In the previous 55 contests for the Lombardi Trophy, the betting favorites’ records are 36-18 straight up and 28-24 against the spread. (Two Big Games pushed with the closing spread and one closed as a pick’em). History shows only six cases when the favorite has won the game but didn’t manage to cover the spread, the last one being back in 2009.

As for the underdogs, they have covered in 13 of the last 20 contests (one pick’em).

First quarters are low-scoring events

If you are on the hunt for profitable Super Bowl betting trends, then you could go for the Under in the first quarter. A mere 99 points have been scored in the opening frame of the previous 14 editions of the Big Game, an average of only 7.071 points. There’s a reasonable explanation: contesting teams feel the heavy burden of the huge public expectations from a game of such magnitude and this makes the opening 15 minutes a tight affair.

NFC rules… for the moment

The NFC leads the AFC 28-27 before the 56th Super Bowl edition.

Pick a Reputable Online Sportsbook

Discovering the Super Bowl bets you’re going to make is an important matter, but so is deciding where to place them. Make your due diligence on the top online sportsbooks and see which one suits your individual needs and preferences best. Above all though, it must be 100% secure and regulated by state gambling authorities, so that your personal and financial data is safe. From that point on, check their odds quality, diversity of payment methods, bonuses and promotions, user experience, and payout speed. You may just go to see our detailed reviews on the best legal Super Bowl betting sites in your state and your choice will be much easier.

Take Advantage of Free Bets, Bonuses and Promotions

Super Bowl is the event that prompts online sportsbooks to offer their best bonuses and promotions every year in the furious competition for both new and existing customers. Huge variety of special promos including all types of bets will be made available the moment the Conference Championship games are finished. Enticing odds boosts and risk-free bets up to a specific amount can make your Super Bowl bets 2022 ones to remember for a long, long time. Keep reading and you’ll get to the place on this page where you can benefit from some really special offers using your promo code from How To Bet.

Manage Your Bankroll Smartly

The Super Bowl sure is the biggest sporting event in the US and the last football game of the season, but that’s not a reason to wager more of your precious money on it. Don’t be reckless and treat it as just another regular matchup like sharp bettors do. Sticking to your bankroll management plan and to the lines you’re most confident about is a fundamental condition for success.

If the fun stops, step back and leave the wagering behind until the next event. Bet smart, not big, and if your luck dries out, don’t chase your losses! Impulse betting is the fastest way to the point of no return. How To Bet is an advocate of research-based decision making, so listen to us: the next winning bet is just around the corner but clouded judgment won’t take you there.

Placing Super Bowl Bets: See How to Do It

If you are a newcomer attracted by the draw of the Big Game, here’s a step-by-step process for placing a bet on the Super Bowl.

1. Pick a betting site

See our detailed reviews on different online sportsbooks available in your state and choose the one that suits you best.

2. Sign up for an account

Register for an account and deposit money into it using one of the payment methods available.

3. Research the odds

Take a long look around the betting odds and find the Super Bowl bets that you plan to make.

4. Place your bet(s)

Add the pick(s) you’ve made to your bet slip and indicate the amount of money for each. Double-check, then click the ‘submit your bet’ button and wait for confirmation that your wager has been accepted successfully.

5. Watch the game

Now’s the time for the real excitement to kick in: turn on the TV and see how your Super Bowl bets take shape.

6. Withdraw your winnings

Hopefully you’ll get to this final and most sweet step. If your bet has won, congratulations! Choose one of the payment methods provided by your online sportsbook and wait for your profits to boost your banking account.

Best Sportsbooks for Super Bowl Bets

All legal sportsbooks in the USA are likely to have plenty of online betting Super Bowl markets for you to choose from. That said, a few names stand head and shoulders above the rest as far as their betting lines and user experience are concerned, so here are the ones that we'd particularly recommend. It’s not a surprise they are considered by the majority of fans to be the best Super Bowl betting sites and apps in the US.

FanDuel

States where available: AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, MI, NJ, NY, PA, TN, VA & WV

If you are someone who enjoys playing daily fantasy sports, then you have probably heard of FanDuel already. They are one of the leaders in the DFS industry, but have also grown into the role of a leader in the sports betting industry. FanDuel will have some great online betting Super Bowl promotions leading up to the Big Game, as well as some of the best bets around for the contest itself, so keep your eyes peeled for those.

DraftKings

States where available: AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, MI, NH, NJ, NY, PA, TN, VA, WV & WY

Another big sportsbook to be considered and you can be sure of enjoying some fantastic DraftKings Super Bowl bets if you go to its mobile app or website. This company is a leading player in the DFS industry like FanDuel and will still have plenty of fantasy games available for the event, but the online sportsbook will most certainly be open for business, ready to show its worth. That’s why you can expect a great choice of DraftKings Super Bowl bets, including some of the best props around, and competitive odds.

PointsBet

States where available: CO, IL, IN, IA, MI, NJ, VA & WV

One of the newest sportsbooks to hit the United States is PointsBet, but it has built up a great reputation already. This Aussie company offers unique betting opportunities, and there is a chance to win some real money if you choose its services.

Caesars Sportsbook

States where available: AZ, IL, IN, IA, LA, MI, MD, CO, VA, NJ, NC, NY, TN, WV, Washington, DC, and NV

Caesars Sportsbook is the sports betting arm of Caesars Entertainment, one of the prominent gambling organizations on the planet. After buying out William Hill, the company’s rise in the world of sports wagering is meteoric. You can most definitely expect some of the best possible Super Bowl bets 2022 can offer to be found on its website or mobile app.

BetMGM Sportsbook

States where available: AZ, CO, DC, IN, IA, MI, MS, NJ, NV, NY, PA, TN, VA, WV & WY

The BetMGM Sportsbook relies on an aggressive approach in expanding its presence on the US online sports betting scene in the last couple of years. On its desktop and mobile platforms, Super Bowl bettors will discover a big market depth and a vast array of prop bets. Take advantage of the magnificent Edit My Bet feature when you want to cash out or change an already placed wager.

BetRivers Sportsbook

States where available: AZ, CO, IL, IN, IA, MI, NY, PA & VA

BetRivers offers superb user experience and it’s not a surprise that more and more bettors are going to place their Super Bowl bets 2022 on its platforms. The process of wagering is really smooth and all the features function perfectly both on the website and the app. Its iRush Rewards program is also worth a mention.

Unibet Sportsbook

States where available: AZ, IN, IA, NJ, PA & VA

Unibet is a popular name on the global sports betting scene and its expansion across the USA is a process that promises a similar role in the country. While the mobile app is somewhat basic, the overall quality of this online sportsbook makes it a desirable destination. If you have some interesting Super Bowl bets to make, this is a platform we at How To Bet strongly recommend.

Vegas Super Bowl Bets

Deciding to place some Vegas Super Bowl bets might be one of the top New Year’s resolutions anyone can ever have. The popularity of the event makes the final showdown in the NFL season one of the biggest partying days in the US, and Las Vegas surely tops the list of the best places to party. This is the legit Entertainment Capital of the World, so if you are looking for a great experience while wagering on the Big Game, then this is most certainly the place to be.

Making Vegas Super Bowl bets works just like it does anywhere else, but the main difference is that in Sin City there are casinos and sportsbooks on just about every corner. You can place a few wagers while watching the game on a big-screen TV. And if the team you’ve picked wins, you can celebrate in style!

Biggest Super Bowl Bets

When speaking of Las Vegas and large Super Bowl bets, the largest one ever is believed to be a $4.8 million moneyline wager on the Rams to beat the Patriots in the 2002 showdown. It was placed with MGM in Vegas and failed (the Patriots won by 20-17).

Much better luck came in 2021 for two men that made two of the biggest Super Bowl bets in history. Jim ‘Mattress Mack’ McIngvale – a Texas furniture store owner known for his wowing sports gambling endeavors – wagered $3.46 million on the underdog Tampa Bay at +3.5 with DraftKings online sportsbook in Colorado Springs. A punter with BetMGM in Nevada also trusted the Buccaneers this same year placing a $2.3 million wager on them. Both turned out to be winners.

We’re still waiting to see if the biggest Super Bowl Bets 2022 will surpass the ones from 2021. Perhaps you fancy your chances to beat the previous records?...

Super Bowl LVI: Where and When

The upcoming Super Bowl will have its 56th edition and it promises to be another showdown for the ages. The teams that met in last year’s clash for the Lombardi Trophy – Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers – are the favorites to represent the AFC and NFC, respectively, according to the current odds in the futures market. Upsets are always just around the corner though, so each of us will follow the Conference Championships games on the edge of our seats.

Super Bowl Betting: History and Future

Super Bowl sports betting was legal only in Nevada until the Supreme Court ruling in May 2018. Before that, Las Vegas was the destination for punters willing to test their football knowledge and luck wagering on the Big Game, and today it remains popular.

The rise of legit online sportsbooks in an ever-growing number of states shifted the landscape though. Today those who ponder whom to bet on in the Super Bowl mega contest prefer (in their majority) the convenience and diversity that the betting sites and apps provide them with. That’s why expectations are that in the not so distant future at least a dozen more states will legalize this form of sports gambling.