After three rounds of exciting NFL playoff games, the biggest event on the North American sports calendar is here. On Sunday, Feb. 13, the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals will clash at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California in Super Bowl 56.
Around North America, millions upon millions of people will tune into the game regardless of the Super Bowl matchup.
And regardless of the matchup, many of those millions of viewers will also be placing wagers on the big game.
Events like the Super Bowl often see first-time or casual bettors get in on the action. Some bettors are fans of one of the teams involved. Others are interested in betting on the interesting prop options that are available for the game.
Knowing where to start with betting on the big game can be a challenge if you are a new or experienced bettor. But here are some tips to help steer you in the right direction.
Find the Right Sportsbook
Super Bowl betting, or any kind of sports betting for that matter, starts with finding the right sportsbook. It’s like house hunting or car shopping. The first one you find might be really appealing, but it might not necessarily be the right one.
And as with looking for the right home or car, amenities often matter with choosing the right sportsbook.
But instead of an extra bathroom, heated seats, or some extra storage space, promotions and value are two key selling points with sportsbooks. Every year, there are plenty of Super Bowl promo codes, free bets, and sportsbook bonuses on offer at places like BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook, and others.
Sportsbook promotions for new signups can include deposit bonuses, free or risk-free bets, contest entries, and more.
Reload bonuses and loyalty/VIP programs and offers are also common, so newbies don’t have all of the fun. If you plan to continue betting after the Super Bowl, such perks can factor into your decision-making.
Value should also be a primary consideration when you are determining where to bet on the Super Bowl. Even if you don’t intend to invest a significant stake in your Super Bowl bets, it is nice to get the best possible line to save some of your funds or maximize your winnings is something.
Consider the following scenario for the upcoming Super Bowl matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals.
Super Bowl Spread: Book A vs Book B
Book A
- Los Angeles Rams -4.5 (-110)
- Cincinnati Bengals +4.5 (-110)
Book B
- Los Angeles Rams -4.5 (-106)
- Cincinnati Bengals +4.5 (-114)
If you are interested in backing the Cincinnati Bengals to cover the spread, Book A clearly makes the most sense from a value perspective.
If you make a $100 bet at -110 odds, your return will be $190.90 (your original stake of $100, plus your winnings of $90.90).
But if you make a $100 bet at -112 odds, your return will be $187.70 (your original stake of $100, plus $87.70 in winnings).
It may not seem like much, but it adds up. You can take those extra dollars and use them on March Madness betting or NBA betting, perhaps. Or you could use them on a Little Caesars Hot-N-Ready pizza, if you are so inclined.
Along with checking out sportsbooks and the lines that they offer, reading sportsbook reviews can help you sift through your choices and make the best decision.
Determine What You Want to Bet On
Now that you have picked where you want to bet, you need to determine what you want to bet on.
Most casual bettors simply want to bet on the Super Bowl result. But do you want to bet on the Super Bowl spread, or do you want to bet on the Super Bowl moneyline? Or do you want to bet on the Super Bowl total? Or all three?
Whether you choose to bet on the spread or moneyline can depend on your confidence level and the betting lines that you are working with.
Let’s use Rams-Bengals Super Bowl odds from BetMGM.
Spread
- Los Angeles Rams -4.5 (-110)
- Cincinnati Bengals +4.5 (-110)
Total
- OVER 48.5 (-110)
- UNDER 48.5 (-110)
Moneyline
- Los Angeles Rams -200
- Cincinnati Bengals +175
Odds are as of Sunday, February 13, 2022.
If you are confident that the Rams will win by at least five points and cover the Super Bowl spread, then backing them at that spread is your best bet.
If you are confident that the Rams will win but less confident that they will cover that spread, consider alternative spread options over betting the moneyline at poor value. For example, Rams -3 is currently available at odds of -145, while Rams -2 is available at odds of -165. Either of those options would be much better than betting the moneyline.
In the first 55 Super Bowls, the Super Bowl champion won by at least three points 54 times and by at least four points 48 of 55 times. And of the Rams’ 15 wins this season, 14 have been by at least three points. Based on those trends, you can be confident about alternative spread options like the options mentioned.
On the flip side, say you are backing the Bengals instead. Are you confident that Cincinnati will win no matter what? Then, by all means, back the ML as that will provide maximum betting value and winnings.
But if you think the Bengals will keep it very close and potentially win, the spread is the better choice. You will sacrifice some value, but you will still win in the event they lose by less than five points.
Scout the Super Bowl Matchup
When betting on the result, knowing important information about the Super Bowl matchup will always come in handy. No, you don’t have to know the rosters from top to bottom or all of the stats from each team’s season. But some basic info can tell a lot.
Did the two teams play during the season? Beating the same team twice in one season is never easy.
It is a situation that has not happened often recently, but the big game’s matchup can occasionally be between two teams that played during the regular season. That was the case in last year’s title tilt, as the Chiefs met the Bucs for the second time last season. The Chiefs won the regular season matchup, but the Bucs won the game that mattered.
That level of recent familiarity is not there with the Rams-Bengals matchup, however. Bengals coach Zac Taylor was the Rams’ quarterback coach when the Rams went to the Super Bowl 53 in the 2018 season, so he does have some familiarity with the team.
However, the two teams have not met since the 2019 season–Taylor’s first season as Bengals head coach–and with how many changes that have occurred for both teams since then, that previous meeting is not relevant for scouting report purposes.
What do NFL statistics say about how the teams match up statistically? What is the latest injury news? How have the two teams performed in their recent games?
One key thing to keep in mind: Yardage statistics do not always tell the full story. A team can allow a lot of passing yards, but that may not mean they struggle against the pass. If a team plays with a lead more often than not, opponents will have to throw the ball a lot more, thus inflating those numbers.
Research and Evaluate Relevant Super Bowl Betting Trends
Scouting the matchup is certainly important, but it is also helpful to be aware of relevant Super Bowl betting trends and NFL betting trends.
Now, what happened in the first Super Bowl is not nearly as relevant as what happened in the most recent game. But historical betting trends, both with regards to results and what people bet on, can be very informative.
How often has the underdog covered the spread? How often has the underdog won the game? What betting trends for the current NFL season stand out?
Now that you know the basics of how to bet on the Super Bowl, you should be able to approach your bets for the big game with confidence.
While we covered the basics here, we have other resources to help you go beyond betting on the result of the matchup at SoFi Stadium.
