1000 Ways to Bet the Super Bowl

There are so many reasons to bet on Super Bowl XLIII on February 1st, 2009, in Tampa Bay, Florida. It’s the biggest television event of the year. Similarly, Super Bowl betting has become a big part of our annual winter rituals.

Everyone takes an interest in betting on the Super Bowl. There are Super Bowl odds on just about everything, including things that don’t even have to do with the highly anticipated NFL championship. Heck, we even bet on the commercials!

Some flock to Nevada and put money down on the Vegas Super Bowl odds. Others wager on the online Super Bowl spread at destinations such as BetOnline.com.

INSIGHT: There are 1000 ways to bet on the Super Bowl. Everything from the coin toss to the winning team’s point total being an even or an odd number.  

In terms of recent Super Bowl history, the AFC has won six of the last eight title games. Last year’s win by the New York Giants snapped a four-game winning streak by the AFC. However, 2009 Super Bowl betting shouldn’t be affected by how the conferences have fared in recent years.

INSIGHT: When considering how to bet on the Super Bowl, ask yourself what betting props seem the most intriguing to following during the game.

If you’re purely a score bettor, you can stick to the more conventional Super Bowl quarter betting and Super Bowl halftime betting. For example, the BetOnline.com Sportsbook will have Super Bowl odds for the NFL title game, but they’ll also have Super Bowl quarter and halftime odds during the game.

In other words, you can enjoy your Super Bowl bets you made prior to the game, but you can also wager on the Super Bowl throughout the championship.

INSIGHT: A savvy Super Bowl bettor will notice trends in the first quarter and get a wager down on the Super Bowl halftime spread or the Super Bowl quarter over/under.

The beauty of Super Bowl betting odds is that there’s something for everyone. You don’t have to be the most sophisticated Super Bowl bettor to be able to win wagering on the NFL. Some of the bets offered on the NFL championship are difficult to handicap and research. Sometimes, you’re better off going with your gut.

For example, there are props on what the first Super Bowl XLIII penalty of the game will be. Exactly what NFL stats are you going to crunch on this one? If you really thought about it, a false start penalty could be a good 2009 Super Bowl wager because of nerves and crowd noise. It’s part guess work, but it’s a whole lot of fun.

INSIGHT: One Super Bowl prop to consider is will there be overtime? It’s an NFL game proposition that’s definitely not your everyday football point spread or part of regular NFL odds. No Super Bowl game has ever gone to overtime.

A Super Bowl XLIII wager offered annually is what will the first score be, a prop that gives field goal, touchdown and safety as options. While a safety score is rarely seen in the NFL title game, you can win good money betting on safety. But as a Super Bowl sports bettor, not only do you have to have the foresight to predict such a rare occurrence, but you also have to have the guts make the bet.

INSIGHT: Not only can you bet on the Super Bowl over/under and total, but you can bet on the margin of the outcome. BetOnline.com gives you point ranges to choose from for the margin of Super Bowl victory.  

Players can also wager on the first touchdown scored. Types of the first touchdown in the Super Bowl include: touchdown pass, touchdown run, interception returned for a touchdown, punt returned for a touchdown, etc… In Super Bowl XLI, the first score of the game was a touchdown kickoff return on the game’s opening play. That exciting return made this particular Super Bowl bet over with in a hurry.

INSIGHT: Weather will most likely not be a factor in the game. So, a Super Bowl prop such as which will be the highest scoring half is a bet anyone can take a crack at and have the same chance at winning.

We mentioned betting on the coin toss already, but BetOnline.com also offers Super Bowl players the prop which team will receive the opening kickoff. This prop takes into consideration the fact that the Super Bowl XLIII coin toss winner doesn’t always want the opening possession. Nerves can sometimes play a factor in the Super Bowl first quarter and some coaches would rather put out their defense to start the game.

Then there’s just the off-the-wall Super Bowl props. One of the most entertaining Super Bowl props usually involves, believe it or not, an NBA player. BetOnline.com has a team matched up against an NBA superstar for most points on the day.

This year, the superstar in question is LeBron James. His Cleveland Cavaliers take on the Detroit Pistons on Super Bowl afternoon and so his point total will be paired up with each team in the Super Bowl matchup. It’s the perfect example of how betting on the Super Bowl transcends the NFL.

Whatever Super Bowl XLIII bets you decide on, make sure you load up, because a wager bonanza like this only comes once a year. Enjoy the betting fun while it’s here. For the latest in Super Bowl betting, visit the BetOnline.com Sportsbook. Click Futures/Props, then on SUPERBOWL XLIII. And click here for more details on this year's Super Bowl matchup.

Stan Simmons first tasted football through the college game, but his football handicapping has strictly focused on the professional sport. Not many people devote as much time to the NFL as Simmons. For six days a week he works, labors and handicaps the sport, and on the seventh he rests as the games play out. Thoughts or questions? Email Comments@BetOnline.com.