Super Bowl betting – Jets take the cake for biggest Super Bowl upsets
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Biggest Super Bowl upsets: after all these years, Jets still the best
Everyone from sportsbook players to casual fans got into last year’s massive upset of a Super Bowl matchup when the New York Giants beat the New England Patriots, but where does that game stack up in terms of the biggest Super Bowl upsets? As you’ll see, that game ranks pretty well for itself. The underdog has won only 11 of 43 Super Bowls, but that shouldn’t scare online betting players off.
5) Super Bowl XXXII – Denver 31 Green Bay 24
The Denver Broncos were 11-point underdogs on the Super Bowl spread against the Green Bay Packers, who had won the previous year. John Elway got most of the attention for finally winning a Super Bowl on his fourth try, but it was Terrell Davis who sparked the victory with 157 yards and three scores on the ground for the Broncos.
4) Super Bowl IV – Kansas City 23 Minnesota 7
The Vikings owned the league’s best record at 12-2, and their defense got its name “The Purple People Eaters” because it allowed the fewest points in the league. But Kansas City’s defense stole the show, forcing five turnovers while shutting down Joe Kapp and the Minnesota offense. Despite being 12-point dogs, the Chiefs produced one of the biggest Super Bowl upsets ever.
3) Super Bowl XLII – New York Giants 17 New England 14
The Patriots entered this game with an 18-0 record and as a 12-point favorite against the Giants, who slumped into the postseason but managed to win three on the road to reach the “Big Game”. Much was made of the Patriots’ offense, which set a ton of team and individual records along the way, but the New York defense rushed New England pivot Tom Brady all game, and Eli Manning threw two late touchdown passes to lead the Giants to victory.
2) Super Bowl XXXVI – New England 20 St. Louis 17
The New England dynasty, interestingly, started off as 12-point underdogs against the Rams, who were dubbed the “Greatest Show on Turf” and had won the Super Bowl just two years prior to this meeting. This game is also famous for New England coach Bill Belichick’s insistence that the Patriots be introduced as a team instead of individual starters, which has been used ever since.
The New England defense allowed a ton of yards to the Rams, but the team forced three turnovers while committing none. Adam Vinatieri’s 48-yard field goal is the only time the Super Bowl was decided on the game’s last play, and it led to one of the most surprising, biggest Super Bowl upsets of all time.
1) Super Bowl III – New York Jets 16 Baltimore 7
Most fans and online betting players know this as “The Guarantee”. Joe Namath, quarterback of the Jets, boldly guaranteed that his Jets would beat the Colts, who had an 18-point Super Bowl betting line and the league’s best defense. Namath then proceeded to efficiently direct his team to victory by going 17-of-28 for 206 yards, while the New York defense forced five Baltimore turnovers to become Super Bowl betting darlings for all time.
If you liked reading about the biggest Super Bowl upsets, check out BetOnline.com over the next few weeks for more lists and Super Bowl XLIII content.
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.
