It’s Super Bowl time. This is the most popular betting day of the year. There are literally millions of people who don’t typically bet on sports that will be betting on this game. If you fit into that category then this is for you. Here are eight tips for betting rookies. Let’s call it Super Bowl betting for dummies and novice bettors:
Know the basics
Before you make a bet it’s important that you understand what you are betting on. If not you’re just throwing your money away. I’m not saying that you have to be an expert before you make a bet — that’s impossible. You do need to make sure you know the basics, though.
For example, do you understand what a point spread is? If a team is favored by 3.5 points (the odds would be listed as -3.5) then that team has to win by four or more points in order for you to win a bet on them. If they win by three points or less, or if they lose the game, then you would lose your bet. If you bet on the underdog (listed as +3.5) then you would win if your team wins, or if they lose by less than four points.
How about the total? Betting on the Super Bowl over and under is pretty straightforward. The oddsmakers will post a total for the game — it’s currently at 55 for the Super Bowl. You can either bet on the over or the under. If the combined total of the points scored by the two teams adds up to more than 55 then you would win betting the over, while you would win betting the under if the total falls under 55. If the total is exactly 55 then the game is a push and all total bets are returned.
Know the law
The last thing you want to do when betting on the game is to wind up in some hot water because you didn’t know what you could or couldn’t do. Live sports betting is not legal outside of Nevada. You always need to consult your local laws on Internet betting. There are ways you can fund your online accounts and ways you can’t. It doesn’t take long to figure out what you can and can’t do where you live, and it’s time well spent.
Spot the sucker bets
There are a crazy number of bets available to choose from for the Super Bowl. There are the traditional lines, totals, and moneylines, and then there are a wide range of prop bets. Some of those prop bets are interesting and potentially profitable. Others are a really terrible idea. If I told you that you could bet $120 on whether the coin I flip will land on heads or tails and I will pay you $100 if you are right, you should be able to spot that that is a really bad idea. Betting on the Super Bowl coin toss is one of the most popular, but also one of the most idiotic, options out there. Hopefully. A lot of the prop bets that are offered are just as unattractive to bet on when you really look at them and consider what they are asking. There’s a simple rule to keep in mind here — if a bet seems too good to be true then it probably is.
Don’t buy into the hype
There is an infinite appetite for news and information about the Super Bowl in the two weeks between the conference championships and the big game. Virtually every media outlet will write or talk about the game in ridiculous detail. There are always stories that get a whole lot of traction during that time. The media will fall in love with some players and talk about them as if they are immortal They aren’t. It’s very important not to get sucked in by the hype that is almost impossible to avoid.
Follow your own advice
At this time of year everyone is a football expert. Everyone figures they know how the game will turn out, and a lot of people swear they have inside knowledge or special insight into the game. The problem is that everyone you talk to or listen to will have a different opinion of the game, and they will be certain that they are right. If you listen to it too much you will only end up with a massive headache and no idea what is going to happen in the game. Instead of letting yourself get overwhelmed and confused this is a good time to listen to yourself and the people you trust for sure.
Shop around
Every sportsbook is counting on this weekend to be very profitable for them. In order to attract as much betting action as they can books are very competitive in the types of prop bets they offer, and the NFL odds they post for the props and the spread. If you accept the first price that you see then you could be leaving a lot of money on the table. You would never make a major purchase — a plane ticket, a TV, or a stereo — without looking around to get the best price you can. You shouldn’t accept a bad price here, either. This is especially important if you are planning on making reasonably large bets.
Don’t spread yourself too thin
There is no better way to feel incredibly stupid than to pick the winner but wind up losing money because you have made too many different bets and too many have been losers. Once you have decided which bets you want to make you need to make sure that you can make a profit if the game turns out like you expect it to. Prop bets are especially dangerous here. It can be tempting to buy into lots of props with the potential for huge payoffs, but if they don’t win — and they aren’t likely to since they pay out big odds — then you could be in trouble.
Have fun
This is the most important tip of all. There is absolutely no reason to take Super Bowl betting too seriously. Super Bowl handicapping is extremely difficult, and even the best handicappers find it tough. If you are focused only on winning your bet then you are setting yourself up for a lot of stress and frustration. The Super Bowl is a major spectacle, so it’s important to bet for the right reasons — to have fun, try to secure bragging rights, and give yourself a shot at making a few bucks. Perspective is crucial.
Not sure who to take for the Super Bowl? Doc’s expert NFL handicappers have you covered. For just $25 Doc’s Super Bowl picks will provide you with the side and/or total for the game along with the best picks on Super Bowl props. Doc’s has 40 years of Super Bowl handicapping experience and he has assembled the best team of handicappers in the nation! Click here to sign up today.
Bovada Sportsbook •
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
