Some lines coming out of Las Vegas are more scrutinized than others and the Super Bowl opening line is certainly one of those that gets a lot of attention. Ranking close behind it has to be the Super Bowl second half line.

Halftime betting allows bettors to wager on the score of the second half only and overtime if necessary. The line comes out once the first half has been completed and is off the board once the second half begins. Most online sportsbooks post the halftime line just minutes into the intermission.

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The second half line is usually loosely based on the opening line but obviously changes somewhat considering what has happened so far in the first half. There is a second half point spread and a second half total.

Some lines are easier to figure out than others. Say the Indianapolis Colts are five-point favorites and at halftime they are up by a field goal, then the second half line will likely be in the range of Indianapolis giving three to four points.

Just as the lines are posted in the blink of an eye, a bettor has to make a decision in about the same amount of time. The Super Bowl halftime line is heavily scrutinized for one because it is the most watched game of the year and also because the halftime is longer than a normal NFL halftime thanks to the extended halftime show. This makes it the most bet halftime line of the betting season.

There is a trade off with halftime betting. For one instead of relying on stats from weeks or months ago or how the teams fared the last time they played you can simply revert to what you have seen on the field during the first 30 minutes. Some bettors strictly wait for the halftime line to wager on a game.

There is very little time to handicap the second half but there is also a distinct advantage of knowing the exact weather, how the field is holding up, what players seem to be hobbled by injury and who has the momentum. Very rarely in the NFL do teams come out of the locker room and play entirely differently than they played in the first half.

Halftime lines are not to be confused with live lines that some sportsbooks offer. A live line is wagering on the outcome of the entire game and these lines are usually posted by online sportsbooks throughout the game.

If you already wagered on the game line the halftime line could still hold plenty of interest for you. If your bet is a sure fire loser then you can try to break even by taking the second half line. Or if you game line bet looks like an early winner you can try to hedge your bet and middle the game with just about no risk.

This often happens if you bet an underdog and the underdog is winning at the half. For example, if you have the New Orleans Saints +5 and they are up by seven at the half you can expect the second half line to be the Colts giving points as the oddsmakers would anticipate the favorite making some sort of comeback. By taking the Colts minus the points in the second half you are assured of going 1-1 at the worst in case the Colts make a comeback and win and cover the spread you will at least win your halftime bet.

The best case scenario would be, say the Colts are -8 in the second half, meaning the oddsmakers still think they will win, then you can take the Colts in the second half and if they come back and win by less than five then you win both your game bet and your second half bet.

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Halftime betting could be a profitable tool but with such a short window to break down the first half and place your wager a bettor almost has to know ahead of time if he plans on making a halftime line wager. Plan accordingly and halftime wagering could become as routine as betting on the game line.