Super Bowl handicapping is a completely different animal than handicapping games during the regular season in the National Football League. The Super Bowl is the marquee event on the Gambling Calendar, and everything from how the line is set to what triggers line movements is unique to any other normal game and should be approached from an atypical angle by recreational bettors.

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First, you have to understand how the line is set for the Super Bowl and know what you're up against from the mental standpoint of the oddsmakers - the people that you are lining up against and trying to beat on Super Sunday. Because there is only one game on the board and because of the massive volume of action taken on the game by sportsbooks, bookies take a different perspective in establishing the Super Bowl odds.

"Most people don't realize that we make most of our lines during the course of the year geared toward 'wise guy' or 'professional' bettors," said Jay Kornegay, former Executive Director of Racing and Sports for the Las Vegas Hilton. "The Super Bowl is the one line that is geared or made toward how the public or novice bettor views the game."

An inherent American ideal is that "bigger is better". This may seem like a trite sociologic observation, but it's actually very relevant when it comes to the Big Game. The general betting public is a sucker for a heavy favorite and for assuming a high-scoring game, thus the chalk and the 'over' are the two most common plays made on Super Sunday. The linesmakers know that the public wants the favorite and the 'over' so they often inflate both those numbers knowing that a majority of square bettors are going to blindly throw their money on that side anyway.

Remember: the key numbers for football bettors are 3, 4, and 7. They are important because a strong percentage of football games are decided by one of these numbers. As a result, you want to be very careful about playing games at numbers like -3.5 or +6.5 because they have less value than -3.0 or +7.0.

Next, after you've analyzed the line and you have to pick a side based on the number - not based on whom everyone thinks is going to win.

Just because every Tom, Dick, and Harry is betting the Super Bowl favorite because they want to feel connected to something great, and not because of their sharp football acumen, doesn't mean that it's the wrong play. Laying the points and blindly betting the favorite has actually been a sound strategy in the Big Game, and it was especially profitable during the NFC's dominant run against the AFC from the mid-80s to the late-90s. Further, a parlay of the favorite and the 'over' pays out at 2.5-to-1 and has actually hit in 10 of 25 Super Bowls between 1983 and 2007. Had you wagered $100 on each of those games you would be up nearly $1,000.

After you finish this NFL article check out our NFL Season Win Total Predictions page. When it comes to betting NFL our NFL Schedule Strength feature is a must for any NFL fan. Doc's understand reading football odds resource is a must read for NFL wagering. For 35+ years the team at Doc's Sports Service has provided and insight on NFL handicapping.

The basic rule is that if you're enamored with the favorite, have a number in your mind that you're willing to play. If the original line is close to that - remembering to buy on or off key numbers like 3, 4, or 7 - then pounce. However, if you like the underdog your best bet on Super Bowl Sunday will be to wait for the last possible moment because the line is likely to move in your favor.

After you've analyzed the line and picked a side the next step is to determine how much you are willing to risk. This guideline may be the most important one when you're thinking about betting the Super Bowl - don't wager more than you would on any other game. The "go big or go home" mentality is for amateurs and tourists.

I said that everything about Super Bowl betting is different than gambling on football during the regular season. That's true. But the amount you choose to gamble on Super Bowl Sunday should be the same or less than what you would wager during the regular season. The reason is simple: there is less value on this game from the bettor's perspective than on any game during the season. The Super Bowl is the only football game on the board during this time and absolutely all of the attention of the sporting world is on it. It's nearly impossible to find a statistical advantage in this situation because there is no stone that is left unturned by the oddsmakers.

Finally, another area of betting that is unique to the Super Bowl is the vast array of proposition bets - or "Super Bowl props" - available to bettors. You can wager on anything from the common (which quarterback will throw for the most yards or who will score the most touchdowns) to the bizarre (which number will be higher: Budweiser commercials or total quarterback sacks).

These props are designed for enjoyment but can also be a lucrative investment. Because of the sheer volume of prop bets available you generally can find value because of weak lines. There is generally a $100 or $500 limit on these wagering options. That's a good thing because while you can find some value these props are usually just sucker wagers and coin flips. For me, winning is more fun than playing. Keep that in mind.

The Super Bowl should be an enjoyable betting experience. It should be more of a celebration of the season than a chance to win big or lose big. Understand the line, choose a side based on the number instead of whom everyone thinks will win, be mindful of how much you wager, and be wary of props. Follow those simple guidelines and it should be a very super Sunday indeed.

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