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2026 Alternate Super Bowl Lines Offer NFL Betting Value

by Spencer Toth - 2/3/2026

Alternate Super Bowl lines Leonard Williams Seattle Seahawks

I am sure that you are well aware of the standard point spread (Seahawks -4.5) and total (45.5 Points) for Super Bowl LX. These betting markets will be heavily scrutinized, and you will find concrete arguments for either side to cover the spread, as well as legitimate claims for both the over and the under on Sunday. While these -110 markets offer plenty of value, the sharper picks can often be found on alternate spreads and totals.

Most sportsbooks offer odds all the way up to +20 or -20 for both the Seahawks and Patriots. If you think Seattle will win in a blowout, taking them at -13.5 with +290 odds is much better than the -110 odds on the standard spread. If you aren’t sure if New England will win, but you are confident they will not lose by double digits, the -260 odds on Patriots +9.5 could be the way to go. These alternate spreads and totals will not be as heavily advertised as the -110 lines, as it is harder for sportsbooks to balance the money coming in on both sides at each unique number. However, that doesn’t mean you should avoid them, as alternate spreads and totals can be one of the most effective ways to churn a profit on the most heavily bet event of the year. 

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What Are Alternate Spreads?

Point spreads are designed to balance action on both sides of a matchup, typically at -110 odds. This number can change throughout the week, but the goal is to create a line where half of the bettors think one side will cover, and the other half disagrees. For example, if the point spread at Super Bowl LX was -20.5 at -110 for the Seahawks, an overwhelming majority of the money would come in on the Patriots. As of now, the Seahawks are -4.5 point favorites over New England. This means half of bettors think the Seahawks will win by 5+ points, while the other half think New England will win by any number, or suffer a defeat by 4 or fewer points. 

An alternate spread is when you adjust the spread while accepting different odds for the wager. One of the most common types of alternate spreads is ‘buying points,’ which is when bettors take a more favorable number with less favorable odds. Instead of taking the Patriots at +4.5, bettors may elect to encapsulate two common margins of victory, 6 and 7 points, by bringing New England up to +7.5. The sportsbooks will only offer -200 odds on that pick, but it will greatly increase your chances of emerging victorious. 

The other method is to ‘sell points’ or reduce the likelihood of winning for better odds. If someone is confident in New England and thinks they will win by at least 7 points, they can secure tantalizing +480 odds on the Patriots -6.5. Generally, selling points are better than buying points, as sportsbooks will artificially inflate the ‘safer’ alternate spreads as they are popular selections for same-game parlays. A good rule of thumb is that if you don’t think the team will cover the -110 line, it is better to pass or adjust your position rather than buy a boatload of points. 

The same logic can be applied to totals. The 45.5 point line offers -110 odds on each side, but we can move this number up or down as we see fit. The 38.5 point line has -275 odds for the over and +200 odds for the under. Getting aggressive with betting on totals can be a great way to churn a profit in the long run despite hitting fewer than 50% of your bets. If you can correctly identify a matchup that will keep the score low or result in touchdowns galore, targeting an alternate total can be the way to go. 

Alternate Spreads and Totals at Super Bowl LX

There are a few different ways we can attack the alternate lines at Super Bowl LX. First of all, the New England Patriots have plenty of options since they are in the underdog role. Taking them to cover a +3.5 point line, the most common margin of victory in the NFL, comes with juicy +105 odds. The only difference between this pick and the standard -110 odds on the +4.5 point spread is that a 4-point win for Seattle will result in a loss instead of a win. 

While this offers solid value, and even better pick to make on New England is -2.5 at +235 odds. The Patriots are my pick to win the Super Bowl, and instead of the +190 moneyline, the value is on laying a few points with the underdog for a potentially huge return. Only 5% of NFL games finish with a one or two-point margin of victory, meaning almost every Patriots win will result in them covering the -2.5 alternate spread. 

For the total points, the best bet to make is on alternate totals with the under. These are two of the best defensive units in the league, and it is very hard to imagine either side approaching 30+ points scored. The Seahawks have only allowed more than 27 points twice this season, including the playoffs, while New England has only done so once. The opposing offenses are better than average, but expecting either side to run up the score against these defensive units is nearly impossible. With that in mind, taking an alternate line on the under is the way to go. One or both of these teams will find success on offense, making the 45.5 point line a little bit lower than where I would like it. Instead, we can take under 52.5 points at -280, which is a perfect parlay piece, same game or otherwise. 

The beauty of alternate spreads is that you can set the line to whatever you like and decide whether or not to include key numbers on the spreads or totals. You will have to pay a premium if you elect to shift the line in your favor, but comparing sportsbooks can help you mitigate those odd changes. Every sportsbook has New England at +4.5, but I have seen +10.5 come in anywhere from -320 to -240. Exploiting the discrepancy in odds on alternate spreads can turn a good bet into a great one. 
For Super Bowl LX, we will be getting aggressive with the Patriots, while playing it safe on the under. The plus money price on New England’s alternate spreads makes it worth a wager, while the fact that we will win on the total an overwhelming majority of the time has me confident in laying the juice. 

Pick: New England Patriots (+3.5) +105

Pick: New England Patriots (-2.5) +190

Pick: Under 52.5 Points -280

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