There are numerous ways to bet the Super Bowl, and all the options and numbers may be confusing for people new to sports betting. Don’t sweat it. Here’s a quick primer on how to read Super Bowl odds as the Chiefs and Eagles prepare to take the field in Glendale. Once you are ready to make some wagers, read our guide on which sports betting apps to choose and why.
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What is the Point Spread?
The point spread (often called just the “spread”) is the most common way to bet football. When someone refers to the “line” on a football (or basketball) game, they typically mean the spread.
The Super Bowl spread, as of Sunday morning, is either Eagles -1 or Eagles 1-5, depending on which sportsbook app or website you are using. If the Eagles are -1, the Chiefs are +1; if the Eagles are -1.5, the Chiefs are +1.5.
For an Eagles bet, simply subtract 1 (or 1.5) from their score to determine if the bet is a winner. If Philadelphia wins 28-24, an Eagles bet at -1 or -1.5 is a winner. A 31-30 Eagles win would be a loser if the spread you bet into was -1.5, because they did not “cover the spread”. If you bet Eagles -1, the bet would be a “push” if Philly wins by exactly one point, and the amount of your wager would be refunded to your account.
For a Chiefs bet, add the 1 or 1.5. So if the Chiefs win the game, the bet in either case is a winner. If KC loses by just 1 point, a Chiefs +1.5 bet is a winner. If they do lose by exactly 1 point, your Chiefs +1.5 bet cashes.
Of course, lines often move before kickoff, and they vary between sportsbooks. If you want to bet the Eagles, you’d want to find the shortest number (Eagles -1 is better than Eagles -1.5). If you want to bet the Chiefs, you’d want the higher number (Chief +1.5 is better than Chiefs +1).
It’s always a good idea to look at sevaral sportsbook apps to make sure you are getting the best number for the bet you want to make.
What Does -110 Mean?
Ah, but what about the -110 you see attached to your Eagles -1 or Chiefs +1.5 bet?
That is the “vig” or “juice” the sportsbook charges bettors on losing bets. It means that for every $100 you want to win, you have to risk $110. You’re allowed to bet smaller or larger stakes, of course. A $200 bet would have $220 juice; $50 bet would have $55 juice; a $20 bet, $22 juice; and so on.
So if want to bet to win $100 on Eagles -1, $110 would be taken from your account when you place the wager. If the Eagles cover the spread, you would be returned $210 (the $100 winnings, plus your $110 stake).
The vig is typically -110 on point spread bets, but it can vary from that number for various reasons. If you see -115, you are risking $115 per $100 you want to win. Vig of -105 is less expensive, as just a $105 risk is required to win $100.
What is Over/Under Or Total?
The “over/under” or “total” is another common to way to bet a football game. The number is a projection of how many total points will be scored in the game. The Super Bowl total for Chiefs vs. Eagles is between 50.5 and 51, and you can bet either “over” or “under” those numbers.
If you want to bet Over, you’d want the smaller number. If you want to bet Under, look for the larger total.
If you bet Over 50.5, and Chiefs and Eagles combine to score 51 points or more, your bet is a winner, but Over 51 would be a push. If 52 points or more between the teams are scored, either ticket cashes.
If you don’t think the game will be too high scoring and play Under 51, you need 50 points or fewer to be scored Sunday in Arizona to win your bet. Again, if exactly 51 points are scored, the bet is a push, and wagers are refunded.
What is a Moneyline bet?
The moneyline refers to each team’s odds to win the game with no consideration of margin of victory, unlike the point spread we discussed above.
Since the Eagles are the favorites and expected to win, an Eagles moneyline wager requires risking more money than can be won.
The best Eagles moneyline we’re seeing as of Sunday morning is -118 at BetRivers and FanDuel, meaning to win $100, you must risk $118. Should the Eagles win, you would see $218 put into your sportsbook account (your $100 in winnings, plus your original $118 stake).
The Philly moneyline is as high as -120. If you want to bet the Eagles, look for the lowest number, as it requires less risk than the higher ones.
The Chiefs moneyline is +100 at many sportsbooks (or “even-money” — bet $1, win $1), but Caesars is showing +105. If you want to bet the Chiefs to win the game outright, look for the highest number, since the payout would be larger.
Like with the spread, total, or any bet you want to make, you should always shop around various sportsbooks for the best moneyline odds for your bet.
Super Bowl 2023 Props
Props are other fun ways to bet the Super Bowl, and there a literally hundreds of them. Conceptually, the odds on most of these props work just as they do for spreads, totals, and moneylines.
Here are some examples of Super Bowl props from FanDuel Sportsbook:
- Coin toss: Yes, you can bet whether the coin will land heads or tails. At FanDuel, the vig on either heads or tails is -104.
- Jalen Hurts passing yards: 238.5 (over -110, under -110)
- Patrick Mahomes passing touchdowns: 1.5 (over -215, under +172)
- A.J. Brown receiving yards: 72.5 (over -110, under -110)
- Who will have more rushing yards: Miles Sanders -188, Isiah Pacheco +152
- Haason Reddick to Record a Sack & Philadelphia Eagles to Win +190
- Will any player score 2+ touchdowns: Yes -185, No +135
We listed just seven of the seemingly countless options. Scrolling through props can be overwhelming, but you should be able to find a few you have an opinion on or may enjoy betting. Have a favorite player? There are dozens of ways to bet him at any legal US sportsbook.
For more information and insight on Super Bowl props, click some of the links below. These articles may help you figure out which ones to play.
Have a happy Super Sunday, and may all your wagers be winners!
More props: Patrick Mahomes Super Bowl props | Travis Kelce Super Bowl props | Jalen Hurts Super Bowl props | Miles Sanders Super Bowl props | Super Bowl rushing props | Super Bowl MVP odds
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