Super Bowl Odds

2011 Super Bowl 45 Betting Odds

Washington Redskins
+5000

While the main focus of sports wagering involves betting on individual games, pool wagers are also quite popular in sports betting. The most popular pool in NFL wagering involves the Super Bowl.

Most bookmakers will release their Super Bowl odds in February of each year, right after the Super Bowl of the prior season is completed. Thus, the initial odds are primarily based on the results of the previous year. Once the first odds are released, there will be various shifts in the odds during the spring and summer based upon personnel changes for each team. The free agency period can also turn the fortunes of several teams in the offseason. The NFL Draft in April is closely monitored, and coaching changes can certainly lead to shifts in the odds.

During the offseason, the Super Bowl odds are based on speculation. After all, the actual teams have yet to play a game. Once the season begins, the odds have a deeper rooted foundation because bettors can evaluate the teams on the field each week. It is during the regular season when the odds will fluctuate the most as teams move up and down, like stocks, depending on their perceived value.

Big Super Bowl long-shots are tougher to find

The appeal of Super Bowl betting to bettors involves the favorable odds of these wagers compared to the 10/11 odds of football point spread bets. It wasn’t uncommon to find teams at odds of 200/1 before the start of the season in the recent past. However, these kind of odds have basically disappeared since the 1999 St. Louis Rams and 2001 New England Patriots ended up winning Super Bowls after being in the 200/1 range at certain points during their championship seasons.

Still, some teams are priced in the 100/1 range prior to each season. These favorable odds can attract serious professional gamblers and causal sports fans who want to take a shot with their favorite team.

A good bet for the house

The Super Bowl pool is usually a favorable bet for the house. There are 32 wagering options but only one winner. Because money is pumped into the pool on a year-round basis, bookmakers have plenty of opportunities to adjust the odds in their favor. If certain teams are getting bet too heavily, there odds can be adjusted to a lower payout to make the clubs a less favorable wager. In addition, teams that aren’t getting much support can have their odds adjusted to a higher payout to lure in more wagers.