Peyton Manning is a favorite to win Super Bowl MVP at 6-5 odds. A safe bet, but not a very lucrative one.
Gambling is all about getting an edge on the house. When it comes to the Super Bowl, as history has proven, an educated or risk-taking gambler has a pretty good chance of winning.
Why? Because anything can happen. In 2012 the odds of a safety occurring Super Bowl XLVI were 50-1. Last year, it was 8-1. Safety’s occurred in back to back title games.
In 2013 Las Vegas reported $98.9 million in Super Bowl wagers, but after payouts, netted casinos just $7.2 million in profit. What does all this mean? A lot of gamblers win when they bet on the biggest sporting event in the world.
So without further ado, here is a peek at some good bets, some wacky bets, and some old favorites for Super Bowl XLVII.
Broncos (-3): Historically, favorites are 26-19-2 against the spread. And with Peyton Manning leading the league’s most potent offense, even the Seahawks defense will struggle to stop the single-season touchdown record holder. The pick: Broncos to cover.
Over 47 points: The math here makes this one a no-brainer. The Broncos lead the league with just over 36 points scored per game. The Seahawks are eighth at 25.7. Add them together and you get over 60 points. There might not be that many points scored, but you get the gist. These teams can score. The pick: over 47 points will be scored
A Broncos WR for MVP: Think about it. Peyton Manning has 6-5 odds of winning Super Bowl MVP. Not a great payout. But his wide receivers, Demaryius Thomas (18-1), Wes Welker (20-1) and Julius Thomas (25-1) are getting remarkable odds. The Pick:Demaryius Thomas to win the MVP award.
A scoreless quarter (+225):The Seahawks have one of the league’s top-rated defenses. It is also pretty likely that for one 15-minute period, perhaps the first quarter, both teams struggle to get a feel for the frigid MetLife Stadium conditions. Yes, we’re going with the over and a scoreless quarter; it’s not counterintuitive. A $100 bet wins $225.
The pick: There will be a scoreless quarter.
Renee Fleming will wear gloves (-300): There are many National Anthem prop bets, like over/under 2:25 for the length of the anthem, but with temperatures near freezing, it is a pretty safe wager that opera singer Renee Fleming will have gloves on her hand. The pick: bundle up
Eli Manning will be shown over 1.5 times: Here is another no-brainer. Peyton Manning is playing for a Super Bowl title in brother Eli’s house. The pick: Eli will be shown close to a dozen times.
Thomas will have more catches than Tiger Woods birdies: Even though Tiger Woods has won the Omega Dubai Desert Classic twice, Demaryius Thomas has averaged about six catches per game this season, meaning the struggling Woods would need to shoot at least a 66 in the final round Sunday prior to kickoff. The pick:Thomas catches.
