Online sportsbooks are doing what they do best: trying to capitalize in anyway they can off the United States’ biggest annual sporting event. Super Bowl LI goes down February 5 between the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons in Houston, Texas, at 6:30 pm ET.
The AFC Champions are the favorites in Las Vegas, albeit by just a field goal (three points). The Falcons will play the role of the underdog, and try to spoil Tom Brady and New England coach Bill Belichick’s shot at winning their fifth NFL title together.
The Westgate Superbook, Caesars Palace, Mirage, and Wynn Las Vegas are all currently in agreement of the Pats giving the Dirty Birds three points. Like the land-based books in Nevada, online sportsbooks are also spotting Atlanta a field goal.
But with both teams led by high-powered offenses and more than capable defenses, Super Bowl LI is poised to be a close affair. It would be hard to imagine the 16-2 Patriots losing the big game, but the 13-5 Falcons led by quarterback Matt Ryan seem ready to pull off the upset.
Since the spread is so close, the moneylines are fairly tight.
The Westgate SuperBook is selling the Patriots straight up at -150 and the Falcons at +130. That means a $150 bet on New England returns $100, while a $100 wager on Atlanta returns $130.
Funny Business
The Super Bowl is the most-watched television program in the US. Millions tune in who aren’t necessarily interested in the game itself, which is why commercials have become such a focal point of the evening.
Oddsmakers do their best to appeal to the masses, and this year they’re upping their game. While land-based books in Nevada offer numerous in-play and proposition bets, they primarily stick to the actual game itself.
Novelty bets are reserved to the offshore and international online sportsbooks.
Paddy Power is the most well known sportsbook that caters to the novelty crowd. The Irish bookmaker is taking bets on whether the coin toss to begin the game will be heads or tails (both 20/21).
Bovada is asking if singer Luke Bryan will forget or omit a word during his singing of the national anthem (Yes +400, No -700). The online book also asks which song Lady Gaga will begin her halftime show with (“Born This Way” +225, “Bad Romance” +250, “Edge of Glory” +600).
But European bookie Top Bet comes in with the most outrageous lines for Super Bowl LI. The site asks whether President Trump will tweet three or more times during the game (Yes -150, No +120), how many slices of pizza Domino’s will sell (12.5 million or more -110, Under 12.5 million -120), and how many times FOX will show Brady’s wife Gisele Bundchen (zero or once -120, twice or more -110).
Good for Goodell
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell might secretly be rooting for the Falcons. The 2016 regular season began with Brady suspended for four games due to his role in “Deflategate.”
Boston fans were none too happy with the commissioner for sentencing their superstar to the sidelines, even though the Patriots still won all four games. Regardless, many want to see Goodell on the same podium presenting Brady with the trophy the night of February 5.