The countdown to kickoff is on, with the Philadelphia Eagles taking on the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII on February 4.
Before the Big Game gets underway, we’re running down the Top 10 Super Bowl betting moments of the past 10 years. Last week, we looked at numbers 10 through six, now it’s time to tackle the Top 5. Let’s go.
No. 5: Lights Out
The Baltimore Ravens jumped out to a commanding 28–6 lead over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII, and appeared to be an easy winner for anyone who bet Baltimore as a 4.5-point underdog but also the Under 48 points. That’s when the lights inside the New Orleans Superdome went dark and didn’t come back on for another 34 minutes.
The power outage reset the momentum of the game, and opened the door for the Niners to come roaring back. San Francisco went on a 25-6 run to close the game and blew away the total, topping the number with a combined 65 points scored.
No. 4: The Safety Dance
One of the biggest long-shot props on the Super Bowl betting board became a thorn in the side of sportsbooks when a safety was not only scored in Super Bowl XLVI but also scored in the next two Big Games, cashing out at odds between +550 and +900.
On top of that, the safeties registered in Super Bowl XLVI and Super Bowl XLVIII just so happened to be the first scoring play of the game, which meant books were paying out as much as +7,500 to bettors who took a shot on the safety as the opening score.
Because of that three-year streak, sportsbooks are very timid when it comes to their props around the safety. What was once a 10-to-1 proposition is now priced around +750 and a safety to be the first score of the Super Bowl is down to +4,000 – nearly half the payout as it used to be. Sorry safety bettors.
No. 3: David gets Goliath
The Patriots’ claim to fame was knocking off the Rams as 14-point dogs in Super Bowl XXXVI, sparking the New England dynasty to five Super Bowl titles. Well, in Super Bowl XLII, the shoe was on the other foot for the Pats, who watched their perfect season go up in flames against a massive underdog.
The New York Giants, getting 12.5 points from oddsmakers, got the ball down 14-10 with two minutes and 39 seconds left in the game. On a third and five from the Giants' 44-yard line, quarterback Eli Manning escaped a sure sack and desperately heaved a 32-yard prayer to rarely-used receiver David Tyree, who leaped and pinned the ball on the top of his helmet for the completion.
The Giants would find the end zone four plays later to go up 17-14 to hand New England its first loss of the season, cashing in as massive +800 moneyline underdogs. Long live the “Helmet Catch”!
No. 2: The Pats' pick
Football fans – especially those who had Seattle at a pick’em to win Super Bowl XLIX – are still scratching their heads over the Seahawks’ decision to throw the ball on a second-and-goal from the New England one-yard line, down 28-24 with 25 seconds left.
Despite flattening the New England defense behind the downhill charge of running back Marshawn Lynch – one of the best short-yardage backs in football – and owning a timeout, head coach Pete Carrol elected to pass in this situation. What were you thinking?!
Seattle QB Russell Wilson targeted Ricardo Lockette just as New England corner Malcolm Butler bullied his way between the ball and the receiver, intercepting the pass at the goal line and giving the Patriots their most improbable Super Bowl victory ever… or so we thought.
No. 1: 28-3
Not only is the Patriots’ remarkable comeback in Super Bowl LI the best Super Bowl betting moment of the past 10 years, but it could arguably be the best betting moment ever and stake a claim as the greatest football game ever played. Well… if you had the Falcons or the Under, you might feel a little different.
Atlanta pounced out to a now-infamous 28-3 lead over New England in Super Bowl LI, with the Patriots dead in the water midway through the third quarter and sportsbooks offering an in-game live betting moneyline as big as +1,000 on the Patriots.
A few key defensive stops, some poor play calling from the Falcons, and Julien Edelman’s crazy, crazy catch helped Tom Brady bring the Patriots back to tie the game, force overtime, and eventually win in the extra period. The 34-28 final score would give Pats backers the cover as 3-point favorites and also pay the Over 57 points.
We hope you enjoyed the Top 10 Super Bowl betting moments of the past 10 years – even if you were on the wrong side of some of those bets. Be sure to check out numbers 10 through 6 in our previous video, and good luck making more moments – and money – during Super Bowl LII.
For all your Super Bowl betting odds and info, check out Covers NFL home page and be sure you’re following us on Twitter @Covers all way through kick off on February 4.
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