It’s the game of the year! The National Football League’s Super Bowl.
The Super Bowl LV, officially known as Pepsi Super Bowl LV, is the championship for the National Football League (NFL). The Super Bowl game pits the American Football Conference (AFC) against the National Football Conference (NFC), and the February 7th game (CBS) is one of the world’s most gambled-on sporting finales.
So far, the 2021 Super Bowl Fantasy season is getting plenty of action, and betting markets are now shifting to account for point spread favorite promising results. For reference, here are the top Super Bowl odds favorites–then (pre-season) and now.
| Team | Current odds | Pre-season odds |
| Kansas City Chiefs | +220 | +600 |
| Green Bay Packers | +480 | +3100 |
| Buffalo Bills | +750 | +2800 |
| New Orleans Saints | +750 | +1200 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | +1000 | +1500 |
Kansas City Chief (AFC)
Finishing the season at 14-2, the KC Chiefs are the defending NFL champs. Patrick Mahomes II, the star quarterback, leads a strong cast of players. There’s no doubt that KC is a strong contender to defend its championship title.
Green Bay Packers (NFC)
The Green Bay Packers maintained their first spot in the NFC North Division and finished the year at 13-3. Veteran QB Aaron Rodgers knows how to win, and that makes him a big favorite with punters who are more than willing to put their money on the line to back one of the NFL’s all-time best quarterbacks.
New Orleans (NFC)
The Saints have a strong team–balanced on offense and defense–finishing the year at 12-4. New Orleans also has a veteran quarterback at the helm, Drew Brees, also battle-tested in playoff football. With one playoff win already under its belt (neither the Chiefs nor Packers have played in the playoffs at this writing), NFC rivals know that the Saints are a dangerous team.
Buffalo Bills (AFC)
The #2-seed Buffalo Bills (13-3) are new to the playoff party, but they are a formidable team nonetheless. Quarterback Josh Allen is an impressive young signal-caller, and he’s surrounded by talented receivers, a strong running game, and a solid defense. The odds are that the Bills will meet the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game. But for that to happen, the Bills have to get past the Baltimore Ravens this Sunday.
Super Bowl Betting History
The NFC and AFC have been challenging contenders, recording 27-27 against one another through the first 54 Super Bowls. The Pittsburgh Steelers and England Patriots have recorded six wins each, while the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers have registered five wins.
Favorites are twice as likely to win straight up, but the record isn’t that favorable when it comes to winning against the spread. The big upset was in 1969 when the New York Jets beat the Baltimore Colts 16-7 as an 18-point underdog. Last year, the Chiefs beat the 49ers as a 1.5-point favorite.
Takeaway
It’s always fun to bet on the Super Bowl, the most-watched sporting event annually in the U.S. That’s because it’s more than a game; it’s a party that draws non-football fans and fans alike. Even TV commercials compete against each other. Betting on the game adds zest because you have something on the line, not just the teams and their fans.
Mark the date–Sunday, February 7!
