Just because the matchup for Super Bowl 58 has just been set doesn’t mean that you have to wait to place bets on the game.
As you wait for the San Francisco 49ers to meet the Kansas City Chiefs in Las Vegas on Feb. 11, there are plenty of chances to put wagers on the game from anything as simple as the winner, to hyperspecific player props that focus on an individual’s performance. Still, it’s very helpful to have a solid idea of the different wagers available before placing any bets on the matchup.
Here’s everything you need to know about the basic odds for Super Bowl 58, all odds courtesy of BetMGM.
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Against the spread
This is one of the more popular betting actions available on the market. Betting a team against the spread essentially means you are picking one team, while factoring in a spread of points that is determined by the different sportsbooks, though the spreads are typically very close.
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So, using the Super Bowl as an example, the current spread is the 49ers favored by 2 points. That means that if you place a bet for San Francisco against the spread, you are predicting that the 49ers will win by at least three points, since a two-point victory for San Francisco would result in a push, or a tie on the wager.
A bet of the Chiefs +2, therefore, doesn’t mean that you think Kansas City will necessarily win, as much as it means you think Kansas City won’t lose by three or more points. Thus, a one-point loss by the Chiefs would still net a payout on a bet of Chiefs +2.
Current line: San Francisco 49ers –2
Moneyline
This is essentially the action taken when you want to pick the winner of the game without any consideration for margin or spread. It often appears as ‘Money’ or ‘ML’ in sportsbooks, but is also one of the more popular plays on the market.
The main point to consider with moneyline picks is that you need to weigh the odds given, which affect the payout of the wager. So, since the 49ers are favored to win the game, picking them on the moneyline will net out a smaller payment than a wager of the 49ers against the spread. This is particularly magnified when picking a heavy favorite on the moneyline.
But using the current odds as an example, the 49ers are sitting at -130 on the moneyline. That means that a successful wager of $100 would net out a payment of $76.92. The Chiefs, meanwhile, are currently +110 on the moneyline, which means a successful wager of $100 nets out winnings of $110.
Current line: 49ers -130; Chiefs +110
Over/under
This is another very popular play available on the market and is often listed under ‘Total’ in sportsbook offerings. The over/under is essentially the number of points scored by both teams, combined. The number is set by the sportsbooks, though they typically tend to be very similar across the different companies.
So using the current over/under as an example, the line is set at 47.5. That means that a successful over bet would see both teams have a combined total of at least 48 points. A successful under bet would see both teams with a combined total of 47 points or fewer.
These offerings are typically listed as ‘O 47.5’ or ‘U 47.5’ in the sportsbooks.
Current line: 47.5 points
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