What You Need to Know Before Placing Your First Super Bowl Bet: How To, Guide, & Explainer

By Kody Malstrom | Feb 06, 2026, 3:16pm

With the Super Bowl continuing to draw in more viewers every year, Super Bowl betting has skyrocketed in popularity as the industry is expected to bring in a record breaking 1.7 billion dollars in bets this Sunday. For some people, the Super Bowl is the first time they place a bet as they are captivated by the hundreds of markets, props, and Super Bowl promos that are available to them.

While sports betting can heighten the viewing experience for the Super Bowl, it can also be dangerous. Knowing how betting works is vital to avoid falling into a hole so you can enjoy your time watching the game and maybe make some money by the end of it.

Understanding How Betting Works

Before you place a wager on who you think will win or how many points will be scored, it’s important to know how the odds work and what they mean. With the Seattle Seahawks having a minus sign in front of their odds, that means they are the favorite to win the contest. At -235, you would need to wager $235 to profit $100.

On the other end, a plus sign indicates the New England Patriots are listed as the underdog heading into Sunday. At +194, a $100 bet would bring in $194 if you win your wager.

Most Common Bet Types

Moneyline: When betting on the moneyline, you are betting on the team to win outright.

Spread: If you bet on a team’s spread, you are betting on the favorite to win by more than the listed points (Seahawks -4.5) or the underdog to not lose by more than the total (Patriots +4.5).

Over/Under Total: A wager on if both teams will combine for more or less than the listed total.

Player Props: A bet that involves the players performance, including a quarterback’s passing yards or a wide receiver to score a touchdown.

Parlays: Combining multiple bets into one for a potential higher payout, requiring every leg of your parlay to win or else the whole bet loses.

Odds Movement and What it Means

If you open your sports betting app multiple times throughout the day, you may notice that the odds keep changing. Multiple factors play a role in their movement, including the amount wagered on a single market. Primarily from sharps earlier in the week, shaping the market to reflect how they are betting.

Injuries can also play a role as a key player being unable to play drastically changes the dynamic of the game, plummeting their team’s chances of winning.

With the Super Bowl taking place outdoors, oddsmakers also factor in the weather as harsh conditions can drive down the total. Especially if the game calls for high winds and precipitation, making it hard for both quarterbacks to move the ball down the field through the air.

How to Approach the Super Bowl as a First-Time Bettor

While familiarizing yourself with what the listed odds mean and how each bet type works is important, emotional behavior is also just as vital to help avoid falling into a hole.

Go in with a set bankroll and do not bet more than you can afford to lose
Do not chase your bets if they are not going your way early on in the game
Limit your exposure on parlays. While the higher payout seems enticing, their probability of winning is much lower than a wager on a singular bet.
Track what you bet.
Eliminate bias and set realistic expectations.
Gather as much information as you can.

Reminder, the Super Bowl viewing experience is meant to be fun. Good luck to your bets and gamble responsibly.

Kody Malstrom

Kody is a professional sports bettor and sports betting journalist with eight years of experience in the industry. He covers a wide range of sports, including NFL, NCAAF, NBA, NCAAB, NHL, MLB, and UFC. What started as a side gig has turned into a full time job, spending a majority of his time staring at odds screens and market movement. When away from the computer, Kody enjoys spending his time outdoors relaxing at the beach or golfing with friends.