The Super Bowl, a beacon of sportsmanship and the pinnacle of American football, has captivated audiences since its inception in 1967.
Emerging from the merger of the National Football League (NFL) and its then-rival, the American Football League (AFL), the Super Bowl has become a cultural phenomenon.
With its iconic halftime shows, famous commercials, and intense gameplay, the Super Bowl is one of the biggest events in world sports.
As we approach Super Bowl 2026, the anticipation is palpable. Fans, bettors, and sports enthusiasts are all keen to know: who will lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy this time?
Basics For 2026
If you're not overly familiar with the Super Bowl or how it works, you've come to the right place.
This year, the Super Bowl will be held on Sunday, February 8, 2026, at Levi's Stadium in California.
Be prepared to get comfortable because the game will likely last at least four hours with half time entertainment provided by singer songwriter – Bad Bunny.
If you're in the US, you can watch all of the action unfold on Fox with alternatives on Fubo, Fox Sports app, NFL+, and Telemundo (Spanish broadcast).
Most countries will have at least one channel showing the game live, with action in the UK and Ireland televised on the free-to-air Channel 5 and Sky Sports.
Now that we've got the basics out of the way, let's get down to the nitty-gritty.
Betting On The Super Bowl

If you've never bet on the Super Bowl, then we have a few tips for you.
Firstly, if you don't already have an online betting account, it may be a good idea to consider opening one.
I recommend using a site that has both a betting and a casino function for one main reason.
The likes of Monster Casino have welcome packages that tend to be very good, so you can benefit from them while still being able to have a flutter in the betting section.
Odds on the Super Bowl outright winner markets tend to be low, so at least this way you can take advantage of a decent casino offer.
Secondly, while you can bet on the outright winner, there are other, far more popular markets to bet on.
Super Bowl Outright Winner Odds 2026
(*odds supplied by Betfred on 13.01.25)
| Team | Super Bowl Odds |
|---|---|
| Seattle Seahawks | 3/1 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 100/30 |
| Buffalo Bills | 11/2 |
| Denver Broncos | 7/1 |
| New England Patriots | 7/1 |
| Houston Texans | 11/1 |
| Chicago Bears | 16/1 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 16/1 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 40/1 |
Point Spread Betting on Super Bowl 2026
This is the most common form of betting on American football.
Bookmakers set a spread, which is a number that the favourite team is expected to win by.
In point spread betting, the favoured team is handicapped by subtracting points, while the underdog team is given an advantage by adding points.
This handicap is known as the “spread.” For example, if the New England Patriots (our example) are likely to beat the Miami Dolphins (our example), the spread might look like this:
Patriots -7.5, Dolphins +7.5
This means the Patriots are expected to win by more than 7.5 points.
If you bet on the Patriots, they need to win the game by more than the spread for you to win your bet.
So, the Patriots would need to win by 8 points or more for a bet on them to pay out.
If you bet on the Dolphins, they can either win the game outright or lose by fewer points than the spread for you to win your bet.
So, if the Dolphins lose by 7 points or less, or if they win the game, you would win your bet.
Often, bookmakers add a half-point to spreads (like the -7.5 in our example) to avoid an exact result.
Since teams can't score in half-point increments, this ensures that there will be a definitive win or loss on that bet.
Moneyline Betting

This is a straightforward bet on who will win the game, regardless of the point spread.
The odds are adjusted based on each team's perceived chances of winning, with favourites paying out less than underdogs.
Over/Under (Totals) Betting
Instead of betting on who will win, you're betting on the total combined score of both teams.
The bookmaker sets a number, and you bet on whether the total score will be over or under that number.
Prop Bets
These are bets on specific events that may or may not affect the game's outcome.
Common prop bets include which player will score the first touchdown, the total passing yards of a quarterback, or even non-sporting aspects like the length of the national anthem or the colour of the Gatorade dumped on the winning coach.
How Teams Make It to the Super Bowl Final
The journey to the Super Bowl 2026 is a testament to strategy and skill. The NFL is divided into two conferences: the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC).
Each conference has four divisions, and each division has four teams. The regular season, spanning 17 games, determines the teams that advance to the playoffs.
The top seven teams from each conference, including division winners and teams with the best records, enter the playoffs.
The playoffs, a single-elimination tournament, culminate in the AFC and NFC Championship Games.
The victors of these championship games face off in the Super Bowl.
Most Successful Teams in Super Bowl History
Over the years, some teams have left an indelible mark on Super Bowl history.
The Pittsburgh Steelers and the New England Patriots share the honour of having the most Super Bowl wins, with each team boasting six championships.
The Dallas Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers are close behind, each with five victories.
2024 winners, Kansas City Chiefs were back again for Super Bowl 2025 and, try as they might, they couldn't overcome the Philadelphia Eagles who won with a score of 40-22.
Neither team have made it to the final in 2026.
How Often Do the Favourites Win the Game?
Betting on the Super Bowl 2026 is a tradition as old as the game itself.
Interestingly, the favourites don't always emerge victorious. Historical data shows a nearly even split between favourites and underdogs winning the Super Bowl.
This parity adds an exciting layer of unpredictability to the game, making it both a challenge and a thrill for bettors.
Trends for Picking a Winner
Identifying a potential Super Bowl winner involves looking at various factors.
Recent trends suggest that teams with strong defences, efficient quarterbacks, and high-scoring offences tend to fare well.
However, intangibles like team chemistry and playoff experience can also play a crucial role.
Additionally, monitoring the regular season performance and injury reports can provide valuable insights for making an informed prediction.
The Seattle Seahawks are currently the most likely team to win the Super Bowl in 2026, though their chances are still far from guaranteed.
Seattle secured the NFC West and top NFC seed with a strong regular-season performance, including key wins over top rivals, which means home-field advantage through the NFC playoffs.
Famous Upsets in the Super Bowl
The Super Bowl has had its fair share of David versus Goliath moments.
One of the most famous upsets occurred in Super Bowl III, when the New York Jets, led by Joe Namath, defeated the Baltimore Colts.
Super Bowl XLII also stunned the world when the New York Giants ended the New England Patriots' quest for a perfect season.
These upsets remind us that in the world of sports, anything can happen.