The core markets for the Super Bowl have held relatively steady throughout the week with the Rams hovering between 4 and 4.5-point favorites and the total painted at 48.5 across the board as we inch closer to Sunday. Most of the major shops are also reporting strong support for the underdog. At BetMGM, over 75% of the bets and almost 70% of the handle is coming in on Bengals ML.
“Early sharp action has been on the Rams and the under,” said BetMGM VP of Trading Jason Scott. “As the game gets closer we expect the public will back the Bengals and the over.”
I did notice a slight fluctuation with the money line price, as the Rams dipped to -180 at the Westgate Superbook. That triggered a play for me, which I detailed in my Super Bowl best bets column earlier this week. At the time of publication, that price has been elevated back to -200, which is in line with the rest of the market.
Oddsmakers have also stayed busy keeping up with the vast market of props, which is a little more difficult this year as sportsbooks receive a higher volume of overall handle.
“The biggest difference this year is having several states to manage,” said WynnBET Senior Trader Mike Metzler. “It’s a nice increase in our handle when you have more states to work with.”
As we get closer to gameday, oddsmakers expect the volume to increase.
“It’s currently steady, but as the weekend gets closer, the bet ticker is a constant flow of prop bets that need to be adjusted and managed,” Metzler added.
Be sure to check out our full Super Bowl 56 preview for Los Angeles Rams vs Cincinnati Bengals
Advice for betting on Super Bowl 56
My best advice for those hesitating on making their bets is this: if you feel strongly about a certain prop, it’s best to lock in before Sunday, as the volume could skew the price dramatically in either direction. Also, don’t get overwhelmed by the wide array of options sportsbooks are offering.
“Stick with options you understand,” said DraftKings Head of Trading Johnny Avello.
Finally, limit your bankroll accordingly. Oddsmakers have indicated that the spread and total offer very little value for this game, so making a large wager on either of those is not a wise investment. Instead, make smaller bets on the props that correlate to how you see the game playing out.
Pickswise is the home of free Super Bowl Predictions. Check out our free player, game and novelty Super Bowl Prop Bets ahead of Super Bowl 56.
