SuperBowl 44: What to do with yourself between now and kickoff
Jan 29th, 2010 by admin
After coming off the high of the Conference championships last Sunday, you’re probably thinking, “Man, I’m going to be bored between now and the SuperBowl…”. Welcome to the club, fellow NFL fan. The anticipation and excitement of SuperBowl 44 is slowly coming to a boil, and the sportsbooks are ready for all the action on February 7, 2010. Meanwhile, this weekend will feel like purgatory. All is not lost! Use the free time to read up on the teams, analyze the players, and figure the odds.
Opening Line was -5/+5 Colts/Saints
The instant the Colts clinched the AFC Championship, the linesmen at every online sportsbook were scrambling to get odds out right away. Initially, the spread was -5/+5 Colts/Saints respectively, but that number has shifted up by a 1/2 point either way. The only sportsbook offering a 6 point spread is Diamond Sportsbook, a great place for regular Joes to place a bet.
That 1/2 point makes a big difference. It means that the books don’t want to tie any bets. Instead, they’d rather have an outright winner on their hands. This is a good thing for square bettors who probably won’t gamble after the Super Bowl: should you tie on Super Sunday, you’re going to have your bets returned, and that money will just sit in your sportsbook account unused. Should that be the case, we suggest withdrawing and using the cash for personal and family needs. You can always redeposit when the Kentucky Derby rolls around.
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Hit the Casinos
Are you a high roller? Low roller? Somewhere in the middle? Instead of making sports bets this weekend on the NBA or Hockey, try out your sportsbook’s casino. Believe it or not, most sportsbook casinos are comparable to standard online casinos, offering a wide range of games and promotions. Even better, at most sportsbooks you can freely move your money between your sports betting account and casino account, via the website’s common wallet system.
Most sports bettors like to play table games: blackjack, craps, roulette, Caribbean Stud Poker, Let ‘em Ride, and others are top picks. There is usually a small selection of slot machines available as well, although some sportsbook casinos do not offer network progressive jackpots. You’ll find that the games can be played instantly via a Flash casino, or with a small software download. Sportsbook casinos aren’t as elaborate as regular online casinos, so you’ll find that the software download and installation process is relatively carefree.
Finally, it’s important to note that you probably won’t get a large bonus at sportsbook casinos, because your deposit is transferable between all genres of gambling offered on the website. If you could get a 400% bonus on $100 deposited to a sportsbook casino, there’s nothing stopping you from turning that money into a winning sports bet. Sportsbooks have to be mindful about handing out bonuses, especially when it comes to terms and conditions. You’ll find that sportsbook casino bonuses are much smaller, but usually have modest play-thru requirements, thus offering the player a better chance at “beating the bonus”.
Super Bowl Prop Bets
Will Peyton Manning be MVP? That’s a strong possibility, according to the odds at a number of online sportsbooks. Drew Brees is also a top competitor for that honor, not to mention the star offensive players on each team. Make sure that your MVP Prop bet is small. Remember, you’re going to get the best odds on the standard lineup of bets on the actual game. Props are a sideshow.
Another fun betting alternative is 1st Quarter, 2nd Quarter, 1st Half, etc. bets. You really have to be up on your football to win these bets: they’re risky propositions, especially when you have two teams like the Saints and Colts going head to head. Also, it can be tempting to bet on who will throw the first interception, who will make the first sack, or if a punt return will result in a touchdown. These bets are fine and dandy if you’ve got money to burn, but if you don’t, take it easy and only bet a few bucks. The upshot of these bets is that you get a fast result, instead of having to bite your nails waiting through the entire Super Bowl 44 event hoping your team will prevail.
Overall, Prop bets can be sucker bets unless you’re exceptionally clairvoyant, so we suggest wagering no more than $5 per bet. Play within your limits and keep it fun.
All that aside, we’re inching closer and closer to kickoff Sunday February 7, 2010 each day. On top of that, “The Who” will be performing the half time show. This should be a showstopper event, so make sure that you turn off the sports pundits and crank up the music while the teams take a break from competition. If these two teams are as good as people say they are, Super Bowl 44 could be one of the most memorable Super Bowls of all time. Don’t forget, the Vikings and Saints went point for point last weekend, with the Vikings finally bowing after an amazing 40 yard field goal from Saints Kicker Hartley. Expect the unexpected!
Good Luck from Bet-on-the-NFL.com!