Not only is the NFL the most popular sport in the US, but betting fans can profit (especially in the Super Bowl). This has led to several incredible wins for sports fans over the years, turning small wagers into often life-changing sums of money.
While classic games are never far from football fans’ minds, these games live long in the memory of the massive wins off the field. For those of you who want to explore sports betting further, it’s important to find the best platforms to do so. Many licensed betting sites across the country cater to fans of all kinds, making it easier than ever to place a bet on the NFL, no matter where you are.
NFL History: Joe Namath’s Guarantee—Super Bowl III
All the way back in 1969, the NFL as we know it today didn’t exist. Super Bowl III was the last before the AFL-NFL merger, and it provided fans with a classic still talked about to this day—although perhaps not as much in Baltimore!
The New York Jets were the heavy underdogs going into Super Bowl III as they faced the might of the 13-1 Baltimore Colts. Jets’ quarterback, Joe Namath, was in no mood to be declared anything other than a Super Bowl winner when, ahead of the game, he declared, “I guarantee we’ll win,” and he might just have inspired some fans to put their money where his mouth was.
The Jets did exactly what Namath promised and pulled off one of the biggest shocks of all time as they won the game 16-7, with Baltimore only scoring their seven points in the final minutes of the fourth quarter.
The Jets had been 18-point underdogs before the game, meaning that a simple $100 bet on Namath’s team to win would have raked in $400. It’s safe to say that there were plenty of fans who staked even more on their heroes, bringing the World Professional Football Championship Trophy—later named the Vince Lombardi Trophy—to New York for the very first time and winning huge amounts.
The Immaculate Reception: 1972 AFC Playoffs
In 1972, the world expected the John Madden-led Oakland Raiders to glide through their AFC Divisional Playoff against the unfancied Pittsburgh Steelers. But fate and a helmet had other plans.
With 22 seconds left of the game, the Steelers were 7-6 down and facing their season crashing to an end. However, quarterback Terry Bradshaw had other ideas as he aimed a pass at running back John Fuqua. Fuqua never received the ball, however, as it bounced off the helmet of Raiders’ player Jack Tatum and into the waiting hands of Steelers’ fullback Franco Harris, who ran it home for the game-winning touchdown. And the Immaculate Reception was born.
The heavy favorites had lost, and the tight nature of the game had already caused betting patterns to go haywire. The Raiders started the contest as three-point favorites, but in an attritional game with no scoring in the first half, those betting in-play could have picked up some big returns, thanks to the shock final play that NFL Films called the greatest of all time.
This may not be a classic underdog story, but with the spread covered in the wildest ending to a game ever seen, those covering it or backing the Steelers made out like bandits, just like Franco Harris did when he crossed into the end zone to win the game.
The 2018 Super Bowl: Eagles vs. Patriots
A more recent example of a big betting win for those willing to take a chance on an underdog came in 2018, when a few brave souls were crazy enough to bet against the Tom Brady-led, dynastic New England Patriots.
The Patriots went into Super Bowl LII as 4.5-point favorites over the Philadelphia Eagles, who were looking to get their hands on the Lombardi Trophy for the very first time. Tom Brady was his usual self, throwing over 500 yards during the game, but the Patriots could not shake off the Eagles. Oddsmakers couldn’t keep up with the frenetic pace of one of the highest-scoring Super Bowls in history as Philadelphia won the championship game 41-33.
That win was a massive result for those who had backed the Eagles to win outright or those who had taken the points with Philly. Those with a knack for stats also took the oddsmakers to the cleaners by betting on the total points in the game, with the threshold being set at 48.5.
The 2015 Super Bowl: Seahawks vs. Patriots
The 2015 Super Bowl was one of the tightest in recent years for the betting markets, with the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks providing a classic pick ‘em for bettors.
What was guaranteed to be a cagey affair ended with one of the most memorable plays of all time—and it wasn’t even one that was completed. With just over a minute to go, the Seahawks had the ball on the 1-yard line as they scrapped for victory. Instead of running the ball, Seattle opted to pass, with the Patriots’ Malcolm Butler playing spoiler as he intercepted to guarantee Bill Belichick’s side the win.
Those who had bet on Seattle to pick up the win were left kicking themselves, but those who backed the Patriots to win outright cleared up by the thinnest of margins. It was a real example of the parallels of football and betting, where decision-making at key moments can make all the difference between success and failure.
The NFL is full of betting upsets…
From Joe Namath’s bold prediction in Super Bowl III to the heartbreaking interception in Super Bowl XLIX, these betting victories highlight just how unpredictable and exhilarating the world of football can be. The thrill of placing a bet on a game, watching it unfold, and seeing your prediction come true is a feeling that keeps fans coming back, year after year. Whether you’re betting on the favorites or the underdogs, the potential for a big win is always there, especially in the NFL, where anything can happen.
*Top Photo: Getty Images
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