The Carolina Panthers opened on Sunday in Vegas as 3.5-point favorites over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50. That line quickly moved up to Carolina being 4-point favorites, according to Pregame.Com’s RJ Bell.
Open for betting: #Panthers -3.5 vs. #Broncos (via BetOnline.ag) #SuperBowl50
— RJ Bell (@RJinVegas) January 25, 2016
Update: #Panthers bet up to -4 over #Broncos #SuperBowl50 — RJ Bell (@RJinVegas) January 25, 2016
3 highly respect sportsbooks: Westgate: Panthers -4 Bookmaker.ag: Panthers -4 Pinnacle: Panthers -3.5 #SuperBowl50 — RJ Bell (@RJinVegas) January 25, 2016
#SuperBowl50 Panthers -4 and 44.5 vs Broncos https://t.co/yP2VuIhUOY — Sportsbook.com ® (@Sportsbook_com) January 25, 2016
Not all of the sportsbooks have the same lines, but it appears the consensus right now is Panthers -4. The line could, of course, move up and down a little bit over the next two weeks. But whatever the case, Carolina is going to be favored to win the Super Bowl.
The over/under point total is currently anywhere from 44.5-46.5, depending on the sportsbook.
Historically, Super Bowl favorites have gone 33-15 straight-up (last year was the only pick ’em ever), and 26-18-2 against the spread.
But if there’s a team that shouldn’t care much at all about what the line says about their chances, it’s the Peyton Manning-led Denver Broncos. Just two years ago, Manning and the Broncos were 2.5-point favorites over the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLVIII, and lost 43-8.
Underdogs have actually had plenty of recent success in the Super Bowl. Four of the last five Super Bowl underdogs won straight-up, and six of the last seven underdogs won against the spread.
The Broncos entered 2015 with 10-to-1 Super Bowl odds, while the Panthers were a distant 60-to-1 with only nine teams having worse odds. From 60-to-1 odds to a 17-1 record and entering the Super Bowl as favorites… it’s been a pretty unbelievable season from the Panthers.
