Super Bowl LVII betting recap: Looking back at big plays in the big game

As always, we tried to preach responsibility in Super Bowl betting. It's just one game, and there's no need to be overinvested in one outcome. It's also the most fun game to bet all season, so we leaned into that with a smattering of prop bets designed to have value regardless of whether it'd be the Eagles or Chiefs lifting the trophy.

Of course, the fun comes from winning more than we lose. Both quarterbacks completed their first pass, Justin Reid went over his tackle total by halftime, and neither team started a possession inside their own 20-yard line, therefore never threatening the under on longest drive. So when another great Super Bowl came down to the final seconds - and a supposedly controversial penalty call - it didn't really matter which side you were on, especially since the Eagles scored their share of points.

That said, it's not all about us, as there were a handful overarching betting subplots to an eventful Super Bowl LVII.

Square, don't care

The favorites to score a touchdown - Jalen Hurts and Travis Kelce - got that done early, each scoring their team's first touchdown on their first drive. Maybe that should've hinted that it'd be a big night for what some derisively call "square" bets - those made with little consideration for whether the price is good and often based on gut feel.

Player prop overs started coming home one after another - befitting a matchup in which the game point total was never in doubt of going over. The longest pass went over on the third drive, and from there, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Dallas Goedert, Travis Kelce, and JuJu Smith-Schuster all went over their yardage totals, with just Kelce falling short on receptions.

The super popular Kenneth Gainwell props eventually all crawled over, as did the Isiah Pacheco on-the-ground props. Strangely, the one player prop that never came close was Patrick Mahomes' yardage total - likely blowing up a number of same-game parlays that played off a shootout-style game handicap.

Even the long shots - many only available for the Super Bowl - started to come through. Thanks to Harrison Butker, there was a missed kick (+110) - and it doinked off the upright (+450). There was a defensive/special teams touchdown (+300), and if Miles Sanders had gotten a third step down, Nick Bolton would've likely been a mega long shot cash for MVP in the neighborhood of 100-1.

Not only was there a two-point conversion attempt (-150), but it was also converted (+270) - and since Hurts converted it on his own touchdown, "the octopus" cashed at +1400.

If you needed something to happen in Super Bowl LVII, it probably did. Unless it involved sacks, interceptions, or field goals.

Quarterbacks on the move

Speaking of overs, both quarterbacks exemplified how the position is played in 2023, actively using their legs. Hurts carried the ball 15 times (over) - with two runs of more than 13.5 yards (over!) - for 70 yards (over!!) and three touchdowns (over!!!).

We thought the improved condition of Mahomes' ankle, along with the now-or-never nature of the game, might mean he'd be more able to take off running. He went over his game total and longest rush total - with a late scamper - but those shooting for a +850 payout on Mahomes to run for 50-plus yards had flashbacks to the worst prop bet of Super Bowl LIV, when Mahomes took a pair of kneels inside the 5-yard line to move his total from 51 down to 44.

Bad bets

Anything to do with Miles Sanders

The shift in usage from Sanders to Gainwell - that we'd seen in the previous two playoff games - continued when Sanders was largely ineffective on the ground and nearly fumbled his only receiving target. Even by the goal line, while Hurts found the end zone four total times, Gainwell almost scored first and Boston Scott had opportunities to score as well.

Information leaks on Rihanna's first song

With her opening song, it's as if Rihanna knew Super Bowl LVII would be a good one for bettors - or for the underdog. "Bitch Better Have My Money" cashed a double-digit payout, so if you thought you had good info on her setlist and bet any of the popular short prices, Rihanna called all bluffs.

A late sweat

The champion (and spread/moneyline) wasn't the only undecided factor when the Chiefs got the ball back with just over five minutes left for essentially the game's final drive. Kelce's final catch put him over, and the Chiefs' game-winning drive sent the total yardage over 739.5.

Perhaps ironically, the holding call on James Bradberry that effectively ended the game was the ninth and final accepted penalty of the game. At a pregame line of 9.5, that's one of the few props that stayed under.

Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.

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