Super Bowl prop bets: History says betting on the chance of overtime is risky

Counting on two NFL teams to end up tied after 60 minutes of play is a bet likely to be made by only the most seasoned of gamblers.

by Zach Woosley

Jan 31, 2014, 6:01 PM UTC

Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

In the 47 year history of the Super Bowl, no game has ever gone to overtime. While many games have come close to extending past the allotted 60 minutes, we're still waiting for it to happen for the first time. The lack of any overtime games in Super Bowl history hasn't stopped prop bets from being created that ask one simple question: Will the Super Bowl give to overtime?

That prop bet is of course available before Sunday's Super Bowl XLVIII for the brave gamblers who want the chance at some solid returns should history be made by the Seahawks and Broncos.

Here’s the betting line on the overtime prop bet from Oddsshark.com

Yes (Overtime) +600
No (Overtime) -1000

Betting against overtime is about as close to a sure thing bet you can get on the game thanks to the history involved. In order to win $100 dollars on the bet, you’d have to lay down $1000. Not exactly the way to get rich, but there’s no money to be made in taking the safe bet.

If you think that this is the year that the Super Bowl finally goes to overtime, there’s some big money to be won. A $100 bet would net you $600 should you win. Not too shabby, though the chances of you losing that 100 bucks are pretty good.

Seattle played two overtime games in 2013 and won both. The first was in week 4 when the Seahawks defeated the Houston Texas 23-20 thanks to a Steven Hauschka 45-yard field goal. In week 9 Seattle overcame a 21-point deficit against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to send the game to overtime where again Haukschka won the game, this time with a 27-yard field goal.

The Broncos lone overtime game of the season came in week 12 after they blew a 24-0 lead against the Patriots and were defeated by a Stephen Gostkowski 31-yard field goal with less than two minutes to play in the extra quarter.

The Broncos played an overtime playoff game two seasons ago, defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card round.

Teams have flirted with overtime in the Super Bowl three times in the past nine years, including last year's three point victory by the Ravens over the 49ers.

The first playoff game to go to overtime was the 1958 NFL Championship Game, won by the Baltimore Colts over the New York Jets in "The Greatest Game Ever Played". It has happened 29 times since, most recently in the 2012 NFC Championship, won by the NY Giants.