In what closed at most sportsbooks as the only pick’em in the history of the Super Bowl – in Las Vegas and online – the final result could not have been much closer. The New England Patriots rallied back from a 24-14 deficit to win Super Bowl XLIX 28-24 and prove that the betting public was right about them in the biggest NFL game of the year.
The defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks had opened as small favorites according to the oddsmakers and outscored the Patriots 10-0 in the third quarter, capped by a three-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Russell Wilson to wide receiver Doug Baldwin, who was +180 (bet $100 to win $180) to score in the game. Seattle led 24-14 heading into the fourth quarter before New England QB Tom Brady connected with WRs Danny Amendola (+475 to score) and Julian Edelman (+125) on TDs to take a 28-24 lead with 2:02 remaining. As it turned out, Edelman scored the game’s final TD, finishing with nine catches for 109 yards to go OVER props of six catches and 67.5 yards.
But it was what happened in the final two minutes that everybody is talking about, especially the last 30 seconds when the Seahawks decided to throw a second-down pass at the one-yard line rather than handing the ball off to running back Marshawn Lynch for a second consecutive time. Lynch went OVER 20.5 carries and finished with 24 for 102 yards (also OVER 92.5 yards), but it was the one he did not get that cost them – and their backers – a shot at becoming the first repeat Super Bowl champs in a decade. He was -200 (bet $200 to win $100) to score a TD and cashed that prop for bettors in the second quarter while also becoming the first Seattle player to score at 5/2 odds.
Instead, it was Wilson who threw a game-changing interception to Patriots safety Malcolm Butler on a pass intended for WR Ricardo Lockette in the end zone that could have won it. Wilson could have probably run it in for the go-ahead TD himself too because New England may have chosen to just let them score rather than run more time off the clock. He ended up UNDER 40.5 rushing yards for the game with 39 and did not score a TD, which was -280.
Brady won his record-tying third Super Bowl MVP award as the 8/5 favorite and helped the total go OVER 47.5 points with his two fourth-quarter TD passes. He also set a Super Bowl record with 37 completions, easily surpassing his O/U total prop of 23.5. His four TD passes overall rewarded bettors who wagered that he would have four or more at 7/1. Combined with Bill Belichick, the QB/head coach duo won their fourth Super Bowl title in 14 years after appearing in the big game together for the sixth time.
Other top Super Bowl props to cash for bettors included Patriots WR Brandon LaFell scoring the first TD at 12/1 and tight end Rob Gronkowski not only scoring a TD in the game (-170) but also in the first half (+150). Brady was the -150 favorite to throw the first pick of the game, which he did on the team’s second drive in the first quarter. In an upset, Belichick wore a blue hoodie (the 7/4 second choice) with sleeves intact (+110).