Super Bowl betting has changed from its initial beginnings as the factors that lead into beating the NFL odds have been more difficult to figure in recent years. Super Bowl betting has seen far closer games and more frequent upsets than was the case in the past as figuring the NFL odds has come down to a combination of factors.

When looking at the recent winners with the NFL odds the first thing that comes to mind is that underdogs have paid out in six of the last eight years including the past two seasons. The Arizona Cardinals covered last year in a 23-27 loss as 7-point dogs against the Pittsburgh Steelers while the New York Giants covered in a 17-14 win over the New England Patriots as 14-point dogs two years ago.

In both cases you had underdogs getting plenty of points with quarterbacks that were as good or better than the signal callers lining up on the other team. With that in mind a smart handicapper would realize that he was never out of a game.

Beyond that you had outstanding coaches that have led these underdog payouts of recent years. In this year’s Super Bowl Jim Caldwell of the Indianapolis Colts and Sean Payton of the New Orleans Saints look to be an even matchup with no clear advantage on either sideline.