The betting line, point spread and over/under for Super Bowl 55 all contain a history factor: For the first time, there will be an actual home team in the game.
The Buccaneers punched their ticket to Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., by beating the Packers in Sunday's NFC championship game. They'll host the AFC champion (and reigning Super Bowl champion) Chiefs on Feb. 7. They begin the two-week countdown to the game as 3.5-point underdogs, per DraftKings Sportsbook.
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That means Tampa Bay is also a moneyline underdog, albeit a narrow one at plus-140. Kansas City is a minus-175 moneyline favorite. Bettors would need to wager $100 on the Bucs to win straight up to make a $140 profit. Conversely, Chiefs backers will need initially to risk $175 to win $100.
With the game taking place in Florida, weather will be a minor factor (rain should be the lone variable), so the total is skewing toward the higher end at 57.5 points.
(Initial betting lines per DraftKings Sportsbook.)
Super Bowl 55 odds, spread, line for Buccaneers vs. Chiefs
- Opening spread: Chiefs -3.5
- Moneyline: Chiefs -175; Buccaneers +140
- Over/under: 57.5
The point spread, moneyline and over/under are just the best-known betting opportunities for Super Bowl 55; sportsbooks will also offer countless team, player and game propositions (or "props") in the two weeks leading up to the game. Bettors can risk money on such things as who will score the game's first points, total passing yards for Tom Brady and so on.
There are also the standard frivolity bets such as the length of the national anthem, the outcome of the pregame coin toss, the color of the Gatorade that will be dumped on the winning coach, and even the set list for the halftime show.
