Super Bowl Trends Ahead Of Super Bowl LVIII
The Kansas City Chiefs take on the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas on Sunday.
The 49ers are favourites with UK betting sites, but who will get their hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy?
But what trends should you be aware of?
Why The Coin Toss Is Important
There was a time when winning the toss before a Super Bowl was deemed important.
Win it, and you get to choose whether you receive the opening kickoff or defer it until the start of the second half.
If you like to bet on the coin toss and who goes on to win the game, then there is a trend that you should be aware of.
Eight of the last nine Super Bowls have been won by teams who have lost the toss.
As the away team, the 49ers will get to call heads or tails in Las Vegas on Sunday.
Field Goals Are Most Popular Opening Score
It's important to get any score on the board as early as possible. A touchdown would be ideal, but a field goal wouldn't be a disaster.
In the 57 previous Super Bowls, a field goal has been the most popular scoring play, occurring 27 times (47.4%). The 49ers and Chiefs are both 7/2 on betting apps to open the scoring with a field goal.
The last 48 Super Bowls have seen at least one successful field goal. Only twice, in Super Bowl VII and IX, has there been no field goals scored.
Passing touchdowns are the next popular with 18, including Odell Beckham Junior's 17-yard pass from Matthew Stafford to open the scoring for the Los Angeles Rams in their Super Bowl LVI win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
Rushing touchdowns account for just seven opening scores (12.3%) in the history of the Super Bowl.
Twice in three Super Bowls (XLVI and XLVIII), a safety was the first score registered, while there have been two defensive and special teams touchdowns.
Will We Finally See A Punt Return For A Touchdown
We have seen many things happen during a Super Bowl, from a power outage to wardrobe malfunctions to some amazing touchdowns.
But the one thing we have never seen is a punt return for a touchdown.
In the 57 previous Super Bowls played, there has been a total of 525 punts. But none have been returned for a touchdown.
To put that into context, 10 kickoffs have been returned for touchdowns, including two in Super Bowl XXXV.
Will Sunday see the first ever punt return for a touchdown? Betfair are offering odds of 5/2 for a defensive or special teams touchdown.
Last year, Kadarius Toney came very close to being the first player to return a punt for a touchdown in a Super Bowl.
His 65-yard return, which ended when he was tackled on the five-yard line set a new record for the longest punt return in the history of the Super Bowl.
There have been nine punt returns for touchdown this season, but none have come from the 49ers or the Chiefs.
Sunday, in front of the biggest global audience, would be the perfect time to end the Super Bowl’s longest droughts.
Will We See Another 1-Yard Touchdown Run?
The most popular touchdown scored in the history of the Super Bowl is a one-yard run.
In the 57 Super Bowls played so far, we have seen 42 touchdowns of that nature, including one in the first Super Bowl and two in last year’s game.
Will we see another in the Allegiant Stadium on Sunday?
Odds of 4/6 are available that the shortest touchdown scored in Super Bowl LVIII will be under 1.5 yards, which allows either a run or passing play.
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