The Arizona sports betting market is locked and loaded for a historic day on Super Bowl Sunday.
Several of the state’s largest mobile sports betting operators told BetArizona.com this week there should be unmatched demand for the Big Game in the Grand Canyon State. Based on previous monthly handle, Arizona sportsbooks could see between $80 million and $120 million in Super Bowl handle, BetArizona.com predicts.
The Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals kick off Super Bowl LVI from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood (the Rams’ home stadium) Feb. 13 at 4:30 p.m. Arizona time on NBC.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Super Bowl from an Arizona perspective.
Arizona Betting Market in Great Place for Super Sunday
Arizona betting apps are in their sweet spot for the NFL’s biggest game, 148 days after the state launched operations.
The Sept. 9 launch coincided with the opening date of the NFL regular season, catapulting Arizona’s market to the largest first month handle ($291.2 million).
Arizona’s NFL betting market lived up to the hype, with geotracking company GeoComply saying it ranked fifth out of 18 states and D.C. in NFL betting transactions during the opening month of wagering with 36.9 million.
The NFL betting market was boosted by the Arizona Cardinals historic start, in which they won their first seven games en route to the franchise’s first postseason appearance in six years.
The surge in NFL interest allowed Arizona to post consecutive months with handles in excess of $450 million during October ($486.097M) and November ($466.726M), becoming the fastest state to eclipse $1 billion in handle. New York has already posted more than $1.6 billion in handle during January, its first month with mobile sports betting, but that state had offered retail wagering well before that.
Arizona ranked seventh nationally both months in terms of handle, coming in behind New Jersey, Nevada, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Colorado — but ranking ahead of industry mainstays, such as Indiana, Virginia, Tennessee and Iowa.
Arizona’s Super Bowl Debut
Johnny Avello, who serves as the Director of Sportsbook Operations at DraftKings Sportsbook Arizona, sees the Feb. 13 Big Game as a huge opportunity for the company to grow in the state.
The Boston-based operator has lapped the field in Arizona when it comes to wagers, generating more than $400 million during the first three months of operation — far ahead of the next closest competitor (FanDuel Sportsbook Arizona at $287.155 million).
“Arizona has been one of our hottest states since launching and as the top operator in the state I don’t expect demand to slow down for the big game,” Avello told BetArizona.com in an email.
As for the game, DraftKings Sportsbook Arizona and FanDuel Sportsbook Arizona have listed the Rams as 4-point favorites (as of Friday) to capture the franchise’s first Super Bowl since moving to L.A. in 2016. BetMGM Arizona and Caesars Sportsbook Arizona list Cincinnati as a 4.5-point underdog.
For those looking to make a moneyline wager:- DraftKings Sportsbook Arizona: Rams -190; Bengals +160
- Caesars Sportsbook: Rams -200; Bengals +165
- BetMGM Arizona: Rams -195; Bengals +165
- FanDuel Sportsbook: Rams -198; Bengals +166
How the Cardinals Fared Against the Rams
The Cardinals saw their season end at the hands of the Rams in the NFC’s Wild Card Round, as L.A. thumped Arizona, 34-11, on Jan. 17 in Inglewood.
The Cardinals split their pair of regular season clashes with the Rams, beating them 37-20 in Week 5, before falling to L.A. in Glendale on Monday Night Football in Week 14, 30-23.
Who Will Win Super Bowl LVI?
BetArizona.com prediction: The Bengals enter their first Super Bowl in 33 years off of consecutive come-from-behind victories over Tennessee (19-16) in the AFC Divisional Round, followed by a 27-24 overtime win over defending AFC champion Kansas City in the AFC title game.
After opening the playoffs with a blowout win over Arizona, the Rams needed two narrow victories to advance to the Super Bowl — using a torrid start to escape with a 30-27 upset over Tampa Bay in the Divisional Round, and scoring a 20-17 come-from-behind win over San Francisco in the NFC Championship Game.
It’s understandable the Rams are the unanimous pick for oddsmakers, given their assortment of All-Pro players — linebacker Von Miller, wideouts Cooper Kupp and Odell Beckham Jr., and cornerback Jalen Ramsey — and being able to play Super Bowl LVI on their home turf.
That said, it’s hard to go against second-year quarterback Joe Burrow and the mystical run the Bengals have been on after they earned the franchise’s first playoff victory in 31 years against the Las Vegas Raiders in the AFC Wild Card Round.
Burrow has been phenomenal, averaging 290 passing yards per game with four touchdowns to two interceptions during these playoffs, while completing 68.8% of his passes. Bengals wideouts Ja’Marr Chase (20 catches, 279 yards and a touchdown) and Tee Higgins (14 catches, 209 yards) have been exceptional as well in the playoffs.
That’s why I’ll go with the Bengals to win a relatively low-scoring Super Bowl, with the AFC underdogs pulling off a 24-20 victory to capture the franchise’s first-ever Super Bowl.
