Super Bowl LVIII, between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, surely broke viewership records, with the two teams engaging in a back-and-forth thriller. Kansas City emerged victorious on a walk-off three-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Patrick Mahomes to receiver Mecole Hardman in overtime. The Super Bowl has long been one of the most bet-on events in modern history, but with the recent legalization surrounding the practice, it has become easier to track how much money is wagered on the big game. According to Legal Sports Report analyst Sam McQuillian, FanDuel Sportsbook users placed 14 million bets totaling $307 million on Super Bowl LVIII, setting a new record regarding individual wagers on a game.
Super Bowl LVIII: Massive Wagering Numbers Hit FanDuel Sportsbook
McQuillian, who has previously worked for Bloomberg, Action Network, and NBABet, dropped numerous nuggets about this year’s sports betting frenzy surrounding the Super Bowl. According to McQuillian, not only did FanDuel see a record amount of bets placed on the title tilt, but the Kansas City Chiefs accounted for 63% of spread bets. Meanwhile, the Chiefs also accounted for 74% of straight-up bets. In another follow-up tweet, McQuillian said, “Sportsbooks held -4% of the money wagered on Super Bowl 58.” He continued, saying, based on reports, “Vegas lost $52,000,000 yesterday.” The Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22, resulting in the AFC West club covering the spread and cashing on the moneyline.
In another somewhat shocking update, McQuillian tweeted that another prominent sportsbook, Bet365, gave out more tickets for Kansas City megastar tight end Travis Kelce to score a touchdown over the San Francisco 49ers to win the game.
Kansas City Chiefs: Defeat San Francisco 49ers in Epic Battle
The Kansas City Chiefs bested the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 courtesy of a walk-off touchdown pass with six seconds remaining in overtime. Trailing 19-16 with less than two minutes remaining, the Chiefs drove 64 yards and kicked the game-tying field goal. In a controversial move, the 49ers elected to receive the ball in the extra period, orchestrating a 15-play, 76-yard field goal drive. However, Kansas City responded with a Patrick Mahomes to Mecole Hardman three-yard touchdown pass, capping a 75-yard game-winning drive.
Patrick Mahomes won his third Super Bowl MVP, placing him just two behind future Hall of Famer Tom Brady. Meanwhile, San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan moved to 0-3 in Super Bowls. He has blown a double-digit lead each time.
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