Super Bowl betting: How referee Bill Vinovich could shape your strategy

On Tuesday, the NFL announced that veteran referee Bill Vinovich and his crew will officiate Super Bowl LVIII. The 62-year-old is in his 15th season as a ref in the NFL, and the Super Bowl will mark his 19th career postseason assignment. 

Now, referee assignments in themselves aren't enough to influence your betting strategy for the big game, but they can provide a helpful bullet point for your handicapping. Of the four teams remaining in the playoffs, let's look at how each has performed with Vinovich in charge (per CBS Sports):

Detroit Lions: 2-2 (1-0 in 2023)
San Francisco 49ers: 2-4 (0-1 in 2023)
Kansas City Chiefs: 5-2 (0-0 in 2023)
Baltimore Ravens: 7-2 (1-0 in 2023)

Unless you believe Vinovich hates the 49ers, those records are more random than anything else. There is, though, a noticeable trend involving this officiating crew.

According to Action Network, Vinovich is 100-68-1 to the under in his career, making him the most profitable referee to the under in the NFL. He's 73-43 to the under since 2017 and 10-6 this season. In the playoffs, the under is 7-2 in Vinovich's last nine games. 

The biggest reason why games reffed by Vinovich are typically low-scoring is because his crew likes to let the players play. Vinovich's crew has thrown the fewest flags per game in six of the last eight seasons. He called only 12 and nine penalties, respectively, in his two previous Super Bowl assignments. 

Don't blindly bet the under in Super Bowl LVIII just because of Vinovich, but if you're leaning that way when the teams become official, the referee crew could be the factor that puts you over the edge.