2022 Super Bowl Coin Toss Prop Odds, Result: Bengals Correctly Call Heads, Defer
Getty Images. Pictured: Bengals RB Joe Mixon (left), NFL official Ron Torbert (center) and Rams DT Aaron Donald (right)
Super Bowl Coin Toss Result
The Bengals won the Super Bowl coin toss, correctly calling heads (-105), and choosing to defer.
Betting the Super Bowl coin toss has to be one of the most rudimentary wagers. By definition, the toss has two potential outcomes, each with an equal chance of hitting.
And simplicity has its perks. For one, you do not need to know anything about the Super Bowl LVI matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals — or even the sport itself — to bet the coin toss. This allows even the most casual fans to participate and hopefully win some money.
Another reason this prop might appeal to some is the timing: Instead of having to sweat your Cooper Kupp receiving yards over/under for all 60 minutes of the game, this one is decided before kickoff.
However, the 50/50 real odds of this bet mean that, in most cases, the wager is a losing one in the long run unless you can find a sportsbook offering the coin toss at plus-money. Several are offering plus-money odds on this bet this year at time of writing, presumably as a promotional offer.
Why's that the case? For example, I have seen the Super Bowl coin toss vig ranging anywhere from +100 to -108. In layman's terms, you would need to wager $108 to pay out $208 ($100 profit) at -108 odds (check our betting odds calculator here). If the odds were +100, for example, you would only need to wager $100 to pay out $200 ($100 profit).
Disclaimer: I am not personally suggesting to bet $100 — or any — of your hard-earned money on the coin toss. But knowing many of you will, I will emphasize the obvious benefits of seeking out the shortest vig in order to maximize your potential profits (or minimize your losses).
A few notes about the Super Bowl coin toss:
- Some bettors will ardently claim that "tails never fails." The call was heads in Super Bowl LV, though six of the last eight outcomes in Super Bowls have been tails. The split is more balanced for the entire Super Bowl era as a whole: 26 for heads (47%), 29 for tails (53%). Still, tails has a majority of the bets and handle at BetMGM.
- The oversized emphasis on the coin toss outcome would seem to suggest there is a correlation between the toss winner and the game winner. That has not been the case, however, as just 25 of 55 (47%) coin toss winners went on to win the game. The Chiefs won the toss last year and the Buccaneers won the game — the seventh consecutive Super Bowl in which the toss winner and game winner were different.
- There are other variations of this bet, including wagering on which team will win the coin toss. This seems like a fairly balanced bet once again, though it’s worth mentioning that the Bengals won a whopping 11 straight coin tosses at the beginning of the year — the odds of which happening were astronomical. Both teams lost the coin toss in their respective Conference Championship rounds.
- Bettors can also wager on the coin toss call and the decision of the coin toss. At BetMGM, the vast majority of the bets are on receiving the opening kickoff at -500 odds (83.3% implied probability), while an overwhelming percentage of the handle is on deferring to the second half at +375 odds (21% implied probability).
2022 Super Bowl Coin Toss Odds
As of Feb. 5, here's a quick list of the best (and worst) 2022 Super Bowl coin toss odds.
- William Hill: +100
- FoxBet: +100
- DraftKings: -105
- FanDuel: -104
- PointsBet: -108
- BetMGM: -105
And yes, people are already plopping real dollars down on this Super Bowl prop. Below is the list of betting splits from BetMGM (as of Feb. 8).
What Will Be the Coin Toss Outcome?
- Heads (-105): 40% of bets, 48% of handle
- Tails (-105): 60% of bets, 52% of handle
What Will Be the Coin Toss Call?
- Heads (-105): 50% of bets, 57% of handle
- Tails (-105): 50% of bets, 43% of handle
Which Team Will Win the Coin Toss?
- Rams (-105): 50% of bets, 66% of handle
- Bengals (-105): 50% of bets, 34% of handle
What Will Be the Decision Of the Coin Toss Winner?
Note: Updated odds as of Feb. 13 and via BetMGM.
- Receive opening kick off (+450)
- Defer option to second half (-650)
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