Super Bowl 57 takes place in Glendale, Arizona, on Feb. 12.
The NFL’s biggest day has always been bitter-sweet for sports bettors. While it is the most bet-on game of the year, it’s also the last one.
Those who enjoy piling up the parlays on NFL Sundays have traditionally been out of luck. But that’s all changed with the Same Game Parlay (SGP).
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What is a Same Game Parlay?
A Same Game Parlay (SGP) is when you combine more than one wager on the same game. Online sportsbooks have always allowed you to build parlay tickets, but until recently, your parlays had to consist of multiple games.
Now that most online sportsbooks have given Same Game Parlays (sometimes called One Game Parlays) the green light, bettors can combine various bets from the same game on one ticket.
Same Game Parlay strategy
The beauty of an SGP is that you can combine a wide range of bets on the same ticket, including moneyline, spread, total, game props, player props, and more.
Each bet is called a leg. The odds accumulate with each leg, so the more legs you have on your ticket, the bigger the payout. The minimum is two legs, but you can get as wild as you like.
Of course, the more legs, the harder it will be to win. Remember, just like a regular parlay, every leg needs to win for you to cash in.
There are different ways to go about building an SGP. It will be up to you to decide on a strategy.
Correlated SGP
One of the most popular ways to build an SGP is to use a correlated betting strategy. This is when you create a narrative about how the game will play out and bet accordingly.
For example, let’s look at a hypothetical Super Bowl betting scenario featuring this year’s two number-one seeds from each conference (Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles).
Let’s say you think the Eagles will demolish the Chiefs in Super Bowl 57. Your correlated SGP might look something like this:
- Philadelphia Eagles to win by -10.5
- Jalen Hurts to run for over 50 yards
- Kansas City Chiefs under 17.5 total points
You think the Eagles will win big in this scenario, so you take them to cover 10.5 points. Your next two legs are correlated because they support your theory that Philly will crush.
If it’s an Eagles blowout, there’s an excellent chance that Jalen Hurts has a big day. So, you take him to rush for over 50 yards with your second leg.
The last leg also supports the narrative because the Chiefs are held to 17 points or fewer.
Uncorrelated SGP
Uncorrelated SGPs are bets with no rhyme or reason, with the legs often contradicting each other. Here’s an example of an uncorrelated bet with the same two teams:
- Philadelphia Eagles to win by -10.5
- Jalen Hurts to run for under 50 yards
- Kansas City Chiefs to score more than 20.5 points
As you can see, this ticket is all over the map. Your payout will be higher than the first example because the sportsbooks see this scenario as less likely.
Your first leg has the Eagles covering the spread (-10.5). But then you pick the Chiefs to score over 20.5 points. Of course, it’s possible to hit both, but you would need Philadelphia to put up a minimum of 32 points in this situation.
The other leg doesn’t make much sense, either. The Eagles’ offense is built around Hurts running the ball, so betting on him to go under 50 rushing yards in a game where they put up a lot of points is counterintuitive.
Create a game story and stick to it
Anytime you place a bet on a game, you’re basing it off an outcome you’ve created in your mind. SGPs take it to a new level with additional layers.
A moneyline bet requires only a winner, while a multi-layered SGP usually involves predicting numerous player performances and other game outcomes.
Pros and cons of betting Same Game Parlays
Betting on SGPs can be a lot of fun and a great way to build a ‘lottery ticket’ with multiple legs for a relatively low wager.
Keep in mind that sportsbooks love it when customers bet on parlays because it’s how they bring in a large portion of their revenue.
Pros
- Big payouts on multiple-leg tickets for small wagers.
- Great for standalone games like the Super Bowl or Monday Night Football.
- You can combine multiple bets, including Super Bowl props.
Cons
- Parlays are hard to win.
- Some sportsbooks give lower odds for correlated bets.
Quick tips for creating SGPs
Shop around for the best odds
The odds for certain games and props can vary across sportsbooks. It’s best to do a little digging and get the best payout. Even slight differences add up fast when you’re creating multiple legs.
Stick to 2-5 leg SGPs
Remember, hitting a parlay can be challenging. Even nailing two picks on the same ticket is difficult, and it gets exponentially harder from there. For a more realistic chance of winning, keep your parlays to just a few legs.
Correlate your picks
As mentioned above, a correlated betting strategy is ideal for SGPs. If you think a quarterback will throw for 300+ yards, then it only makes sense to combine that bet with a couple of his receivers to have big days as well.
