There is no more important pointspread set by bookmakers in a given year than the Super Bowl pointspread. The odds, lines and totals for the 2012 Superbowl is crucial on a variety of different levels and there's considerable pressure on bookmakers to get it right. It is the largest single betting event in Nevada sports books and second worldwide behind the Champions League Final in soccer. In 2010 NFL betting enthusiasts wagered $82.7 million on the Superbowl at Nevada sportsbooks which earned a $6.9 million profit on the day’s wagering action. A bad Super Bowl betting line can turn a big profit for sports books into a major loss and on that basis alone it's important for bookmakers to set the right line.

There's also a 'public perception' factor in setting the Super Bowl line. The Super Bowl betting line is definitely the most widely known pointspread among the general public. Even people who would never think of betting on a sporting event will be talking about the pointspread on the Super Bowl—both the side and the total. Factor in the importance of the Super Bowl line in office pools around the country and clearly more people will be scrutinizing the price on this game than anything else a bookmaker does in the course of a year.

Interestingly, the Super Bowl itself wasn't originally much of a big deal nor was betting on the game any more significant than a typical pro football contest. The pointspread for the first Super Bowl—which NFL history buffs know full well wasn't even called 'The Super Bowl' at that point—had the Green Bay Packers installed as a -14 point favorite over the Kansas City Chiefs. The Packers won 35-10 for the first of Coach Vince Lombardi's two championship and covered the spread. There was no total set on the first Super Bowl—the first total would come in Super Bowl II in 1968 when the Packers defended their crown with a 33-14 win over the Oakland Raiders. Green Bay covered the pointspread as -13.5 point favorites and the final score went Over the total of 43. Interestingly, the next seven Super Bowl games would play Under the total.

The highest pointspread on a Super Bowl game came in 1995 when the San Francisco 49ers were -18.5 point chalk over the San Diego Chargers. The Niners won 49-26 to cover the biggest Super Bowl odds levy in history. The biggest total in Super Bowl history came just a couple of years ago—in the 2010 contest between the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts the total was set at 57. The Saints upset the Colts 31-17 and Under bettors cashed their tickets.

Although sportsbooks won't have the 'official' Super Bowl odds posted until right before the big game many will offer an 'early line' throughout the season. Super bowl prop bets will be listed 'NFC vs. AFC' and can be a good way to lock in line value well before the actual Super Bowl matchup is determined. There are also Super Bowl futures betting odds where players receive a generous payback for picking the winner well in advance of the game. Heading into the 2011 NFL regular season the New England Patriots were the Super Bowl futures favorites just ahead of the defending champion Green Bay Packers.