On Sunday, February 13th, the top two teams from the NFL will battle it out at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles for the right to lift the famous Lombardi trophy. There has been a lot of football that has been played leading up to Sunday, but there’s no harm in preparing yourself for the big event.
In this article we take a look at 5 things you can do to prepare yourself for the biggest game in American sport. Whether you’re a diehard NFL fan who spends hours every week picking your fantasy team or a newcomer who thinks Lionel Messi is best football player in the world, we’ve got you covered.
#1 Review betting odds
Your friend Tom might tell you that he knows who is going to win this year’s Super Bowl. He might even sound convincing. But is he really the best person to listen to, or would you rather put your faith in someone that has done exhaustive research, has the lowdown on team news and has a financial incentive to pick the right winner?
If it’s the latter you’re best off putting your trust in the bookmakers. They have a highly dedicated team of researchers and experts that they use to predict the outcome of major sporting events. If you want to know who is going to win at SoFi Stadium in February check today’s Super Bowl odds.
#2 Don’t confuse Super bowl for /superb owls
You read that right. Don’t confuse the Super Bowl with the subreddit dedicated to Superb Owls… In February, 2011 r/Superbowl was created on Reddit as a place where people could talk and debate about the sporting event.
The subreddit was quickly taken over by people who had purposely misread the subreddit as Superb Owl and flooded it with pictures of, well you guessed it, superb owls. The subreddit went viral and business up and down the country began commemorating the sub with their own Superb Owl tributes.
The subreddit has been so successful that if you Google the phrase ‘Super Bowl Quarterback’, the sixth image result is of a swooping owl… If you’re trying to brush up on your football knowledge ahead of this year’s game, maybe give this subreddit a swerve.
#3 Pick your team
Of the 32 teams in the NFL, only two can battle it out for the Lombardi Trophy in the Super Bowl. That leaves an awful lot of fans without a dog in the race. If your team were dumped out of the playoffs or didn’t even make it that far, the Super Bowl might not seem too enticing.
In order to raise the stakes you need to feel a level of personal investment, so pick a team to back and support them in the game. If you’re a Chicago Bears fan and Green Bay get to the Super Bowl, you know what to do; support whoever they’re playing.
If you’re a complete neutral and the Cincinnati Bengals make it to the main event, why not throw your support behind them? Everyone loves an underdog.
If none of that gets you going, be sure to read up on both teams in the game. Find out the stories and events that have inspired players and coaches and you might start to feel emotionally attached to one team.
#4 Organize a Party
Sports is better with other people around. If this year’s Super Bowl provides an iconic moment of sporting history, you want to be able to tell people in the future that you watched on in awe with your buddies rather than on your own in your pajamas.
Buy in the beers, prime the barbecue, print out your Super Bowl squares, decorate the house with your team’s memorabilia. This is going to be one helluva Super Bowl party. If the action on the field isn’t as memorable as you hoped, at least you’ll be able to say you had a good time with your friends anyway!
Struggling to work out how to organize the perfect Super Bowl party? Take a look at this checklist for inspiration.
#5 Watch the NFL Playoffs
The best way to prepare for that monumental event is by watching as much of the NFL playoffs as you can. Share in the despair of teams who narrowly miss out to their closest rivals, revel in the enjoyment of a team who snatches victory from the jaws of defeat. If you’re a sports better, use this as an opportunity to get a grip on the merits of every team so that you can make an educated bet.
