Football

The Biggest Upsets in Super Bowl History by Point Spread

min read
 Andy Coffaro @CoffaroBetMGM Jun 16, 2021, 2:17 PM
UNITED STATES - FEBRUARY 03: David Tyree of the New York Giants catches a pass for a first down against the New England Patriots in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl 42 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, U.S., on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008. The Giants beat New England 17-14 to win the National Football League's Super Bowl and end the Patriots' run at an undefeated season. (Photo by Rhona Wise/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
(Photo by Rhona Wise/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Ready for a Super Bowl factoid to wow your friends over text message this Sunday? Five times in Super Bowl history has a team favored by 11 points or more lost outright, with the most recent occurring in 2008 when the New York Giants knocked off the undefeated New England Patriots as 12-point underdogs.

Fast-forward to 2021, and the Super Bowl 55 odds remain steady four days before kickoff, with the Kansas City Chiefs favored by -3.5. While a Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ victory wouldn’t exactly qualify as a major upset, the big game is no stranger to shocking results in the past.

12 Biggest Upsets in Super Bowl History by Point Spread

Let’s check out a dozen times where squads favored by four points or more lost the Super Bowl outright, including some all-time massive upsets.

YearSuper BowlMatchupSpreadWinner
1969IIIJets vs. ColtsColts -18Jets 16-7
2002XXXVIPatriots vs. RamsRams -14Patriots 20-17
1970IVChiefs vs. VikingsVikings -12Chiefs 23-7
2008XLIIGiants vs. PatriotsPatriots -12Giants 17-14
1998XXXIIBroncos vs. PackersPackers -11Broncos 31-24
1991XXVGiants vs. BillsBills -7Giants 20-19
2016LPanthers vs. BroncosPanthers -5Broncos 24-10
2010XLIVSaints vs. ColtsColts -5Saints 31-17
2013XLVII49ers vs. Ravens49ers -4.5Ravens 34-31
2018LIIEagles vs. PatriotsPatriots -4Eagles 41-33
2003XXXVIIBuccaneers vs. RaidersRaiders -4Bucs 48-21

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Andy Coffaro is a sports journalist and managing editor with published work in USA Today, MSN, HERO Sports, The Mercury News, East Bay Times, Phil Steele’s College Football Preview magazine, and more. He graduated from San José State University with a B.A. in English and an M.A. in Kinesiology. Follow him on Twitter @andycoffaro.

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About the Author

Andy Coffaro

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Andy Coffaro is a Content Managing Editor at BetMGM. His work has appeared in USA Today, MSN, Phil Steele’s College Football Preview magazine, HERO Sports, and more. He graduated from San José State University with a B.A. in English and an M.A. in Kinesiology.

Andy Coffaro is a Content Managing Editor at BetMGM. His work has appeared in USA Today, MSN, Phil Steele’s College Football Preview magazine, HERO Sports, and more. He graduated from San José State University with a B.A. in English and an M.A. in Kinesiology.