2026 is the New 2016: How Does Super Bowl 60 Compare to Super Bowl 50?
A trend is circulating on social media where people share photos and music from 2016, hoping to bring back the nostalgic vibes from a decade ago.
Our 2026 is the new 2016: Super Bowl edition compares this year’s Big Game to the one from 10 years ago, as the Super Bowl returns to Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., a decade later.
The Seattle Seahawks are a 4.5-point betting favorite over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 60 on Sunday, Feb. 8, with kickoff set for 6:30 p.m. ET (NBC).
🆚 2026 is the new 2016: Super Bowl spread
Our 2026 Super Bowl predictions give you everything you need to come out ahead on the Big Game.
We’re traveling back to a time when “Love Yourself” by Justin Bieber was the best-performing song of the year, but the Super Bowl spread looks eerily similar to today.
| 2016 Super Bowl | 2026 Super Bowl |
|---|---|
| Opening spread: Panthers -3.5 | Opening spread: Seahawks -4 |
| Closing spread: Panthers -4.5 | Current spread: Seahawks -4.5 |
The Carolina Panthers not only failed to cover as a 4.5-point favorite in Super Bowl 50, but they also lost outright to the Denver Broncos, 24-10. If 2026 is the new 2016 - and I’m sure New England fans are hoping it is - you may want to grab some Patriots ML (+194 via FanDuel).
📊 2026 is the new 2016: Super Bowl total
See the latest NFL odds and our experts' NFL picks for every game this season.
Sports betting apps were still four years away, so fans brought their iPhone 6's to Las Vegas to place bets in person on the total for Super Bowl 50. Surprisingly, the number wasn’t that far off from today’s total.
| 2016 Super Bowl | 2026 Super Bowl |
|---|---|
| Closing total: 43 | Current total: 45.5 |
While the 2016 Super Bowl closed below the key number of 44, it’s still relatively close to this year’s total. Only 34 points were scored in Super Bowl 50, so if history repeats itself, betting the Under 45.5 (-110 via BetMGM) might not be a bad idea.
🏆 2026 is the new 2016: Will a defensive player win Super Bowl MVP?
Check out all of our NFL analysis and expert predictions for every playoff game.
It's easy to forget now, but 2016 wasn’t just the year of Pokemon Go and Juju’ing on That Beat - it was also the last time a defensive player cashed their Super Bowl MVP odds with the Broncos' Von Miller cashing as a +2500 long shot.
Defensive players with shortest odds to win 2026 Super Bowl MVP
| Name | Position | Team | Best odds (FanDuel) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nick Emmanwori | Safety | 🟢 | +10000 |
| Leonard Williams | Defensive end | 🟢 | +10000 |
| Marcus Jones | Cornerback | 🔴 | +10000 |
If history repeats itself in this market, it looks like one of Nick Emmanwori, Leonard Williams, or Marcus Jones would have the best shot. While many hope that 2026 will mirror 2016, judging by the odds, it’s unlikely this trend comes back this year.
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