How to Bet the Super Bowl Kickoff 2026: Will the Opening Kickoff Result in a Touchback?
I'm explaining how to bet on the Super Bowl opening kickoff odds and whether we'll see a touchback (or touchdown) on the opening kickoff of Seahawks vs. Patriots in Super Bowl 2026 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Feb. 8 (6:30 p.m. ET, NBC). The Seahawks are a 4.5-point betting favorite to win the Big Game.
🏈 How to bet on the Super Bowl opening kickoff
When betting on the Super Bowl opening kickoff, the most popular prop is whether or not the opening kickoff will result in a touchback. You can bet on the outcome, either "Yes" or "No," at the best sports betting sites.
A touchback occurs when a kickoff is downed by the receiving team in their own end zone. Under the current kickoff rules, a touchback will result in the ball being placed at either the receiving team's 20-yard line or 35-yard line, depending on whether or not the ball first landed in the receiving team's "landing zone" (between the goal line and the 20-yard line).
If you bet on "Yes" and the opening kickoff of the Super Bowl results in a touchback, you will win your wager.
This popular prop used to be heavily weighted toward "Yes," with that outcome being a heavy -300 favorite ahead of last year's Super Bowl. But following the implementation of the new "dynamic kickoff" rules, touchbacks are much less common in the kicking game. As a result, "No" will likely be the favored outcome for this year's Super Bowl.
📊 2026 Super Bowl opening kickoff touchback odds
Super Bowl opening kickoff touchback odds have yet to be released, so we're showing last year's odds as an example of what you can expect.
| Will the opening kick be a touchback? | DraftKings (2025) | Caesars (2025) | BetMGM (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | -340 | -320 | -300 |
| No | +180 | +250 | +200 |
Looking at last year's opening kickoff odds at the best sports betting apps, the opening kickoff resulting in a touchback was heavily weighted toward "Yes" at -340 odds at DraftKings. That translates to an implied probability of 77.27%, per our odds converter, with a $10 bet netting a potential profit of $2.94.
"No" carried +180 odds, with an implied probability of 35.71% and a winning $10 bet profiting $18. As we'll get into later on in the Super Bowl opening kickoff history, last year's opening kickoff did in fact result in a touchback.
🤔 2026 Super Bowl opening kickoff alternate bets
Other kickoff props include which team will receive the opening kickoff and whether a kickoff will be returned for a touchdown in the game. While we wait for the official odds to release for Seahawks vs. Patriots, here's a look at what we can expect based on the odds for last year's Big Game:
Which team will receive the opening kickoff?
| Team | FanDuel (Example) |
|---|---|
| Patriots | -104 |
| Seahawks | -104 |
Will a kickoff be returned for a touchdown?
| Will a kickoff be returned for TD? | DraftKings (Example) | FanDuel (Example) | bet365 (Example) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | +2200 (Any kickoff),+6000 (Opening kickoff) | +17000 (Opening kickoff only) | +2000 (Any kickoff) |
| No | N/A | N/A | -20000 |
There have been 10 kickoff return touchdowns in Super Bowl history but only one opening kickoff that resulted in a score: the Bears' Devin Hester versus the Colts in 2007. There's a dangerous returner in this year's game that could join that group.
The Seahawks' Rashid Shaheed, who was selected to the Pro Bowl this year as a return specialist, returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown in the NFL Divisional Round against the 49ers.
📜 Super Bowl opening kickoff touchback history
| Game | Matchup | Opening kickoff result |
|---|---|---|
| Super Bowl 55 | Chiefs vs. Buccaneers | Harrison Butker kick returned by Tampa Bay's Jaydon Mickens 26 yards |
| Super Bowl 56 | Rams vs. Bengals | Evan McPherson kicks touchback |
| Super Bowl 57 | Chiefs vs. Eagles | Harrison Butker kicks touchback |
| Super Bowl 58 | 49ers vs. Chiefs | Harrison Butker kicks touchback |
| Super Bowl 59 | Chiefs vs. Eagles | Harrison Butker kicks touchback |
📈 Super Bowl opening kickoff trends
- The last four opening kickoffs in the Super Bowl have resulted in touchbacks
- This will be the first year of the new "dynamic kickoff" rules, which have resulted in much fewer touchbacks league-wide this season
- The previous four Super Bowls have all been played indoors, while this year's will be outside at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.
🔮 2026 Super Bowl opening kickoff touchback prediction
The data is clear for this one: since the new kickoff rules were implemented this season, both kickers in this matchup are kicking touchbacks at a low rate. The Patriots' Andy Borregales is kicking touchbacks 26% of the time, while the Seahawks' Jason Myers is at just 17.5%.
Additionally, the five combined playoff games between New England and Seattle have featured three opening kickoffs that were returned (40% that were touchbacks). When odds are available for this Super Bowl prop, I'm betting "No" on there being a touchback on the opening kickoff.
❓ Super Bowl opening kickoff FAQs
Can I bet on the Super Bowl opening kickoff?
Sportsbooks will offer novelty props on the Super Bowl opening kickoff ahead of the Big Game.
Who is the Super Bowl favorite?
The Seattle Seahawks are the Super Bowl betting favorite heading into the Big Game against the New England Patriots.
When will the 2026 Super Bowl be played?
Super Bowl 60 will be played on Sunday, Feb. 8, at 6:30 p.m. ET.
Where will the 2026 Super Bowl be played?
The 2026 Super Bowl will take place at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
How to watch Super Bowl 2026
NBC will broadcast Super Bowl 60 nationally on Sunday, Feb. 8, at 6:30 p.m. ET.
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