Octopus betting is a specific type of novelty football bet. You’re betting on a player to score a touchdown and then the subsequent two-point conversion. An octopus is an extremely rare event and in fact, has only occurred 175 times since the two-point conversion was introduced to the NFL in 1994.
So now that you know what an Octopus bet is, join me as I break down each tentacle of this briny bet type. You’ll read first-hand insights from a seasoned Octopus bettor.
Two-Point Conversion Explained
After a football team scores a touchdown, they can earn additional points via a conversion. Most teams opt for a one-point conversion and kick the ball through the uprights. However, teams can also choose to take a snap at the two-yard line, if they successfully get the ball into the end zone, they score two points.
How Does an Octopus Bet Work
The key things to remember with an octopus bet is the player must score a touchdown and the subsequent two-point conversion. They can’t, for example, score a touchdown in the first quarter and then pick up the two-point conversion in the second quarter or vice versa.
Also, the player has to carry the ball into the end zone. A quarterback can’t score an octopus by throwing a touchdown and two-point conversion. The player needs to rush or receive the ball both during the touchdown and two-point conversion.
An octopus bet is typically a yes or no market where you’re predicting whether or not one will occur in a game. You can usually only make octopus bets on major football games like the Super Bowl.
Have Players Ever Scored an Octopus?
The term octopus only appeared in 2019 thanks to Sports Illustrated writer Mitch Goldich. However, NFL fans went back into the history books and discovered that 175 octopi have occurred since 1994 when the league brought in the two-point conversion.
In the 2018 NFL season, it was raining octopi with a record of 15 occurring. Amazingly over 20 NFL players have scored multiple octopi in their careers.
Jalen Hurts became an NFL legend when he scored an octopus at Super Bowl LVII in the Eagles’ narrow loss against the Chiefs. In the fourth quarter, the Philly quarterback rushed for a two-yard touchdown and then again ran into the end zone for the two-point conversion.
Patrick Mahomes who defeated Jalen Hurts at Super Bowl LVII has also bagged an octopus during the 2021/2022 season against the Tennessee Titans. With the Chiefs trailing late, Mahomes rushed for a 14-yard touchdown and then also got the two-point conversion, getting the W for Kansas City.
Pros & Cons of Octopus Betting
An octopus bet is an absolute hail mary, we’re talking a serious long shot. Your chances of winning are incredibly low. To make matters worse, sportsbooks jack up the juice for this novelty prop.
On the flip side, the payouts can be immense. It’s not uncommon to get +1400 or higher odds. You can’t beat the feeling of winning such an unlikely bet, you’ll remember the wager for the rest of your life. Unfortunately, you won’t get too many chances to make octopus bets. This market is usually only for the Super Bowl.
Pros:
- +1400 or higher odds are common
- Simple bet
- Makes the Super Bowl more exciting
- Lots of data to help you pick a winner
Cons:
- Low chance of winning
- High juice
- Only available for big football games like the Super Bowl
Tips & Tricks When Octopus Betting
There is obviously a lot of luck involved in predicting an octopus due to the rarity of the event. However, here are some tricks to tip the betting odds in your favor:
- Look for the right moment – NFL teams only attempt one two-point conversion every four games. Use the live betting markets to wait for the right opportunity to place this bet. Ideally, you want a team to be trailing by just enough in the fourth quarter, where it makes sense to go for a two-point conversion, or a two-point conversion would secure the game for the leading team.
- Look for teams with a rushing quarter and strong running back – Rushing quarterbacks like Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes are built to score octopi. If a team also has a great running back, that’s a bonus, as a common way to score an octopus is via a short rush.
- Find teams with a high two-point conversion rate – The average two-point conversion rate in the NFL is 47.5%. Stick to games where both teams convert well over 50% of their two-point conversion.
How To Place an Octopus Bet
To make your first octopus bet, follow these steps:
- Register at any sportsbook our team recommends
- Go to NFL and select a game (this market is only usually available for the Super Bowl)
- Choose Yes if you think an octopus will occur and No if you don’t
- Enter your stake
- Confirm your bet
The final thing to do is say a prayer because you’re going to need some divine intervention to win this wager. But boy, you’d have a story to tell and a very nice-looking bankroll if you managed to win an octopus bet!
