Need to know
A gambler could have raked in more than £600,000 if their seven NFL picks came off but despite an early failure due to the Indianopolis Colts, the punter pulled through a big win
Everything you need to know as a NFL fan wins £174k correctly predicting six out of seven divisional winners
- A strategic bettor turned a relatively small stake into a massive financial windfall. By correctly predicting six out of seven NFL division winners, the individual secured a payout of £174,000 with Betfair.
- The punter utilised a complex betting structure to maximise their chances of winning. They placed a variety of “four-fold,” “five-fold,” and “six-fold” bets to ensure a return even if one prediction failed.
- The success of the wager relied on several teams that were considered underdogs. The bettor backed long-shot teams like the Patriots and Panthers, who were all listed at odds of 3/1 or higher.
- A dramatic final-moment miss on the field determined the fate of the payout. The bet was only validated because the Baltimore Ravens missed a late field goal, allowing the Pittsburgh Steelers to win their division.
- One specific kicker played an accidental but pivotal role in the gambler’s success. Tyler Loop’s missed 44-yard attempt in the final seconds of the season handed the punter a crucial winning leg.
- Only one team prevented the bettor from reaching a truly astronomical sum. The Indianapolis Colts failed to win the AFC South, finishing third behind the Jaguars and the Texans.
- The potential total winnings would have more than tripled if the final team had won. Had the Colts been successful, the punter would have walked away with a staggering £660,000.
- Betting representatives have expressed astonishment at the punter’s predictive accuracy. A spokesperson for Betfair nicknamed the winner the “NFL Nostradamus” for their remarkable ability to read the season’s outcomes. They said: “A huge congratulations to one lucky Betfair punter who incredibly predicted six out of the seven NFL outright division winners… landing themselves an unbelievable £174,000. Fair play!”
