The Cincinnati Bengals came out of nowhere to win the AFC last season en route to a Super Bowl LVI appearance. The journey lasted so long it landed the team in the top-two most bet-on games of the calendar year at BetMGM Sportsbook.
The playoff run can also be credited in part with Joe Burrow’s No. 1 ranking among the NFL’s most bet-on players of 2022. In fact, Burrow and the Bengals played in three of the NFL’s most-bet games of the calendar year.
U.S. bettors also threw their weight behind the Ohio State Buckeyes this fall when a certain team up north came to town, and Ohio’s favorite YouTuber-turned-boxer fought in one of the most bet-on boxing matches of the year.
With Ohio sports betting set to kick off on Jan. 1, 2023, here’s a look at which Ohio teams and athletes were part of the most-bet games of 2022.
Super Bowl LVI, AFC title game most-bet games of 2022
The NFL playoffs dominate the top-10 lists of most tickets and handle in 2022 at BetMGM, and bettors tend to continue looking for action as the field shrinks.
As such, Super Bowl LVI between the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams was the most bet-on game of 2022 by tickets and handle. The AFC title game between the Cincinnati bengals and Kansas City Chiefs came in at No. 2 in both metrics.
The Bengals vs. Titans AFC divisional playoff matchup also cracked the top-10 in handle for any sporting event in 2022.
The Masters golf tournament in April was the most-bet non-NFL event to place in the top-10 in tickets (No. 6), though it did not rank in the top-10 in handle.
The College Football Playoff National Championship between Georgia and Alabama did the opposite, coming in top-10 in handle (No. 9) but falling outside the top-10 in tickets.
Bengals, Browns played in top games for the BetMGM Sportsbook
The Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns participated in three of the top 10 “best games for the book” in 2022:
- Bengals vs. Titans divisional matchup (No. 4)
- Bengals vs. Ravens Week 5 (No. 7)
- Bengals vs. Browns Week 8 (No. 10)
Neither Ohio NFL team played in any of the top-10 games/matches for BetMGM customers, however.
Joe Burrow bets continue to flow
Fueled by his Super Bowl appearance and the potential of an even better 2022 season, bettors continue to back Joe Burrow.
The Bengals QB ranked No. 1 in tickets and handle among NFL player prop bets in 2022. Unfortunately for bettors, Burrow also tops the list of most profitable players for the sportsbook in 2022. Bengals teammate Joe Mixon came in at No. 4 on the same list.
Despite a slow start to the 2022 NFL season, Burrow has been on fire of late, leading the Bengals to six straight wins and overtaking the Baltimore Ravens for first place in the AFC North.
Burrow has climbed into the top-four of the 2022 NFL MVP odds at +600 at BetMGM Sportsbook Ohio.
Ohio State Buckeyes played in second-most bet-on college football game
The 2022 Ohio State vs. Michigan game was among the rivalry’s most anticipated matchups, with a Big Ten Football Championship Game appearance and the inside track to a College Football Playoff bid on the line.
Bettors were clearly intrigued, as the game came in as the second-most bet-on game by tickets in 2022, and it was No. 7 in handle. The national title game between Georgia and Alabama was the only college football game of the year to see more tickets.
The Ohio State Buckeyes fell to the Michigan Wolverines in that one, though they still ended up claiming a College Football Playoff bid after USC lost in the Pac-12 title game.
Ohio State will take on Georgia in the Peach Bowl on Dec. 31.
Jake Paul vs. Anderson Silva raked in the bets
Cleveland-native and Betr Sportsbook Ohio frontman Jake Paul participated in one of the most hyped boxing matches of 2022.
His fight against Anderson Silva ranked No. 4 in tickets and No. 3 in handle in 2022.
Paul outlasted Silva, winning by unanimous decision after knocking him down in Round 8. Betr is among the online sportsbooks that will soon join the Ohio sports betting market.
