Kris Johnson iGaming Journalist
Kris Johnson is a Charlotte-based deputy editor. He joined CasinoBeats in July 2025 and oversees the daily news flow of editing and publishing. Kris also reports on all aspects of the gambling industry with a...
Read Full BioThere’s one exotic Super Bowl bet that’s made a name for itself in recent years, but where and when did the “Octopus” actually get its name?
First, for those who don’t know, an Octopus occurs when a player scores a touchdown and then converts the two-point attempt. The eight-point feat remains a rarity, but that doesn’t stop folks from betting on it during Super Bowl Sunday.
Origin of the ‘Octopus’
The Panthers and Commanders were playing back in October 2018 when Carolina WR Torrey Smith caught a 3-yard TD pass from Cam Newton with 8:32 remaining in the game. That made the score 20-15, and Carolina needed a 2-point conversion to make it a one-possession game. Newton hit Smith again for a successful 2-point try.
Sports Illustrated writer Mitch Goldich took note of what happened and tweeted, “There should be a cool name for what Torrey Smith just did. … What should we call this?”
A friend of Goldich’s responded with an Octopus. It took, and there’s even an Octopus tracker now. Unfortunately, it hasn’t needed much updating this season.
“There were only three all season, which is the fewest since 2011,” Goldich said.
Also read: Alternate Super Bowl Point Spreads | ATS & OVER-UNDER Results for Every Super Bowl
Prop Bet Becomes a Super Bowl Staple
The Octopus is now entrenched in the sports betting lexicon. The prop bet for Super Bowl 60 is available at several sportsbooks, including but not limited to:
- FanDuel (Yes: +900, No: -2500)
- DraftKings (Yes: +1500, No: -5000)
- Caesars (Yes: +1500, No: -6000)
“I think the prop is here to stay,” Goldich said. “These things seem like they only move in one direction, and places like to have as big a prop menu as possible. So as more people learn about it, I’d be surprised to see it stop getting offered.”
As we mentioned earlier this week in our Super Bowl betting content, Philadelphia QB Jalen Hurts recorded the only Super Bowl Octopus in 2023 against Kansas City. Hurts scored on a 2-yard rushing TD and then successfully ran for the 2-point conversion.
“It just began as this silly little thing, and it’s grown to where it actually happened in the Super Bowl. And I was in the stadium,” said Goldich, who cashed a winning ticket at +1400 odds.
Will we see another Octopus on Sunday? The odds suggest no.
“People do play the ‘No,’ but that’s not how I want to live my life,” Goldich said.
Goldich also noted that his 14-1 hit a few years ago gives him some insurance.
“Even if I lose the bet 14 years in a row, I can still say I broke even,” he said.
Related: Fixed-Odds Contests for Super Bowl Squares | Super Bowl 60 MVP Odds
