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Sports betting enthusiasts often have a difficult time separating out the accomplishments of NFL players in different situations. For example, Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly put on some spectacular performances in AFC championship games, but those performances get lost in his Super Bowl disappointments. There are players that have earned the right to be called Super Bowl MVP for having the best performance in the biggest game of the season. When the online betting fans ignore the rest of the player's career, then that allows these Super Bowl performances to stick out.

Marcus Allen – Los Angeles Raiders – Super Bowl XVIII

The late Raiders owner Al Davis was always a hard man to impress. Running back legend Marcus Allen was never a favorite of Davis', even when Allen single-handedly helped the Raiders win Super Bowl XVIII. Allen had 191 yards rushing and two rushing touchdowns in one of the most memorable Super Bowl performances in history. Marcus Allen finished his career with over 12,000 rushing yards, but he is most remembered for that performance in Super Bowl XVIII.

John Elway – Denver Broncos – Super Bowl XXXIII

MLB blogs writers know that teams win for each other and make championships their personal memories. When the Denver Broncos won Super Bowl XXXII, most people thought quarterback John Elway would retire. But the fact that Elway did not win MVP of that Super Bowl bothered the players, and when Elway announced that he would defend the title with his team, the battle cry was "win it for John." Elway earned his MVP award with some of the most physical and gutsy play ever displayed by a quarterback. Super Bowl XXXIII was John Elway's last game, and it was a fitting way for him to go out.

Richard Dent – Chicago Bears – Super Bowl XX

On a defense that featured players like linebacker Mike Singletary and defensive tackle Dan Hampton, it would take a monumental performance for any one defensive player to stand out in that Super Bowl for the Bears. But defensive end Richard Dent owned the line of scrimmage and pushed the flashy Bears to its only Super Bowl title.

Every sports betting enthusiast knows the feeling of placing a bet because a team has all of the indications of being a winner. The online betting for the Super Bowl has seen its fair share of ups and downs, and it has also seen its fair share of teams that never made the big game but should have. As part of the learning process for every NFL betting enthusiast, here are the top three teams that never made it to the Super Bowl.

3) Minnesota Vikings – 1997 to 1999

This Minnesota team went a combined 34-14 over this stretch and played in the 1998 NFC Championship game. But it never broke through to play in the Super Bowl. For two years, the Vikings were the top offensive team in the league. But it could never win the games it needed to win in order to get a chance at being a Super Bowl champion.

2) San Diego Chargers – 2006 to 2009

This San Diego Chargers team had everything. It had an aggressive and strong defense, a powerful running game and an accurate quarterback. But, after a while, even the hockey news started reporting on the frustration with NFL fans in San Diego. In 2007, the 11-5 Chargers made it to the AFC Championship game only to get beaten by the New England Patriots. Since the quarterback Philip Rivers took over as the starter in 2006, the Chargers have been consistent Super Bowl favorites. Every year, San Diego finds a new way to disappoint the fans and the betting experts.

1) San Diego Chargers – 1979 to 1982

From 1979 to 1981, the San Diego Chargers were good enough to get a first round bye in the playoffs. But in all three of those years, the team fell short of the Super Bowl. In 1982, the Chargers gave it one more try and got to the second round before losing to the Miami Dolphins. These were the years of quarterback Dan Fouts and “Air Coryell.” It was a team that always had enough offense to win in the regular season, but never enough defense to get into the big game.

When sports betting experts talk about Super Bowl upsets, they are talking about the upsets that were such locks that there was no way the favorite could lose. When the favorite did lose, a lot of bettors lost a lot of money. It is always fun to look back on the worst upsets in Super Bowl history. But if you pay attention to the list, then you may learn something that will make you extra money on your pay per head sportsbooks bets in the next Super Bowl.

Super Bowl III – The New York Jets Beat the Baltimore Colts

What is commonly referred to as “the” biggest upset in football history is really not that big of an upset when you think about it. The Baltimore Colts had won NFL championships in the 1905s with Johnny Unitas at quarterback. But in the 1969 season, Unitas was hurt early and Earl Morral finished the season. By the time Super Bowl III came around, Unitas was healthy but young head coach Don Shula left Morrall in. The result was an upset by the Jets. Not to take anything away from the Jets, but even Joe Namath said that he was not sure the Jets would have won if Unitas had started.

Super Bowl XXXVI – The New England Patriots Beat the St. Louis Rams

The St. Louis Rams were so heavily favored in this Super Bowl that even hockey news writers had the Rams winning by a landslide. The Patriots were still riding the amazing season of rookie back-up quarterback Tom Brady and they rode that momentum all the way to a Super Bowl Championship.

Super Bowl XLII – The New York Giants Beat the New England Patriots

Eli Manning was still considered “just the younger brother of Peyton” before the 2007 season. When the Giants crushed the Patriots’ dreams of a perfect season and beat New England 17 to 14, Eli Manning was finally recognized as one of the finest quarterbacks in the game.