When betting on an event as enormous as the Super Bowl, it’s essential to consider all factors.
What time does the Super Bowl start? What is the Super Bowl weather? Who will be officiating the game?
This year, the honor of Super Bowl head referee goes to Shawn Smith, who will take on the illustrious assignment for the first time.
What impact Smith and his crew will have on Patriots vs Seahawks remains to be seen, but here’s a glimpse of what to expect from the Super Bowl referees.
Super Bowl 2026 Referee Crew
- Crew Chief: Shawn Smith
- Umpire: Roy Ellison
- Down Judge: Dana McKenzie
- Line Judge: Julian Mapp
- Field Judge: Jason Ledet
- Side Judge: Eugene Hall
- Back Judge: Greg Steed
- Replay Official: Andrew Lambert
Keep up with the latest Patriots vs Seahawks lines heading into Super Bowl Sunday.
Shawn Smith 2025 Refereed Game Betting Trends
- Games in Charge: 17
- Average Total Points Scored: 44.2
- Over/Under Record: 9-8-0
- Favorite/Underdog Results: 11-6-0 SU & 9-8-0 ATS
- Average Total Penalties: 11.8
- Average Penalty Yards: 93.12
Smith will take charge of the Super Bowl for the first time in his career. However, he has overseen 10 playoff games, including the Patriots’ Divisional Round win over the Houston Texans. That game featured seven accepted penalties for a combined 80 yards.
Smith’s crew was among the most lenient during the 2025 regular season, finishing with the fifth-fewest accepted penalties (201) and penalty yards (1,583). However, that won’t necessarily translate to this game, as the NFL uses an All-Star crew of top officials at each position.
✅ Read the best ways to bet on The Big Game with our Super Bowl 60 predictions.
Smith will have several experienced officials on the field with him during Super Bowl 60. Umpire Roy Ellison, Down Judge Dana McKenzie, Side Judge Eugene Hall, and Back Judge George Steed all have previous experience on this stage.
Super Bowl Referee Betting Tips
Do the Patriots or Seahawks Get More Calls?
Seattle is technically the more penalized team in this matchup, but the difference isn’t much.
The Seahawks have been flagged 108 times for 848 yards in 19 games, while the Patriots have been whistled for 106 penalties totaling 942 yards across 20 contests.
Super Bowl 60 will be the first time Smith has called a Seahawks game this season. He took charge of two New England games, during which the Patriots were flagged three times for 30 yards against the Giants in Week 13 and three times for 48 yards against the Texans in the AFC Divisional Round.
Smith Historically Aids Underdogs
While underdogs went 8-9 ATS in games Smith took charge of in 2025, they have a strong historical record (68-55-6) in the 129 games Smith has overseen as the head official.
That’s because Smith typically finds himself involved in close games. Seven of his 17 contests this year were decided by five or fewer points, which could be significant since the Seahawks opened up as 4.5-point favorites in the Super Bowl odds.
If this game ends up being another close contest, that refereeing trend could favor the Patriots.
Less Penalties = Fewer Points?
Smith’s crew has been more lenient this season, leading to lower-scoring games. The 17 games Smith took charge of this season averaged 44.2 total points, and that includes an outlier Jaguars-Jets game that featured 68.
Of course, it depends on what types of penalties are called. Smith’s crew tied for the second-most defensive pass interference calls (23) and ranked fourth in defensive holding (14), but that means we’re only likely to see one or two of these crucial defensive penalties per game. We’re also unlikely to see offenses get backed up, as Smith’s crew flagged the second-fewest offensive holdings (1.71 per game).
While the Over went 9-8 in his 17 games this season, Smith’s games have historically favored the Under. The Over/Under sits at 45.5 points at most Super Bowl betting sites, which feels slightly high considering the strength of these defenses and the lack of Super Bowl experience at quarterback.
With that in mind, I’m taking the Under as one of my best NFL bets today.
