Seattle Mariners: Odds On Making Playoffs Based On Super Bowl Outcome

Last year, before the Seattle Seahawks won Super Bowl XLVIII, I wrote a piece looking at the residual effect the Seattle Mariners could benefit from after the city won a major title.

In that piece, I wrote that the odds were actually, historically better, if the Seahawks had lost the Super Bowl. Here are the odds based on historical data from last year:

If Denver Wins:

Mariners win World Series- 24-1
Mariners lose World Series- 8-1
Mariners make playoffs- 3-1
Mariners miss playoffs- 3-2

If Seattle Wins:

Mariners win World Series- 16-1
Mariners lose World Series- 24-1
Mariners make playoffs- 4-1
Mariners miss playoffs- 7-5

So, the odds of the Mariners both making the playoffs and making the World Series were better when the city’s NFL team lost the Super Bowl.

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But the Seahawks won and the Mariners just missed the playoffs.

So here we are again. Although this time, the Hawks fell short in Super Bowl XLIX. Now, I know it’s merely coincidence – usually – that the two teams (MLB and NFL) have success at the same time, but it’s still interesting to look at.

Of the 48 previous Super Bowl losing citites, 13 of them didn’t have an MLB equivalent – Dallas (prior to the Rangers coming to Arlington), Miami (prior to 1993), Washington (prior to the Expos moving), Denver (prior to 1993), Tennessee, Indianapolis and Carolina. And there were no MLB playoffs in 1994.

For comparison purposes, I used Toronto as the MLB equivalent to Buffalo (Bills) as they are only about an hour away. I also used the Red Sox with the Patriots and Brewers with Green Bay.

Of the 35 remaining Super Bowl losing cities, 18 of their MLB counterparts had winning records that same year. Twelve of them made the playoffs, six of those made it to the World Series (2 wins, 4 losses).

Here’s the breakdown of the 12 that made the playoffs.

[table id=35 /]

*Due to strike of 1981, MLB had the first-ever Divisional Series.

So, take it for what it is, but the city was buzzing with excitement through Game 162 last year for the Mariners and I think the residual emotions – regardless of the fact that the Hawks lost this one – will carry over yet again and create a special atmosphere for Mariners fans again in 2015.