The Super Bowl is not only the championship game in the NFL, but it’s the championship game for gambling. The Super Bowl is one of the biggest gambling days of the year. In 1991, $40 million was bet on the Super Bowl. In 2018, the total was over $158 million and 2019 is expected to be higher than that.
One of the reasons why the total has grown exponentially is the rise of the prop bet. Prop bets are bets that can be made that don’t necessarily impact the final outcome of the game. Instead of betting who will win the game, gamblers can bet things like score at the end of the first quarter, the coin toss, and the color of the gatorade that will be poured on the winning coach. Prop bets entice and allow non-gamblers to bet during the Super Bowl without knowing anything about football.
Prop bets elevate the Super Bowl viewing experience. What prop bets should you invest in? There are hundreds of prop bets that can be made, but I’m going to break down a few of my favorite ones.
*Odds were taken on 2/2 from Bovada unless otherwise noted*
Gladys Knight Over/Under 1:49 To Sing The National Anthem
The time of the National Anthem is my personal favorite prop bet. There is no better rush than pulling out your stopwatch and timing the national anthem. Type in “Gladys Knight National Anthem” and you will find dozens of articles that evaluate her singing ability and how it will translate to the National Anthem. FiveThirtyEight did on study on covers sung by Gladys Knight and learned that her versions were 7% longer than the originals, which is good for a bonus of 12.7 seconds. Plus, men tend to sing the anthem more quickly than women. I expect Knight to sing a powerful rendition of the anthem that is full of soul and high notes. Bet the over.
Over 1:49
Tom Brady Over/Under 37.5 Passing Attempts
During the regular season, Tom Brady threw over 37.5 passing attempts in only 5 games. However, Brady shattered that number in both playoff games with totals of 44 and 46. In his last three Super Bowls, Brady’s passing attempts average is approximately 53. With Aaron Donald and Ndamukong Suh in the middle of the Rams’ defense, expect Tom Brady to get the ball out of his hands quickly as the Pats should elect to throw a lot of short passes instead of runs. Bet the over.
Over 37.5
What Will Be The First Song Performed By Maroon 5?
- Makes Me Wonder +EVEN
- One More Night +550
- Moves Like Jagger +600
- Animals +700
- Sugar +900
- Girls Like You +900
*Lines taken from OddsShark*
Who is ready for some Maroon 5 at halftime? Want to make their performance more interesting? To do that, bet on the first song they will sing! To break down this list, I’m using process of elimination. “Sugar” and “Animals” get the ax because they were not number one hits. I’m eliminating “Girls Like You” because Cardi B is not scheduled to perform. Even if Cardi B surprisingly shows up and performs the song, Maroon 5 would never open with a song that featured another artist. It’s the band’s time to shine, not Cardi’s time. I’m also eliminating “Moves Like Jagger” for the same reason I eliminated “Girls Like You.” Even if Christina Aguilera shows up to perform, it would not be for the first song. That leaves us with two choices, “Makes Me Wonder” and “One More Night.” My pick is “Makes Me Wonder” because it was Maroon 5’s first number one hit and it’s a more upbeat song.
Makes Me Wonder +EVEN
Enjoy the Super Bowl!