The Super Bowl is unlike any other game, with the strange combination of no game meaning more and no game having less to do with football. There are the commercials and the halftime show and the celebrities — and one way to make it all equally interesting: prop bets.
Unlike most games, in which the point spread and over/under account for most gambling action, prop bets provide an opportunity to bet on every element of a game, as well as many things that have nothing to do with the game at all.
Here are some of the most attractive prop bets to make Super Bowl Sunday even more exciting — and profitable:
Coin toss
A great way to get off to a good start, with the best chance for success all day. Supposedly, tails (-105) never fails.
How long will it take Idina Menzel to sing the national anthem?
Under 2 minutes, 1 second (-110): The over has less favorable odds (-130), given a singer’s likelihood to milk every second of the most-watched performance of his or her career. Menzel held out each note at great length while singing the anthem at the 2014 MLB All-Star Game and clocked in at just over 2 minutes. In the 2007 regular-season finale between the Giants and Patriots, she only needed 1 minute and 34 seconds. At the very worst, it’s a toss-up.
Player to score the first TD in the game
Tom Brady (35/1): The Patriots quarterback has two rushing touchdowns in his past four postseason games, including this year’s divisional win over Baltimore.
Tony Moeaki (40/1): The Seahawks tight end is mostly used as a run blocker, but the underrated receiver could be the perfect outlet for a play-action pass if the Patriots load up on Marshawn Lynch near the goal line.
How many times will Katy Perry be mentioned in the first half?
Over 1½ (-110): Maybe the safest bet of the day. On a day based around ratings, the biggest attraction outside of the game is guaranteed to get promoted.
Will Bill Belichick smile during the game on camera?
Yes (3/2): For those who think the favored Patriots will win, this holds much better value than the money line. Unless New England brings back its Super Bowl-winning routine of field goals with no time left, Gatorade will be spilled with time on the clock, as Belichick gets hugs from his team.
How many times will “deflated balls” be referred to during the game?
Under 2½ (-110): It’s already old news.
Will it be mentioned Pete Carroll was the head coach of the Patriots immediately before Belichick?
Yes (+110): Carroll was fired in 1999, beginning Belichick’s incredible run. On this marathon day, it’s certainly worthy of a mention.
Super Bowl MVPs
Russell Wilson (7/2): Fantastic odds for the quarterback — any quarterback — of the defending champions, playing in a coin-flip game.
LeGarrette Blount (12/1): The Patriots running back had 148 yards and three touchdowns in the AFC Championship. Blount (+29½) is also a good bet to have more rushing yards than Lynch.
Julian Edelman (25/1), Doug Baldwin (33/1): The top wide receivers on each team have the added bonus of potentially swinging the game with a touchdown on a kick or punt return.
What will be higher on games played Feb. 2, Carmelo Anthony points (Pk) or Patriots points scored?
Anthony (PK): A rare chance for a win for Anthony and the Knicks, with the Lakers’ defense (allowing the second-most points in the NBA) far easier to light up than the Seahawks’ defense, which has allowed less than 10 points per game in its past eight games.
The best of the rest
Will Idina Menzel forget or omit at least 1 word of the national anthem?
Yes +400 (4/1)
No -600 (1/6)
How many times will “deflated balls” be referred to during the game?
Over/Under 2½
Will Marshawn Lynch be fined by the NFL for any incident on Media Day?
Yes +400 (4/1)
No -600 (1/6)
Will Marshawn Lynch grab his crotch after scoring a TD in the game?
Yes +400 (4/1)
No -600 (1/6)
Which color will Bill Belichick’s hoodie be?
Gray 1/2
Blue 7/4
Red 7/1
Bill Belichick hoodie type?
Sleeves cut -150 (2/3)
Sleeves intact +110 (11/10)
Which song will Katy Perry perform first at halftime?
“Firework” 3/2
“Roar” 3/2
“This Is How We Do” 5/1
“Dark Horse” 12/1
“E.T.” 12/1
“Wide Awake” 12/1
“Waking Up In Vegas” 20/1
What will Katy Perry be wearing when she begins the halftime show?
Skirt or dress 4/5
Pants (below knees) 2/1
Shorts (above knees) 2/1
Will Katy Perry show cleavage?
Yes -500 (1/5)
No +350 (7/2)
(betonline.com)
What color will Katy Perry’s hair be when she begins the halftime show?
Black/brown 2/1
Pink/red 3/1
Blue/green 3/1
Blond 4/1
Purple 5/1
How many times will Gisele Bundchen be shown on TV?
Over/Under 1½
Will Al Michaels refer to the point spread, total, odds on who wins game or any prop bet?
Yes +200 (2/1)
No -300 (1/3)
Who will be shown more on TV during the game?
Robert Kraft -200 (1/2)
Paul Allen +150 (3/2)
What will the Nielsen rating of the game be?
Over/Under 47½
Which region will have the higher Nielsen rating?
Boston +110 (11/10)
Seattle -150 (2/3)
How many viewers will the game have?
Over/Under 113 million
Whom will the Super Bowl MVP mention first in his interview?
Teammates 3/2
God 5/1
Fans/city 15/2
Coach 12/1
Family 12/1
Owner 12/1
Does not mention any of the above 2/1
What color will the Gatorade (or liquid) be that is dumped on the head coach of the winning team?
Orange 3/2
Yellow 5/2
Clear/water 3/1
Red 15/2
Blue 15/2
Green 10/1
What will happen with the Dow Jones the day after the Super Bowl?
Market up -140 (5/7)
Market down EVEN (1/1)
Whom will Barack Obama pick to win the game?
New England -140 (5/7)
Seattle EVEN (1/1)
TEAM/GAME PROPS
Margin of victory
Patriots 1 to 6 points 7/2
Patriots 7 to 12 points 11/2
Patriots 13 to 18 points 8/1
Patriots 19 to 24 points 14/1
Patriots 25 to 30 points 20/1
Patriots 31 to 36 points 35/1
Patriots 37 or more points 30/1
Seahawks 1 to 6 points 7/2
Seahawks 7 to 12 points 11/2
Seahawks 13 to 18 points 8/1
Seahawks 19 to 24 points 14/1
Seahawks 25 to 30 points 20/1
Seahawks 31 to 36 points 35/1
Seahawks 37 or more points 30/1
Team to score first wins the game
Yes -165 (20/33)
No +135 (27/20)
Will there be a score in the first 7 min, 30 seconds of the 1st quarter?
Yes -180 (5/9)
No +150 (3/2)
The first score of the game will be?
Patriots Field Goal 4/1
Patriots TD Pass 3/1
Patriots Rushing TD 11/2
Patriots Safety 33/1
Patriots Defensive or Special Teams TD 14/1
Seahawks Field Goal 7/2
Seahawks TD Pass 4/1
Seahawks Rushing TD 4/1
Seahawks Safety 33/1
Seahawks Defensive or Special Teams TD 14/1
Half Time/Full Time
Patriots / Patriots 7/5
Seahawks / Patriots 9/1
Tie / Patriots 16/1
Tie / Seahawks 16/1
Patriots / Seahawks 9/1
Seahawks / Seahawks 7/5
Patriots / Tie 35/1
Seahawks / Tie 35/1
Tie / Tie 35/1
Will the 1st half end in a tie?
Yes (1st Half Tied) +550 (11/2)
No (1st Half Not Tied) -900 (1/9)
Which will be the Highest Scoring Quarter?
1st Quarter 9/2
2nd Quarter 7/5
3rd Quarter 9/2
4th Quarter 9/5
Will the game go to overtime?
Yes (Overtime) +800 (8/1)
No (Overtime) -1600 (1/16)
What will be the result of the first coaches challenge?
Play Overturned -130 (10/13)
Play Stands EVEN (1/1)
Will there be a safety in the game?
Yes (Safety) +550 (11/2)
No (Safety) -900 (1/9)
Longest Touchdown in the Game
Over/Under Yards 44½
Longest successful field goal in the Game
Over/Under Yards 44½
Shortest Successful Field Goal in the Game
Over/Under 24½
Will there be a defensive or special teams TD scored in the game?
Yes +160 (8/5)
No -200 (1/2)
Total QB sacks in the game
Over/Under 4½
Total Points – Odd or Even?
Odd -140 (5/7)
Even +110 (11/10)
Will a two-point conversion be attempted?
Yes +200 (2/1)
No -250 (2/5)
Will there be a Successful two-point conversion attempt?
Yes +350 (7/2)
No -500 (1/5)
MVP and first to score a touchdown odds
Super Bowl XLIX MVP — Odds to Win
Tom Brady 8/5
Russell Wilson 7/2
Marshawn Lynch 4/1
Rob Gronkowski 9/1
LeGarrette Blount 12/1
Julian Edelman 25/1
Doug Baldwin 33/1
Richard Sherman 33/1
Kam Chancellor 33/1
Darrelle Revis 33/1
Earl Thomas 40/1
Jermaine Kearse 50/1
Bobby Wagner 50/1
Jamie Collins 50/1
Brandon LaFell 66/1
Shane Vereen 66/1
K.J. Wright 75/1
Danny Amendola 75/1
Luke Willson 100/1
Rob Ninkovich 100/1
Dont’a Hightower 100/1
Patrick Chung 100/1
Devin McCourty 100/1
Stephen Gostkowski 100/1
Steven Hauschka 100/1
Malcolm Smith 100/1
Byron Maxwell 100/1
Field 25/1
Player to score the first TD in the game?
Marshawn Lynch (SEA) RB 11/2
Rob Gronkowski (NE) TE 13/2
LeGarrette Blount (NE) RB 9/1
Julian Edelman (NE) WR 10/1
Doug Baldwin (SEA) WR 12/1
Brandon LaFell (NE) WR 12/1
Russell Wilson (SEA) QB 12/1
Jermaine Kearse (SEA) WR 14/1
Shane Vereen (NE) RB 16/1
Luke Willson (SEA) TE 16/1
Danny Amendola (NE) WR 20/1
Ricardo Lockette (SEA) WR 20/1
Timothy Wright (NE) TE 20/1
Robert Turbin (SEA) RB 25/1
Brandon Bolden (NE) RB 30/1
Jonas Gray (NE) RB 30/1
Cooper Helfet (SEA) TE 30/1
Tom Brady (NE) QB 35/1
Tony Moeaki (SEA) TE 40/1
Kevin Norwood (SEA) WR 40/1
James Devlin (NE) FB 50/1
Michael Hoomanawanui (NE) TE 50/1
Christine Michael (SEA) RB 50/1
Will Tukuafu (SEA) FB 50/1
Field 15/2
No TD scored in the game 125/1
Player props
Total Passing Yards – Tom Brady (NE)
Over/Under 260½
Total TD Passes – Tom Brady (NE)
0 7/2
1 11/5
2 5/2
3 3/1
4 or more 7/1
Total Rushing Yards – LeGarrette Blount (NE)
Over/Under 62½
Total Receiving Yards – Rob Gronkowski (NE)
Over/Under 72½
Will Rob Gronkowski (NE) score a TD in the game?
Yes -170 (10/17)
No +140 (7/5)
Total Receiving Yards – Julian Edelman (NE)
Over/Under 67½
Total Receptions – Julian Edelman (NE)
Over/Under 6
Total Interceptions – Darrelle Revis (NE)
Over ½ (+275, 11/4)
Under ½ (-350, 2/7)
Total Passing Yards – Russell Wilson (SEA)
Over/Under 219½
Total TD Passes – Russell Wilson (SEA)
0 5/2
1 3/2
2 13/5
3 5/1
4 or more 12/1
Total Rushing Yards – Russell Wilson (SEA)
Over/Under 40½
Will Russell Wilson (SEA) score a Rushing TD in the game?
Yes +220 (11/5)
No -280 (5/14)
Total Rushing Yards – Marshawn Lynch (SEA)
Over/Under 92½
Will Marshawn Lynch (SEA) score a TD in the game?
Yes -200 (1/2)
No +160 (8/5)
Total Receiving Yards – Doug Baldwin (SEA)
Over/Under 54½
Total Interceptions – Richard Sherman (SEA)
Over ½ (+200, 2/1)
Under ½ (-250, 2/5)
Cross sport
What will be higher on games played Feb. 2?
Chris Bosh Total Points Pick
Marshawn Lynch Rushing attempts Pick
What will be higher on games played Feb. 2?
Kobe Bryant Total Points, Rebounds & Assists Pick (+120, 6/5)
Tom Brady Passing Attempts Pick (-150, 2/3)
What will be higher on games played Feb. 2?
Sidney Crosby Points Pick
Russell Wilson TD Passes Pick
UFC Parlay Special – Silva vs Diaz
Silva wins Patriots win 5/4
Silva Wins Seahawks win 3/2
Diaz wins Patriots win 6/1
Diaz win Seahawks win 7/1
What will be higher on games played Feb. 2?
Tiger Woods day 1 score at the Masters Pick (+120, 6/5)
Julian Edelman Receiving Yards Pick (-150, 2/3)
Historical matchup
What will be higher?
Tom Brady Super Bowl 2015 Passing Yards +15½
Tom Brady Super Bowl 2012 Passing Yards (276 Yards) -15½
What will be higher?
Russell Wilson Super Bowl 2015 Passing Yards -13½
Russell Wilson Super Bowl 2014 Passing Yards (206 Yards) +13½
Head-to-head player props
Who will have more Passing Yards in the game?
Tom Brady (NE) QB -39½
Russell Wilson (SEA) QB +39½
Who will have more Rushing Yards in the game?
LeGarrette Blount (NE) RB +29½
Marshawn Lynch (SEA) RB -29½
Who will have more Receiving Yards in the game?
Julian Edelman (NE) WR -12½
Doug Baldwin (SEA) WR +12½
Odds: Bovada.lv except where noted