Betting on the Super Bowl is big business.
More than $115million was wagered on last year’s decider in the sportbooks and casinos of Las Vegas, but that is just a drop in a $4.2billion ocean of illegal betting expected on this year’s game, according to a study by the American Gambling Association.
It is without question the biggest day of the year for American bookmakers, legitimate or otherwise, and while much of the action is taken on traditional bets such as the point spread, point total and the winner of the game, prop bets have become just as much a part of Super Bowl Sunday as the half-time show.
The Las Vegas Hilton, now known as the Westgate, began the tradition of adding weird and wacky options to the traditional menu of bets, and there are now hundreds of selections available, from player specific bets to which way the pregame coin toss will go, that now make up around half of the total taken by bookmakers on the Super Bowl.
Here’s SportsJOE’s look at some of our favourite prop bets for this year’s big game between the Carolina Panthers and the Seattle Seahawks.
[All odds with thanks to Ladbrokes Ireland]
Coin toss:
Heads 10/11
Tails 10/11
Let’s start the with game’s opening act, and, given the odds on offer, a bet purely for the degenerate gambler out there. In fact, anyone spotted glancing at a betting slip when referee Clete Blakeman is throwing that coin is a prime candidate for professional help. We can only imagine the uproar if there is a repeat of the overtime coin toss fiasco from the NFC play-off game between Arizona and Green Bay last month.
Remarkably, our friends in America can further ignore the laws of probability by gambling on which team will win the coin toss, whether the team which wins the coin toss will win the game, and if the team which chooses heads or tails wins or not.
Length of first made field goal:
Over 35.5 yards 10/11
Under 35.5 yards 10/11
Another one for the guessers and there are plenty more like it, to do with punting, kick-offs and touchdown lengths. For those trying to analyse the probabilities, a team would need to get to the 16-yard line to attempt a field goal of fewer than 34.5 yards.
Will the game be tied at any point after 0-0?
Yes 11/10
No 8/11
The best chance for this to come good is in the opening exchanges, either at 3-3 or 7-7. Remember, there has still never been overtime in a Super Bowl.
Jersey number of the first touchdown scorer
Under 29.5 10/11
Over 29.5 10/11
This is one of our favourite bets, and involves scouring the rosters of both teams for jersey numbers. It’s somewhat surprising that the Under isn’t favoured here, with th majority of likely scorers falling below the number. Of the players to score more than one TD for Denver, only receiver Demaryius Thomas and tight end Owen Daniels have high numbers, while Panthers tight end Greg Olsen is their big chance of hitting the over. Against that you have Carolina receivers Ted Ginn and Devin Funchess, running-back Jonathan Stewart and QB Cam Newton, while Broncos RBs CJ Anderson and Ronnie Hillman and receiver Emmanuel Sanders will also deliver the Under.
Cam Newton rushing attempts Over 8.5 17/20
The number is within 0.1 of Newton’s season average for rushes, but the big quarterback has been putting his body on the line when it counts, totalling 21 attempts in his team’s two play-off games. Don’t forget, any kneeldowns also count as rushing attempts so you could pick up a couple of extra efforts if Carolina are in a position to run out the clock.
Emmanuel Sanders receiving yards Over 67.5 17/20
While Demaryius Thomas is Denver’s bigger downfield threat, Sanders is Peyton Manning’s most consistent receiver, and has only totalled less than 62 yards twice in games started by Manning this season. Even if Denver lose the game, it would be no surprise to see Sanders have a decent day.
Peyton Manning total passing yards Odd/Even 10/11
Go home, you’re drunk.
Total sacks Over 5.5 11/10
We really like this one. Both teams boast ferocious defensive fronts, and both QBs are susceptible to getting hit, Manning because he can’t run away from anybody, and Newton because he might be tempted to hold on to the ball a bit longer than he should at times.
Largest lead of the game Over 14.5 Evens
This is one for Carolina backers, as Denver are unlikely to put up enough points to run away with the game. The Panthers, however, have led the Seahawks and the Cardinals by 31-0 and 34-7 respectively in the play-offs so far.
Will the opening kick-off go for a touchback? Yes 2/3 No 6/5
Denver and Carolina ranked third and seventh in touchback percentage this season at 70 and 67 per cent, and the thinking is always that the extra adrenalin from starting the Super Bowl gives the kickers an extra boost, but we’re tempted to say no. The Broncos’ figures are inflated from playing their home games at altitude and the Bay Area is notorious for its winds. The hosting 49ers saw a full 17 per cent reduction in touchbacks at home compared with their away games.
Most Valuable Player
Cam Newton 8/11
Peyton Manning 4/1
Jonathan Stewart 20/1
Von Miller 20/1
Greg Olsen 25/1
Luke Kuechly 25/1
It’s typically the quarterback who brings home the MVP trophy, and this year even more than most, so often it’s a wise move to just bet on the QB rather than on your chosen team to win the game. Newton is a shoo-in for regular season MVP and will almost certainly be given credit for a Carolina success, while the story surrounding Manning’s likely final game will sway votes his way. If you want a long shot you should probably look to the defensive side of the ball, where Broncos pass-rusher Miller or Panthers linebacker Kuechly are the best bets.
Will Peyton Manning retire during the postgame interviews?
Yes 5/1
No 1/10
There is plenty of speculation that Manning will call time on his Hall of Fame career, but he’s not the type of guy to do it in the immediate aftermath of the game. Rather, expect any announcement at some point next week.
We’re gonna hold our hands up here, we aren’t Coldplay fans…
Will Beyoncé have a wardrobe malfunction?
Yes 10/1
Who can forget Janet and Justin’s ‘accident’ from the half-time show at Super Bowl 12 years ago? Neither the NFL nor its TV partners have, so we doubt a classy girl like Beyoncé will have any slips when she joins Chris Martin and company.
