Super Bowl Sunday isn’t just about football.
It’s the ultimate day for gamblers across North America.
With countless amounts of bets available in Las Vegas, here is a look at some of the more interesting “prop bets” that you can make at your Super Bowl party.
Geoff Lowe and Jeff Simmons of sportsnet.ca help advise where you should lean in these 15 bets.
Bet: Who will Barack Obama pick to win the game?
Line: Ravens (-200), 49ers (+150)
Simmons: Obama is a longtime Bears fan so he’ll stick with the NFC and pick the 49ers. Well, at least that’s how I’m rationalizing the better bet.
Lowe: No way! With the Bears crashing and burning in the NFC, you’ve got to think Obama is bitter at any conference rival in the playoffs. Ravens.
Bet: What will happen with the Dow Jones after the Super Bowl?
Line: Market Up (+140), Market Down (Even)
Simmons: AVOID THIS BET AT ALL COSTS!
Lowe: That’s easy. With the amount of money spent on beads in New Orleans and the piles of Doritos bought after those awesome commercials, there’s no way the economy takes a dip. Market up!
Bet: How long will Alicia Keys take to sing the National Anthem?
Line: Over/under 2 minutes, 15 seconds
Simmons: 2:15 seems like a high number. According to CBS Sports, Kelly Clarkson was at 1:34 last year. Lean to the under.
Lowe: If I had a voice like Ms. Keys, I’d embellish. Over.
Bet: Will Alicia Keys forget or omit at least one word of the National Anthem?
Line: Yes +150, No -200
Simmons: Although No doesn’t pay very well, have to imagine Keys has done this before and knows all the words.
Lowe: Never, my girl Alicia is way too professional for that.
Bet: What predominant color will Beyonce’s top be at the beginning of the Super Bowl halftime show?
Line: Black (9/4), Gold/Yellow (11/4), Silver/Grey (7/2), White (5/1), Red (13/2), Pink (15/2) Orange (12/1), Blue (15/1), Green (15/1)
Simmons: Will Brinson of CBS made a good point – Gold/Yellow are the New Orleans colours. So bet your life savings on this. Actually, don’t.
Lowe: My fashion senses say she ends in Gold/Yellow but kicks it off in black.
Bet: How many times will Jack Harbaugh be shown on TV during the game?
Line: Over/under 1.5
Simmons: Love the over here. America can’t get enough of the Harbaugh angle.
Lowe: The Harbaugh brothers have been the story of this matchup since the AFC title game came to an end. Definitely over.
Bet: How long will the postgame handshake/hug last between Jim and John Harbaugh?
Line: Over/under 7.5 seconds
Simmons: If San Francisco loses, there’s a chance Jim punches out his brother. But in all likelihood, I imagine a long embraced based on what we saw last Thanksigiving. Go over.
Lowe: Whoever loses this game won’t look to stick around for the cameras any longer than 5 seconds, unless John doesn’t shake Jim’s hand (just ask Jim Schwartz).
Bet: How many times will Harbaugh be said during the game?
Line: Over/under 20.5
Simmons: Like I said before, CBS cannot get enough of the two Harbaugh brothers. I lean towards the over.
Lowe: I’m going to go out on a limb and say first names will become prominent during the game. Under.
Bet: What color will the Gatorade (or liquid) be that is dumped on the winning coach?
Line: Clear/Water (7/4), Orange (5/2), Yellow (5/2), Green (13/2), Red (13/2) Blue (13/2)
Simmons: I always lean to Orange here. It’s easily the worst of the four main flavours.
Lowe: Easily the worst?! Blasphemy. I’m going yellow.
Bet: Who will the Super Bowl MVP thank first?
Line: Teammates (5/4), God (5/2), Coach (12/1), Family (12/1), Owner (15/1), Doesn’t Thank Anyone (9/4)
Simmons: Teammates seems too obvious so I’m just assuming Ray Lewis wins so God is the prime choice here.
Lowe: I think God is a prime choice here no matter who wins.
Bet: Who will have more tackles?
Line: Ray Lewis XLVII -5.5 vs. Ray Lewis XXXV (five tackles)
Simmons: Lewis only had five tackles last time? I like the current Lewis here. It’s his last game and he’ll be going up against a run-based team.
Lowe: Lewis has 44 total tackles in three playoff games. Got to go with the over.
Bet: Who will have more passing yards?
Line: Steve Young in Super Bowl XXIX (325 yards) vs. Colin Kaepernick in Super Bowl XLVII +89.5 yards
Simmons: Like this bet for Kaepernick. Think the 49ers will need to throw the ball deep if they want to beat a hard-nosed Ravens secondary.
Lowe: I have a feeling Kaepernick will try to use his legs more than his arm. Under.
Bet: Who will have more rushing yards?
Line: Jamal Lewis, 102 yards in Super Bowl XXXV versus Ray Rice in Super Bowl XLVII +30.5 rushing yards
Simmons: Lean towards under here. Rice’s rushing numbers have declined down the stretch and the 49ers have an elite front seven.
Lowe: The Ravens like using Rice in the pass game, whereas Lewis is almost strictly a runner. Going to take the under, especially against a stout defence like San Francisco’s.
Bet: Who will be mentioned more by full name during the game?
Line: Jim Harbaugh (-120), John Harbaugh (-120)
Simmons: Going with John here. I imagine the Ray Lewis story will contribute and CBS is used to doing Ravens games.
Lowe: 49ers are going to win the game, so I’ve got to go with Jim.
Bet: How many times will the game be referred to as the Harbaugh Bowl or Har Bowl or Super Baugh during the game?
Line: Over/under 2.5
Simmons: This seems like a sure thing. Have I said that CBS LOOOOVESSS the HarBowl?
Lowe: It will be more than 2.5 by the time Beyonce takes the stage.
