For 21 weeks, NFL bettors take things seriously. They build spreadsheets. They dissect matchups. They muse about “small sample sizes” and “backdoor covers.”
Then the Super Bowl arrives, and suddenly they’re timing the national anthem with a stopwatch and exploring the nuances of Bad Bunny’s discography.
Welcome to the pinnacle of novelty betting season — the week each year when football wagering breaks free from yards and touchdowns and starts asking the truly important questions, such as: “Heads or tails?”
At BetMGM, novelty props are a reminder that the Super Bowl isn’t just a football game — it’s a four-hour cultural event with a robust betting menu to match.
Some people treat these props like scratch tickets. A few bucks here, a hunch there, and absolutely no follow-up questions if things go sideways. The opening coin toss is the purest example: a 50-50 proposition that somehow inspires complete confidence in people who “just have a feeling.” Speaking of which: Although the outcome is entirely random, “heads” is currently the side of choice at BetMGM, supported by 54 per cent of bettors.
Looking for a higher level of challenge? Try to forecast which colour of Gatorade will end up soaking the winning coach of Super Bowl LX. Some folks just make a wild guess and lock in a wager. Others take things … further.
These are the bettors who pull up old game footage and examine the sideline bench action like it’s the Zapruder film. What colour Gatorade shows up most often? Does a team stick with the same flavour, game after game? Or does someone on the equipment team just wing it on any given Sunday?
At BetMGM, the Gatorade bath board once again offers plenty to debate. Familiar favourites sit near the top while longer shots — hello, purple — are waiting for anyone bold enough to imagine a celebration that breaks the mould.
Right now, orange — which had a stunning run of Super Bowl dominance from 2010 to 2016 — is once again the favourite at +220 (which means a successful $10 bet would deliver a $22 profit). Yellow and Blue are both listed at +260. Meanwhile, if you’ve ever thought, “What if they go water this year?” congratulations — there’s a price for that. An accurate $10 bet on water would pay $110 in winnings.
Then there’s the U.S. national anthem, which every year becomes a high-stakes exercise in musical pacing.
Some performers deliver a clean, efficient version and get out of the way. Others treat it like an audition for American Idol. A key element of bet preparation becomes scouring YouTube for previous versions of the anthem by the scheduled singer.
It’s worth reflecting on the sheer versatility of the Star-Spangled Banner. Neil Diamond belted it out in 62 seconds before Super Bowl XXI. A quarter century later, Alicia Keys whoa-oh-ohed her way to a 156-second version — the longest ever. Somewhat cryptically, this year’s performer — singer-songwriter Charlie Puth — has pledged to deliver a “really special arrangement” of the song. Does that mean a languid tempo? Maybe the inclusion of a freestyle rap? Oddsmakers at BetMGM have placed the over-under at 119.5 seconds — almost the precise duration of last year’s performance by Jon Batiste.
Want to try to nail a novelty prop that’s even tougher? It’s time to try to get into the head of the Super Bowl MVP. The game ends. The trophy is handed to you. You approach the microphone. Who do you mention first?
Is it your loved ones? Your tattoo artist? Not likely, according to BetMGM. Instead, the heavy favourite to be cited first by the Super Bowl MVP is none other than … God at -275. The second choice: teammates (+325), followed by family, fans and, eventually, the MVP’s coach at +2800.
A few other popular Super Bowl props at BetMGM:
• Number of songs performed by Bad Bunny during the halftime show (under 11.5 songs is the current favourite at -120).
• First song of Bad Bunny’s halftime performance (Titi Me Pregunto is the runaway favourite at -115).
• And finally, BetMGM is there for you if you’re eager to wager on a potential guest appearance. Cardi B is the current top choice at -225. Longer shots include Drake at +1200 and Taylor Swift at +2500.
2:26