Depending on how to play it Sunday, you might be more interested in how often Reggie Bush’s girlfriend is shown on the screen than in how well Reggie performs himself.
That’s because you might have more money riding on how many times Kim Kardashian is shown during the telecast, than on which team will cover the Super Bowl point spread.
It’s just one of thousands of sometimes sensible, sometimes zany prop bets that sportsbooks in Vegas and around the world produce each year.
A game with so much hype and with so much preamble needs more for football fans to do than simply pick the Colts at -5.5 or the UNDER 56.5, assuming you don't want to make up your own point spread and bet that.
So the over-under on Kardashian face times during Super Bowl XLIV is 2.5. If you know her personally or have some fashion trends to indicate what color shirt she might wear, you can bet on that too (black is the favorite, by the way, and white is the second betting choice).
Manning Family Face Time Props
Just like the Kentucky Derby, where being seen is important socially and for self-promotion, athletes and entertainers jostle for face time at the Super Bowl. Family members of players often get it whether they want it or not.
Peyton Manning will be all over your TV screen, directing drives for the favored Colts, and there are tons of Pey-Day props (he is the favorite to win the Super Bowl MVP award at 4/7, his over-under passing yards is 300.5 and his completions total is over or under 25.5, just to name a few).
There is also a fun historical matchup prop that lets you wager on whether Manning will throw for more yards than his 247 in Super Bowl XLI. He is a big -300 favorite on that prop, but if you don’t think he can do it, it’s a nice +240 payout.
But what about the other members of the Manning clan? Brother Eli will likely be in town cheering on Peyton and you can bet on how many times the cameras will show him (over-under is 3).
Dad Archie was one of the greatest Saints of all time, but he’ll be cheering for Indianapolis.
Oddsmakers at Bodog figure the broadcast will show him more than Eli, as they set the Archie Manning total at 4. (We tried to interview them for the rationale behind that oddsmaking decision but they are keeping it secret).
Gator Territory – Gatorade Odds
Gatorade originated here in Florida, where the NCAA Gators are a national powerhouse. So it’s fitting that sportsbooks offer betting on what color of the thirst-quencher will get poured over the winning coach’s head.
Yellow is the favorite, with clear/water the second choice. It seems orange, red, blue or lime green are just not plausible options as all are longshot bets.
You can also bet on whether players from the defense or offense will be the dump-over-the-head culprits with burly defensive players favored at -165.
Thanking God
Even after the final whistle blows, the Super Bowl prop betting fun doesn’t let up. Which ad will be the highest-rated on the USA Today Ad Meter? Will the Neilsen rating be over or under 42.9?
And how about the Super Bowl MVP, whoever that will be – to whom will he give thanks first during his on-field post-game TV interview?
God (as most churchgoers will tell you) is tops in this category at even odds, followed by ‘my teammates’ at 23/20. Family and coaches are also betting options, along with the ungrateful ‘won’t thank anyone’ option.
Too bad Chad Ochocinco or Terrell Owens weren’t playing, as the ‘I thank myself for being so great’ option would get added to the odds list.
Fantasy Football Props
While many of the bets available are entertaining, but nothing you can handicap, there are hundreds of player-based props where savvy fantasy football gurus can actually make a lot of money.
Fantasy football owners often know the tendencies of players inside and out and if you ask them to pick which tight end will get more receiving yards in a particular game, they’ll have an instant opinion based on defensive formations, blitzing schemes, injury reports, etc.
Who will complete more passes in the game – Drew Brees or Peyton Manning?
Who will win the rushing yards battle between Joseph Addai and Pierre Thomas? (Addai is a -150 favorite).
Who will have more receiving yards between Reggie Wayne and Marques Colston? (Wayne is -145 as the chalk).
And there are literally thousands of props to choose from - somewhere, there is money to be made.
Get the latest Super Bowl odds at Foxsports.com as well as daily lines on all sports, courtesy of OddsShark.com.
thanks for the list, now i have away for my nonsporting folk to enjoy the game when they have no idea what the hell is really going on between the commercial breaks, and a way for the rest of us to fill in the dull moments which always happen.
BraggerMexico11:37 PM