The weird-yet-popular world of Super Bowl novelty betting props

For most of the NFL season, serious prop bettors hunch over spreadsheets or statistical charts that break down on-field performances.

But this week, it’s as much about random coin flips, Gatorade baths and maybe getting a stopwatch on past performances of the Star-Spangled Banner.

Welcome to the weird — but wildly popular — world of Super Bowl LIX novelty betting props.

There are two ways to approach these offbeat wagering opportunities.

For many, they’re a lark — a fun chance to put a few bucks down on either a random or unknowable outcome. For example, the result of the opening coin toss is currently the most popular prop at the BetMGM sportsbook, with 53 per cent of bettors having a hunch about heads. (Statistical analysis: Heads has come through in three of the past four Super Bowls. Does that mean tails is due?)

if (!res.ok) { throw new Error('Failed to fetch odds data'); }

const data = await res.json(); const oddsData = data?.data?.game?.details?.current_line; const visitingTeam = data?.data?.game?.visiting_team; const visitingTeamLogo = data?.data?.game?.visiting_team?.image_url_90; const homeTeam = data?.data?.game?.home_team; const homeTeamLogo = data?.data?.game?.home_team?.image_url_90; const gameTimestamp = data?.data?.game?.details?.timestamp;

return { oddsData, visitingTeam, visitingTeamLogo, homeTeam, homeTeamLogo, gameTimestamp }; }

async function renderBetMGM(componentId, league, gameId) { let oddsData, visitingTeam, visitingTeamLogo, homeTeam, homeTeamLogo, gameTimestamp, error;

const container = document.getElementById(componentId + '-odds'); if (!container) return;

try { ({ oddsData, visitingTeam, visitingTeamLogo, homeTeam, homeTeamLogo, gameTimestamp } = await fetchOddsData(league, gameId)); } catch (err) { error = err.message; }

if (error) { container.innerHTML = `

Error: ${error}

`; return; }

if (!oddsData) { container.innerHTML = `

Odds data not available

`; return; }

let gameDate = new Date(gameTimestamp * 1000); const gameDateFormatted = gameDate.toLocaleDateString('en-US', { year: 'numeric', month: 'long', day: 'numeric' });

container.innerHTML = `

BetMGM Odds

${gameDateFormatted}

VS

Moneyline

${visitingTeam.short_name}

${oddsData.away_money > 0 ? `+${oddsData.away_money}` : oddsData.away_money}

${homeTeam.short_name}

${oddsData.home_money > 0 ? `+${oddsData.home_money}` : oddsData.home_money}

Spread

${oddsData.fav_id === visitingTeam.id ? oddsData.fav_points : oddsData.fav_points > 0 ? `-${oddsData.fav_points}` : `+${Math.abs(oddsData.fav_points)}`}

${oddsData.fav_id === visitingTeam.id ? oddsData.fav_money > 0 ? `+${oddsData.fav_money}` : oddsData.fav_money : oddsData.underdog_money > 0 ? `+${oddsData.underdog_money}` : oddsData.underdog_money}

${oddsData.fav_id === homeTeam.id ? oddsData.fav_points : oddsData.fav_points > 0 ? `-${oddsData.fav_points}` : `+${Math.abs(oddsData.fav_points)}`}

${oddsData.fav_id === homeTeam.id ? oddsData.fav_money > 0 ? `+${oddsData.fav_money}` : oddsData.fav_money : oddsData.underdog_money > 0 ? `+${oddsData.underdog_money}` : oddsData.underdog_money}

Over/Under

O ${oddsData.total}

${oddsData.over_money > 0 ? `+${oddsData.over_money}` : oddsData.over_money}

U ${oddsData.total}

${oddsData.under_money > 0 ? `+${oddsData.under_money}` : oddsData.under_money}

Powered by

${gameDateFormatted}

VS

Powered by

`; }

// Example usage renderBetMGM('block_e420245d2cb45975f2bdb454eca4062c', 'NFL', 'ca9d8f84-8e7b-4ee7-a310-54c2e3ca4edc');

For other folks, Super Bowl novelty prop bets are an invitation to go deep down some very unusual internet rabbit holes.

Pull up the game film. Zoom in close. What colour Gatorade was the Eagles’ equipment manager stocking back in Week 13? What about the Chiefs? They’ve poured purple Gatorade in victory after the past two Super Bowls, but it was orange when they won back in 2020.

Think Kansas City might go retro? Orange is a +400 underdog to be the colour of this year’s Gatorade bath. Purple is currently the top choice at BetMGM at +225.

And then there’s the national anthem. How long will it go?

The patron saint of over bettors is Alicia Keys, who in 2013 turned in a performance of the Star-Spangled Banner that was 156 seconds in length. (Neil Diamond, on the other hand, must have had a plane to catch in 1987: 62 seconds!)

Feeling like New Orleans native Jon Batiste might milk it a bit? Maybe turn the “home of the brave” into the “hoooooome of the braaaa-yaa-yaaaaaaaave?” You can get -105 odds at the BetMGM sportsbook that the anthem will go longer than 120.5 seconds.

Here’s the tricky part if you’re digging into Batiste’s past performances: the super-talented multi-instrumentalist never seems to play the anthem the same way twice. Sometimes he performs it on guitar. Sometimes he tinkles the ivories for an hour or two before getting to the “O say can you see.” For all we know, he could show up Sunday and play it on a three-nozzled bloozer from a Dr. Seuss book. Good luck!

Want to up the degree of difficulty even further? Try getting into the head of this year’s Super Bowl MVP. The game is over. The MVP trophy is in your hands. You step to the microphone. Who do you mention first?

Is it your family? Your organization? Your fans? Not likely, according to the oddsmakers at BetMGM. Instead, the heavy favourite to be cited first by the Super Bowl MVP is none other than … God (-210). The second choice: teammates (+325). The longest odds (+2000) are on the MVP’s coach being referenced first.

Sorry, Andy or Nick.

A few other popular Super Bowl props at BetMGM:

• Number of songs performed by Kendrick Lamar during the halftime show (under 10.5 songs is the current favourite at -125)
• First song of Kendrick’s halftime performance (Humble is the top choice at +150)
• And of course… Will Travis Kelce propose to Taylor Swift? Common sense says no. But hey, it’s a very nice price of +800 if you think it’s going to happen!

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