DUBIOUS PROPOSITIONS
5 Prop Bets to Keep Things Interesting on Super Bowl Sunday
An estimated 140 million are expected to watch the Super Bowl this year, and that means thousands of people who didn’t watch a game all season will come out of the woodwork just to be part of the big day. Those individuals foreign to the game of football will be inundated with gambling slang like “over/under” and “point spread.” To most people, that will spark memories of seventh-grade algebra and make them decide against joining in on the betting fun. But for those who want to get in on the action (legally, we hope) there are dozens of proposition bets that Super Bowl viewers can take part in to make watching the game slightly more bearable. (For example: the most common prop bet every year is who will win the coin toss.) Here are five prop bets that will add some unusual competition to your Super Bowl party.
How long will it take Kelly Clarkson to sing the National Anthem?
Over/Under: 1 minute 34 seconds.
Consider this: The past two years it took Christina Aguilera (2011) and Carrie Underwood (2010) nearly two minutes to sing the National Anthem. Also, there are 81 words in the “Star Spangled Banner,” so one word per second would take 1:21. Our bet: over.
Which will be higher? Eli Manning completions or LeBron James points?
James is averaging nearly 30 points per game and he will be playing a Toronto Raptors team on Sunday that is ranked 19th in defense. Two weeks ago, the Ravens’ Joe Flacco completed 22 passes. Eli will be better than Flacco, but James is a machine. Our bet: LeBron James.
What color will Madonna’s hair be when she begins the Super Bowl Halftime show?
Blond or any other color? A quick Google search of Madonna resulted in hundreds of blond pictures of the pop superstar. We’re trusting Google. Our bet: blond.
How many times will Peyton Manning be shown on TV during the game?
Over/Under: 3 1/2
Considering the game will be played in his home stadium (for now) and his little brother is starring in the big game, we’re thinking Peyton will get a lot of face time. Our bet: over.
Who will Barack Obama pick to win the game?
In 2008, Obama picked the Pats to win the Super Bowl. Ha! How did that turn out? This year he’s saying “I can’t call it.” C’mon Prez, pick the Pats again so the G-men can prove you wrong…again. Our bet: Pats.