Maybe the Super Bowl 50 hangover is still lingering, but if you’re having a hard time getting excited for Sunday’s big game, you’re not alone.
For whatever reason, the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons just doesn’t do it for me. Yes, it’s a great game on paper, two great offenses with two elite quarterbacks, but it just doesn’t feel super.
Maybe it’s the disdain for the Patriots many in this great state possess, or maybe it’s the relative anonymity of the Falcons, but for whatever the reason this game lacks buzz right now.
So how do you spice up something you’re not exactly pumped about?
VEGAS, BABY.
You can bet on any football game throughout the year, but you can’t bet on all of the other fun stuff, until the Super Bowl.
The list of prop bets is absolutely endless and Will Brinson over at CBS Sports did a great job of collecting some of the most fun ones.
With that in mind, let’s delve into five of the best Super Bowl LI props and which way you should be leaning, if you’re into that kind of thing.
Prop bet No. 1: How many times will “Trump” be said on TV during the broadcast?
The Line: Over/Under 1.5
The play: No matter what side of the aisle you check in on, these last two weeks have been contentious. It’s hard to imagine Joe Buck and Troy Aikman want to do anything on Super Bowl Sunday to alienate roughly half of their viewers. Take the under and do it confidently – I’d even take it if it were set at .5 overall.
Prop bet No. 2: What color will Lady Gaga’s hair be when she comes on stage for the halftime show?
The Line: Blonde (-400), Any other color (+250)
The play: A quick review on odds to start. The -400 means you’d have to bet $400 on blonde to win $100. The +250 means if you bet $100 on any other color, you’d win $250 if she came out with blue hair. Got it? Good. Gaga is a bit of a mysterious character, so with a heavy reward for betting on the underdog, any other color seems like the right call.
Prop bet No. 3: Who will the Super Bowl MVP mention first?
The Line: God (+200), Team or Teammates (+200), Coach (+900), Family (+900), Owner (+900), Donald Trump (+2000), Does not mention any listed (+250)
The play: The two favorites seem like the overwhelmingly enticing options, but if Tom Brady wins the MVP he could go in any number of different directions – especially because Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft stuck with him through DeflateGate. Take whatever you’re willing to lay on this and spread it evenly between coach and owner, with great value on each.
Prop bet No. 4: What color will the liquid be that is poured on the winning coach?
The Line: Clear (+300), Green (+300), Orange (+300), Yellow (+300), Red (+600), Blue (+750), Purple (+1200)
The play: As Brinson notes in his piece, the Patriots used blue Gatorade in the Super Bowl two years ago after they won; so it’s a bit of a mystery why it’s got the sixth best odds on the board. Blue seems like the pick if you think New England will prevail, and red if you like Atlanta in the game. How the hell is clear a favorite? Who dumps water on a coach?!
Prop bet No. 5: If the Patriots win, will Brady, Belichick or Kraft be seen shaking Roger Goodell’s hand on TV?
The Line: Yes (-180), No (+140)
The play: This might be the juiciest part of the entire weekend – watching Goodell squirm up onto the stage with three guys who appear to strongly dislike him. While privately, they very well might like to punch The Commish in the face, they’ll keep it all CLASS on stage, and shake the man’s hand. That said, if they don’t, it’ll be deliciously awkward for all of America to consume.