The Super Bowl is undoubtedly one of the biggest sporting events of the year. Over 100 million people will be tuning in to watch this extravaganza, and more money will be wagered on the game than any other sporting event.
A reported $119 million was wagered on Super Bowl 51, and I wouldn’t be surprised if that number increases this year. The most entertaining part of Super Bowl gambling are the insane prop bets. Prop bets range from what color Gatorade gets poured on the winning coach to the length of The National Anthem. Below is a list of my predictions for this year’s Super Bowl Prop Bets. All bets listed below can be found at Oddsshark.
Bet: Patriots -4 or Eagles +4
Pick: Eagles +4
For a more detailed breakdown of this matchup take a look at my Super Bowl 52: Preview and Prediction article.
When I broke down the matchup in last week’s column I predicted The Eagles to win by 4 points with a final score of 27-23. At the time of that article the spread was Eagles +5.5. I still believe the Eagles can cover this spread and I wouldn’t be surprised if the spread continues to drop. I suspect it will settle somewhere around Patriots -3.5.
Bet: Over/Under 48
Pick: Over
Both offenses are in the top 5 in scoring and due to the conservative play calling costing the Falcons last year’s Super Bowl, I don’t suspect any team will take the foot off the gas pedal. Not even if one team is able to pull away with a big lead. The Eagles have a strong defense but Brady’s second half heroics will ensure points continue to pile up till the last second.
Bet: Super Bowl MVP
Options: Tom Brady -125, Nick Foles +325, Rob Gronkowski +850, Dion Lewis +1800, Danny Amendola +1800, Jay Ajayi +1800, Zach Ertz +1800, Alshon Jeffery +2000, Brandin Cooks +2200
Pick: Tom Brady -125
Brady has won four Super Bowl MVPs. Considering the Patriots have won five Super Bowls that means Brady has won the MVP in 80% of their SB wins. Essentially the New England QB is a virtual lock to win MVP honors if the Patriots defeat The Eagles. Currently Tom Brady is tied with Joe “Cool” Montana in Super Bowl MVPs, he will look to become the lone record holder at five MVPs after Sunday’s game. Although I like the Eagles to win this game, who the MVP would be is hard to predict. There are no stats to support that Nick Foles would be the likely winner. Philadelphia has a crowded backfield and loves to spread the ball around. For these reasons it easily makes the decision Brady for MVP.
Bet: What color Gatorade will be poured on the winning coach?
Options: Lime/Green/Yellow +225, Orange +250, Red +275, Clear/ Water +375, Blue +1000, Purple +1000
Pick: Clear/ Water +375
This bet is a staple of Super Bowl Prop Bets and the true definition of a gamble. I am going with clear/water solely based off of the fact that 4 of the last 8 have been clear/water. Keep in mind the last two Super Bowl wins by New England had no Gatorade shower for Bill. There is no option for “No Gatorade Pour/ None” so if The Patriots win, your chances of getting this one right are significantly decreased.
Bet: Who will be shown first on TV during the National Anthem?
Options: Tom Brady -200, Nick Foles +150
Pick: Tom Brady
The pick is easy its Brady all day. Don’t overthink it.
Bet: How many times will Carson Wentz be mentioned during the broadcast?
Options: Over 3.5 -150 / Under 3.5 +110
Pick: Over -150
There are so many narratives for the broadcasters to mention Carson Wentz. Wentz has a lot of abilities that Nick Foles simply does not have. If Foles struggles there is a strong chance discussion will focus around how the Eagles could use Carson Wentz. This has to be one of the safer prop bets available.
Bet: What color will Bill Belichick’s shirt be at kickoff?
Options: Blue -125, Gray +150, Red +750, White +750
Pick: Blue -125
The Patriots did elect to wear their white jerseys this year which have given them a 3-0 record in The Super Bowl so It’s safe to say New England is a little superstitious. Belichick on the other hand is not. Even though he wore a gray hoodie last year when they won, don’t let that throw you off. Bill Belichick is known for his blue hoodies. This year will be no different and the odds are great.
Bet: How many times will Tom Brady’s age be mentioned?
Options: Over 5 -150/ Under 5 +110
Pick: Under 5 +110
This was the most difficult to pick and could very well could be a push. I’ll have to take the better odds and go with the Under. There is a narrative where if The Patriots lose in a close game Brady’s age may not be mentioned frequently. If Brady either has a stunning performance or a flop, the announcers will be throwing his age around every chance they get. Considering I predict the Patriots to lose by a small amount this narrative fits right in with my predictions.
Bet: What color will Pink’s hair be when she sings the National Anthem?
Options: Pink/Red +150, White/Blonde +175, Brown/Black
Pick: White/Blonde +175
I can’t say I am all that familiar with Pink and her music but my research does show that at the Grammys she rocked blonde hair. If she was a half time performer I would assume a dramatic costume would be in order causing her to dye her hair but since it’s just the National Anthem I think Blonde is the best bet.
Bet: Will Pink wear an Eagles hat or shirt during the Anthem?
Options: Yes +200/ No -500
Pick: Yes +200
The pick here is a combination of things. For starters Pink is an Eagles fan, secondly, the odds for “No” are a bit lopsided. In order to make a decent profit you will have to make a large wager with those odds. We see stars repping their favorite teams attire all the time and you never know when The Eagles will return to the Super Bowl.
Bet: Will Justin Timberlake be wearing a hat when he begins his halftime performance?
Options: Yes +350/ No -600
Pick: No -600
The odds are absolutely terrible but you still have to pick no. JT hasn’t been known to wear hats in his performances in quite a long time.
Bet: Will Justin Timberlake cover a Prince song during his performance?
Options: Yes -140/ No (Even)
Pick: No (Even)
Justin Timberlake has spoken out numerous times since Prince’s death. Clearly Prince was a big inspiration for JT, it would only make sense for him to cover a Prince song in his performance. I am still going with “No” on this one. It is a combination of the odds as well as the new album Timberlake will be looking to promote. Between his classic hits and his new music there may not be enough time in the performance.
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