We’ve already established how big prop bets have become during the Super Bowl so there’s no reason to beat up on a used drum. Instead, we’re going to prove as much by running a two-part series on some of the most noticeable prop bets leading up to the game.
In Part 1, we’re going to discuss the props for the actual game, which means that all the bets will be decided by what actually happens inside those 60 minutes between the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks.
Margin of victory is arguably one of the most bet-on props during the Super Bowl, thanks in large part to the sizable payouts attached to each of the options. It’s harder to hit these ones, obviously, but the promise of riches should you win has enticed bettors for years. With a game decidedly as close as this one, the obvious choice for margin of victory is the “1 to 6 points”, of which Seattle has 15/4 odds to win by that margin whereas the Broncos are at 2/1 odds. You can, of course, try longer odds, like say Denver or Seattle winning by 7 to 12 points (5/1), or by 13 to 18 points (8/1). That or you can hope for a complete blowout with Seattle winning by 19 to 24 points at 16/1 whereas Denver is at 12/1.
Another prop that has grown in popularity in recent years, largely attributed to New York realtor Jona Rechnitz’s incredible 50/1 payout when he bet that the first score of Super Bowl XLVI would be a safety. This year, the favorites for that prop are field goals with boat teams receiving 7/2 odds of that happening. Thank the uncertainty surrounding the weather for that one. If it’s a touchdown, the Hawks have 5/1 odds on either a pass TD or a rush TD while the Broncos are at 3/1 to score passing TD first compared to 7/1 for a rushing TD.
Interested in what a safety will bring you? 40/1 on either side of the ball.
The Super Bowl MVP is also another popular prop bet and this year, the usual suspects are understandably getting shorter odds. Peyton Manning, for one, is only at 6/5 while his Seattle counterpart Russell Wilson is at 15/4. If it’s a non-QB, Hawks tailback Marshawn Lynch sits at a comfortable 9/2 with Broncos receiver Demaryius Thomas the next one at 18/1.
You could shoot for the moon and pick a totally random player like, say, the field goal kickers from both teams. Seattle’s Steven Hauschka and Denver’s Matt Prater both have 75/1 odds attached to their names and if there’s are long-shots that can be considered ‘live’, it’s these two.
Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman has been one of the biggest attractions in the run-up to the Super Bowl so naturally, a handful of props have been made in his name.
Will he receive a taunting penalty? Odds for a ‘yes’ are at 4/1 with a ‘no’ at 1/7.
Will he receive an unnecessary roughness penalty? Yes is at 11/2 with no at 1/9.
Will be receive a pass interference penalty? Yes is at 3/2 while no is at 1/2.
Will he record an interception? Yes is at 2/1; no is at 5/13.
And finally, will he be interviewed after the game on the live FOX broadcast? Even odds on both yes and no, although if you’ve been following the run-up to the game, you know what side you’re taking. (Here’s a hint: YES!)
Conversely, if you’re a fan of Broncos QB Peyton Manning, you also have a lot of props at your disposal, including for the number of touchdowns he throws during the game. 2 is the safest bet at 2/1; followed by 3 at 5/2; 1 at 7/2; 4 at 9/2; and 10/1 odds that he either throws 0 touchdowns or 5 or more.
You can also bet on whether Manning throws a pick-6 with yes at 4/1 and no at 1/7 or if he’s going to retire before the first game of the next season should Denver win the Super Bowl. Odds are stacked against a no at 1/15 while a yes will net you a handsome profit at 7/1.
All these prop bets we’ve laid out are just a small sample size of what’s being offered by sportsbooks. In Part 2, we’ll dive into the non-football related props, and those are typically the ones that get the most buzz because of the inanity and sometimes downright bizarre nature of the props.
