With over $70 million legal bets coming in this year for the Super Bowl between the NY Giants and the New England Patriots, many casual fans are taking a look at the different types of bets out there currently being offered by Las Vegas oddsmakers.
Yesterday, Keith outlined 22 of the most intriguing Super Bowl XLVI prop bets. Continuing with that theme today, here are some more interesting and off the wall bets one could wager on the game Sunday, with a few suggestions and predictions on my part:
Prop Bet: Super Bowl MVP
This is one of the basic Vegas prop bets, odds on winning the game MVP. The obvious choices won’t yield much of a return, with Eli Manning at 9-4 and Tom Brady at 7-5.
I would go with Giants’ Victor Cruz at 8-1 or even RB Brandon Jacobs at a longshot of 40-1.
Cruz was perhaps the breakout star of 2011
For the Patriots, the 12-1 shot Wes Welker could be a good call or RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis at 25-1. I wouldn’t recommend Ochocinco at 50-1, however. Sorry Ocho.
Prop Bet: Gatorade Bath Color
One of my favorite prop bets is this one: What color will the Gatorade (or liquid) be that is dumped on the head coach of the winning super bowl team?
The favorites are orange and yellow at 5-2, but I would think red at 13-2 may be a solid value choice. There is no action if nothing is dumped, although why wouldn’t that have odds too?
Prop Bet: Kelly Clarkson’s National Anthem Attire
To get your girlfriend or wife involved in the Super Bowl action, here’s one for them: What will Kelly Clarkson wear to sing the National Anthem?
The choices range from an official Super Bowl XLVI or NFL shirt at 9-4, to a Patriots or Giants jersey/shirt at 15-1. I’d take a flyer on the 7-1 choice: a Colts jersey or shirt.
Prop Bet: Super Bowl MVP Gratitude
This bet is for immediately after the game: Who will the Super Bowl MVP of the game thank first?
Teammates are the favorite at 5-4, but God at 4-1 and coach at 12-1 would be my value bet here.
Prop Bet: First Super Bowl TD
The always popular bet among the betting public is this one: Player to score the first TD in the game. I’ll take either long shot TE Travis Beckum at 35-1 on a first and goal for the Giants or 35-1 choice Julian Edelman returning a punt for a Patriots TD.
Value picks in this category would be Brandon Jacobs at 12-1 or Aaron Hernandez at 7-1. For the sheer crazy bet of the year that you could boast to your friends for years to come, go with the 150-1 shot: No TD scored in the game.
Prob Bet: First Super Bowl INT
An interesting option for you is this wager: Player to get the 1st interception in the game.
You know there will be at least one INT during the game and probably one on both sides of the ball. There are many choices here, but I would go to the window with either Giants cornerback Aaron Ross at 10-1 or Patriots safety James Ihedigbo at 10-1.
Prop Bet: Cross-Sport Bets
Finally, the always talked about and intriguing “cross sport” prop bets. Two caught my eye that would be fun to entertain:
1) What will be higher: Wes Welker receptions or LeBron James assists, with both at -115?
The Heat is playing at home Sunday vs. Toronto, so perhaps a blowout by the Heat will limit LeBron’s assists. I would take Welker, who I forecast at around 9-10 receptions.
2) What will be higher: Eli Manning completions or LeBron James points?
James is the favorite at -1 1/2 vs. Manning. In the 2008 Super Bowl vs. New England, Eli completed 19 passes. In the NFC championship game played 2 weeks ago vs. San Francisco, Manning had 32 completions. James scored 23 and 38 points in last year’s 2 home games vs. the Raptors but has increased his scoring this year and is 2nd in NBA scoring with a 29.7 average points per game. This should be close but I would lean towards Lebron scoring about 35 points to Manning’s 30-32 completions.
Non-Prop Bet: The Actual Point Spread and Over-Under
Point Spread
For the straight up, standard spreads for the game, New England is favored by 3 points over New York, and I would have to take the Giants.
Over-Under
The over-under is at 54 points, and with both defenses improving late in the season and the playoffs I would go with the under.
Hopefully these prop bets will keep you busy and fired up for the Super Bowl and all the betting action that goes along with it. If you cannot get enough of these bets, the halftime show with Madonna could produce another wager or two. But I’ll let you figure out what type of bet that would be.
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About Jim McGrew
