When I left Atlantic City — following a profitable, and once unimaginable, Sunday at New Jersey sportsbooks in Week 1 — I wrote that I’d return the first week of February to collect the winnings from my Super Bowl futures bets.
I had two tickets: the Saints (15/1) and the Chiefs (30/1).
You know what happened.
The NFC’s top-seed lost in overtime of the NFC Championship game because of one of the worst officiating mistakes in sports history. The AFC’s top-seed lost in overtime of its championship game because of one of the most inexcusable mistakes — a neutral-zone infraction — in sports history.
Though I can’t bank on Chiefs linebacker dee Ford or the Rams’ favorite zebras to make amends, a wide array of attractive and ridiculous Super Bowl prop bets provide countless opportunities to recoup what was stolen.
Here’s my annual look at the some of the best non-traditional betting options available Sunday:
National anthem length
Over 107 seconds (-115): Last year, Pink put us in the black early by finishing in less than 120 seconds, the average of the previous dozen Super Bowl renditions. Gladys Knight will cash in on the over-adjustment.
Coin toss
Heads (-105): don’t believe the hype. Tails often fails.
Will the Bill Belichick and Sean McVay age gap be mentioned during the game broadcast?
Yes (-200): It’s a lock. The 33-year-old wunderkind battling the 66-year-old legend is a story line impossible to overlook.
Longest touchdown yardage in the game
Under 49.5 yards (-125): The Patriots have no deep threat since losing Josh Gordon and haven’t rushed for a touchdown this long all season. New England also has not scored a touchdown this long in the Super Bowl. Dating back to Belichick’s days as Giants defensive coordinator, his defenses have allowed only one 50-plus-yard score in 10 Super Bowls.
Tom Brady’s first pass
Incomplete (+195): The greatest quarterback ever has opened with an incompletion in two straight Super Bowls and four of his past five appearances.
Will the Patriots score a touchdown in first quarter?
No (-110): The strangest stat of this dynasty: The Patriots have scored a total of three first-quarter points in the eight Super Bowl appearances of the Brady-Belichick era.
First touchdown scorer
Rex Burkhead (18/1): The Patriots running back scored the final two touchdowns in the win over Kansas City — and has three this postseason — and offers superior value to starter Sony Michel (13/2).
Tyler Higbee (22/1): Last year, I hit with Alshon Jeffrey (12/1). This year, the Rams tight end could hit pay dirt, going against a secondary allowing an NFL-worst 11 touchdowns to tight ends.
Will there be a score in the final two minutes of the first half?
No (+310): It’s happened in each of the Patriots’ past three appearances and neither of the past two games without New England. But the odds are too good to pass up.
Winner of 15th Puppy Bowl
Team Ruff (-115): You can’t expect Team Fluff to three-peat.
Will Rob Gronkowski score a touchdown?
No (-180): The beast who once posted five double-digit touchdown seasons lost a ton of steps en route to scoring just three times this year.
Julian Edelman receiving
Over 82.5 yards (-110): Brady’s go-to receiver has at least 87 yards in five of his past six playoff games.
Todd Gurley rushing
Under 13½ attempts (-110), and under 64½ yards (-110): Even if Gurley’s knee is fully recovered — it likely isn’t — C.J. Anderson has created a timeshare. Gurley, who had four carries for 10 yards against the Saints, has gone over 50 yards once in the past four games and topped 13 carries once in the past four games.
Highest-scoring quarter
Under 21½ (-120): The teams have participated in a combined 13 quarters this season which topped this number; 131 quarters didn’t.
The largest lead of the game by either team will be:
Under 13½ (+180): The Patriots’ past eight Super Bowls have been decided by an average of 4.25 points. In just two games did any team ever lead by more than 13 points.
Will there be a lead change in the second half?
Yes (+130): It’s happened with the Patriots five times.
MVP odds
Jared Goff (+220): It’s the same logic that worked with Nick Foles last year. It is the most likely position to take the award and provides far better value than the Rams money line.
Julian Edelman (18/1): Edelman, who has double-digit targets in 10 straight playoff games, could see a record number of looks against Rams corner Nickell Robey-Coleman, who recently derided an aging Brady as a star in decline.
BEST OF THE REST
A look at some other interesting offerings from around the Super Bowl prop world (RESULT=ODDS):
Will any members of the “Pips” join Gladys Knight for the national anthem?
Yes=+300
No=-500
Will any player kneel during national anthem?
Yes=+400
No=-700
Who will be shown first during national anthem?
Bill Belichick=-140
Sean McVay=Even
Will “Greatest of All Time” be mentioned in broadcast?
Yes=Even
No=-140
How many times will Gisele Bundchen be shown on TV during broadcast?
Over 1.5=+170
Under 1.5=-250
Will Jim Nantz or Tony Romo mention point spread on game?
Yes=+300
No=-500
Will “Romostradamus” be said during live broadcast?
Yes=+300
No=-500
What will be higher on Super Bowl Sunday?
Tom Brady TD passes=Even
donald Trump tweets=-140
Will there be a streaker during the game (halftime not included)?
Yes=+2000
No=-5000
Who will Super Bowl MVP mention first in his speech?
Teammates=2/1
God=3/1
Coach=6/1
Family=6/1
Owner=15/2
Fans=10/1
Refs=50/1
None of above=4/1
First song performed by Maroon 5 at halftime
“Moves Like Jagger”=+125
“This Love”=+150
“She Will Be Loved”=+300
“Sugar”=+300
“What Lovers do”=+500
“Payphone”=+750
“Sunday Morning”=+750
“One More Night”=+1000
“Girls Like You”=+1000
Will Mick Jagger make an appearance during the halftime show?
Yes=+300
No=-400
Will the NFL issue a report admitting it missed a call during the Super Bowl?
Yes=+250
No=-330
Will any player do the Dirty Bird for TD celebration?
Yes=+200
No=-250
How many Clydesdales will be shown in Budweiser commercial?
Over 8.5=(-115)
Under 8.5=(-115)
Sources: BetdSI Sportsbook and BetOnline.ag
