Anthem Bet
If you’re the kind of Super Bowl viewer who’s more into doing a squares pool (and not, say, putting money on the actual game), this might be the list of side wagers to make at your virtual Super Bowl party or with your family.
Oddsmakers set a length for the Super Bowl national anthem - this year the number is typically around two minutes - and bettors can decide whether they think the singers will finish their final. Betting on the Super Bowl national anthem is one of the many novelty prop markets available for the annual NFL championship that isn’t connected to the outcome of the actual game. The Super Bowl national anthem length bet is one of the more fun ones to make on Super Bowl Sunday. When divas such as Mariah Carey, Beyonce, and Christina Aguilera performing vocal gymnastics with the eyes of the world on them, nobody knows how long it’s going to take. Sportsbooks in the US are not permitted to offer a prop bet strictly on the length of the National Anthem, but it is allowed if the wager includes something that can be found in the final box score of the game. Most prop bets are specialized wagers that have no bearing on the outcome of the actual game. In this case, a prop bet on the national anthem would be like an OVER/UNDER, aka a totals wager.
That’s right: it’s a list of predictions on bets you can make on stuff that’s not game-related, from the national anthem length to the color of the liquid that will be poured on the winning coach, and more.
Because, really: as we’ve learned over the past few decades, the Super Bowl is more than just a football game.
1 How long will the national anthem be?
Steven: 2 minutes
It’s going long. That’s all I can tell you. We can’t compare an artist’s performance at some random NHL game. This is the Super Bowl. Milk it for what it’s worth.
Charles C: 1 minute and 52 seconds
There’s a little bit of history with Jazmine Sullivan (see above) but not much with Eric Church. And although the last Super Bowl anthem duet ran long, I’ll say it’s shorter than two minutes.
2 What color Gatorade will be poured on the winning coach?
Steven: Red
Going with red because it’s the color of both teams, and also I just wanted to rant about how bad red Gatorade is. It’s the worst flavor of Gatorade. It tastes like an awful batch of Kool-Aid.
Charles C: Orange
It was orange last year, and I think the Chiefs are winning again, so orange it is!
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3 What's the final song The Weeknd plays at halftime?
Steven: Starboy
They’re going to bring out Daft Punk and everything. Please do not ask me to name another song by the Weeknd.
Charles C: Can’t Feel My Face
Yeah, yeah, everyone’s going to pick Blinding Lights, but that’s too obvious.
4 Will Gisele Bundchen be shown on camera?
Steven: No
Tom Brady has been to 10 Super Bowls. The interest in his family has waned. Show me Andy Reid’s family. Or Gronk’s.
Charles C: Yes
Lock it in. The camera will find her and Brady’s family at least once, even if the Bucs lose.
5 Will Bill Belichick be mentioned?
Steven: At least five times
It’s going to be a storyline. Especially with the Chiefs marching up and down the field on offense. You don’t have the greatest defensive coach anymore, Tom.
Charles C: Yes
You can’t go an entire Super Bowl without mentioning how many times Brady was here with Belichick.
6 Will Roger Goodell be shown?
Steven: Yes
We’ll see him at least three times. Between the weird season and the fact that the commissioner is always around during a championship game, I’d say this is pretty much a lock.
Charles C: Yes
How many times? I’ll say once, for sure, while the CBS booth talks about having a Super Bowl in the middle of a pandemic.
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7 Will Tony Romo predict a play correctly?
Steven: No
Romo hasn’t really been predicting plays of late. Maybe he’s just tired of doing it. But I will say this: He’s had two weeks to study these teams so he could probably do it if he wanted to.
Charles C: Heck yes
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It’s Tony Romo. He predicted this Super Bowl matchup back in Week 12!
8 Will Tom Brady try to high-five a ref?
Steven: No
Yeah, this isn’t going to be one of those games. Washed Drew Brees isn’t on the other sideline, unfortuantely.
Charles C: No
He’ll be too busy losing and being frustrated to do that.
9 What color will Bruce Arians' hat be?
Steven: White
It’s your first Super Bowl, Bruce.
Stunt. On. Them.
Charles C: Red
It’s got to be a color in the Bucs’ uniforms, right?