By DAN NOWAK
21st Century Media
In the mid 1960s, officials of the National Football League and rival American Football League began serious merger talks and an agreement to merge was reached prior to the 1966 regular season with the champions of each league meeting in a world championship. Lamar Hunt, owner of the American Football leagues Kansas City Chiefs, used the term Super Bowl to refer to the world championship,
The media embraced the phrase and an event was born.
At the time, Hunt and his contemporaries surely had no idea that the Super Bowl would take on a life of its own. In addition to the game and its huge onsite and television audience there are the television commercials that try to out-do one another, private and public Super Bowl parties become events within themselves, instead of marching bands you have superstar singers and bands performing the Star Spangled Banner and high-octane halftime shows and even the wagering has taken on a life of its own.
Sure, in Las Vegas you can still bet on who will win. Denver is currently a 2.5-point favorite to beat Seattle. But about 30 years ago, in an attempt to make the game interesting for the novice and non-football fans and entice them to make bet or two, sportsbooks devleoped the proposition bet, or prop bet for short.
A prop bet is a wager based on an outcome that does not relate directly to the events final result, usually using a money line to bet. If a wager is listed as -150, you wager $150 to make $100. If it is listed as +150, you wager $100 to make $150.
One of the most popular Super Bowl prop bets is whether the pregame coin toss will be heads (-103) or tails (-103). Another asks will either team score in the first 6 1/2 minutes of the game, yes (-110) or no (-110).
Nevada sportsbooks are only allowed to offer prop bets that are game-related. The wild and wacky prop bets are on Internet wagering sites, where the federal government has made it tough to bet by making it illegal for United States financial institutions to fund an online wagering account.
Among the wacky prop bets at online wagering sites like Bovada.lv are how many times will Denver QB Peyton Manning say Omaha during the game (over-under is 27 1/2); how long will it take Renee Fleming to sing the National Anthem, over 2:30 (even) or under 2:30 (-140); will it snow during the game, yes (even), no (-140); how cold will it get during the game, over 28 degrees (-130) or under 28 degrees (-110).
Going back 25-30 years ago the prop bet wager represented less than 5 percent of the overall Super Bowl betting in Las Vegas. Five years ago it represented 20-25 percent of the overall Super Bowl wagering. Las Vegas Hotel sportsbook director Jay Kornegay develops the most prop bets each year and said the popularity of the bet has skyrocketed. He set another Nevada record this year with 353 prop bets, breaking last years mark of 340,
We always add a few new prop bets so were breaking the record for number of prop bets every year, Kornegay said. The props represent about 55 percent of all the Super Bowl bets now. Thats right, 55 percent. Guests are more comfortable each and every year with betting the props. They really enjoy them.
Last year, we (the Las Vegas Hotel SuperBook) lost (money) on the props. That hasnt happened in a long time.
The prop bet popularity actually took off in 1986 when Las Vegas sportsbooks offered a wager involving Chicago defensive lineman William The Refrigerator Perry. In the regular season Chicago coach Mike Ditka would occasionally use Perry as a fullback on goal-line situations and he actually scored two touchdowns. The odds were about 6-1 that he would score a TD in the Super Bowl and he did.
Interest in Super Bowl prop bets are stronger every year, said Julian (last name witheld), sportsbook spokesman for online wagering site TopBet.eu. Last year they were 25 percent of TopBet.eus overall betting activity and this year we predict to be closer to 35 percent. The storylines surrounding the championship game help create a diverse set of props, and this years matchup is one of the best story lines in recent history.
In terms of the props themselves, the player to score the first touchdown is always very popular and usually worth a bet. The coin flip prop is also surprisingly popular as is who will be the game MVP. Props like the color of the Gatorade poured on the winning coach, the length of the National Anthem and cross sports matchups always garner strong media interest however rarely translate to bettor action.
According to Kornegay the cross-sport prop bets in Vegas have become quite popular, bets that involve something that happens in one sport compared to a players performance in the Super Bowl.
Some of the cross-sport bets include: In the Orlando-Boston NBA game, will the Magic have more points (-110) or will Demaryius Thomas have more receiving yuards (-110); in the Miami-Knicks game, will Carmelo Anthony have more points (-110) or Peyton Manning have more completions (-110); in the Detroit-Washington NHL game, will Alexander Ovechkin have more points (-120) or will Russell Wilson have more touchdown passes (even).
Most of the Super Bowl betting, 70 percent to 80 percent including prop bets, will take place on Super Bowl weekend, Kornegay said. We have seen usual betting patterns so far. Most of the action/tickets have been on the Broncos but we expect some bigger Seattle money later. We opened the odds at Seahawks -2, total (over-under) 47. The line has changed to Broncos -2.5 and 47 (as of Tuesday).
@NHRDanNowak on Twitter
Wacky World of Super Bowl Prop Bets
Definition: A prop bet is a wager based on an outcome that does not relate directly to the events final result, usually using a money line to bet. If a wager is listed as -150, you wager $150 to make $100. If it is listed as +150, you wager $100 to make $150.
Props courtesy of Las Vegas Hotel sportsbook, Bovada.lv, TopBet.eu
OLDIES BUT GOODIES
Some common Super Bowl prop bets that have become popular over the years, including the mostr popular the pre-game coin toss.
OPENING COIN TOSS WILL BE:
HEADS -103
TAILS -103
WILL EITHER TEAM SCORE 3 STRAIGHT TIMES?
**Excludes extra points and 2 point conversions
***Includes safeties
YES -175
NO +155
WILL EITHER TEAM SCORE IN THE FIRST 6 1/2 MINUTES OF THE GAME?
**(Includes safety)
YES -110
NO -110
WILL EITHER TEAM SCORE IN THE FINAL 2 MINUTES OF THE FIRST HALF?
**(Includes safety)
**(If score happens with exactly 2 minutes remaining in First Half-Yes is the winner)
YES -240
NO +200
WILL EITHER TEAM SCORE IN THE FINAL 3 1/2 MINUTES OF THE GAME?
**(Includes safety)
**(Includes Overtime)
YES -160
NO +140
TEAM TO HAVE THE FIRST PENALTY:
**(Declined Penalties Do Not Count)
SEAHAWKS -110
BRONCOS -110
OFF-BEAT, WILD PROP BETS
Will it snow during the game?
From kickoff until Final whistle, must be clearly shown on television: Yes +200 ; No-300
What will be the temperature at Kickoff? Must be shown or mentioned on TV during broadcast. Over 32 degrees Fahrenheit -150; Under 32 degrees Fahrenheit +110
Will the power go out in the stadium during the game? From kickoff until Final whistle, must be clearly shown on tv, Book Managers decision is final. Yes +2000
How long will it take Renee Fleming to sing the official US National Anthem? From first note starts until she completes saying Brave for the 1st time. Over 2 minutes 25 seconds +110; Under 2 minutes 25 seconds -150.
Will Renee Fleming forget or omit at least 1 word of the official US National Anthem? Yes +300; No -500.
Will Knowshon Moreno cry during the signing of the National Anthem? Must be from start to finish of anthem and clearly shown on TV. Yes +250; No -400.
Which coach will be mentioned first by name after kickoff? From kick off until final whistle. Live pictures only. Pete Carroll -120; John Fox -120.
Who will be seen first on TV after kickoff? Erin Andrews -140; Pam Oliver EVEN.
How many times will Peyton Manning say Omaha during the game? Over/Under 27 (-135)o (-105)u
Will any member of the Red Hot Chili Peppers be shirtless during their performance? Live pictures only. Yes -120; No -120.
What will Bruno Mars be wearing on his head at the start of his halftime performance? Fedora -160, Fur Hat +500, Tuque +1000, No hat +200.
THE NEW FAD: CROSS-SPORT PROPS
WHO WILL HAVE MORE:
**(Magic/Celtics–February 2, 2014) Prop closes at 10:10 am Pacific
MAGIC POINTS -23.5 -110
DEMARYIUS THOMAS (DEN) RECEIVING YARDS +23.5 -110
WHO WILL HAVE MORE:
**(Magic/Celtics–February 2, 2014) Prop closes at 10:10 am Pacific
CELTICS POINTS -8.5 -110
MARSHAWN LYNCH (SEA) RUSHING YARDS +8.5 -110
WHO WILL HAVE MORE:
**(Magic/Celtics–February 2, 2014) Prop closes at 10:10 am Pacific
MAGIC+CELTICS POINTS +16.5 -110
RUSSELL WILSON (SEA) GROSS PASSING YARDS -16.5 -110
WHO WILL HAVE MORE:
**(Thunder/Wizards–February 1, 2014) Prop closes at 4:10 pm Pacific
KEVIN DURANT (OKC) POINTS +7.5 -110
PEYTON MANNING (DEN) PASS ATTEMPTS -7.5 -110
WHO WILL HAVE MORE:
**(Cavaliers/Rockets–February 1, 2014) Prop closes at 5:10 pm Pacific
JAMES HARDEN (HOU) 3 POINT FGS MADE -0.5 -110
MARSHAWN LYNCH (SEA) PASS RECEPTIONS +0.5 -110
WHO WILL HAVE MORE:
**(Heat/Knicks–February 1, 2014) Prop closes at 5:35 pm Pacific
CARMELO ANTHONY (NY) POINTS PK -110
PEYTON MANNING (DEN) COMPLETIONS PK -110
WHO WILL HAVE MORE:
**(Michigan, Indiana, Purdue and Penn St–February 2, 2014) Prop closes at 8:30 am Pacific
BIG 10 TEAM POINTS -0.5 -110
PEYTON MANNING (DEN) GROSS PASSING YARDS +0.5 -110
WHO WILL HAVE MORE:
**(Virginia/Pitt–February 2, 2014) Prop closes at 9:30 am Pacific
PITT POINTS -15.5 -110
WES WELKER (DEN) RECEIVING YARDS +15.5 -110
WHO WILL HAVE MORE:
**(Tiger Woods must tee off in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic 4th round
on February 2, 2014, and complete 18 holes.
4th round must be completed by February 3, 2014 for action.
Prop closes at 9:00 PM Pacific Time on February 1, 2014)**
TIGER WOODS 4TH ROUND SCORE -5.5 -110
ERIC DECKER (DEN) RECEIVING YARDS +5.5 -110