Well over a billion dollars is gambled on the Super Bowl each year. The number seems to be rising too, which really doesn't come as much of a surprise since online Super Bowl betting is more accessible than ever before.
While most people bet on the outcome of the entire game (known as a moneyline bet), that style of betting doesn't always deliver the best rewards. Prop bets i.e. something that doesn't impact the final outcome of the game, can deliver the big bucks, particularly if you place a halftime prop bet.
On this page, we want to take a look at the best Super Bowl halftime prop bets.
Best Sportsbooks for Prop Bets
What Are Super Bowl Halftime Bets?
On this page, we are talking about Super Bowl halftime bets as a novelty bet.
These are tied to the halftime show.
Although, of course, you can place other bets at halftime e.g. which team you believe will win the second half of the game, best players in the second half, etc. However, these tend to come under your typical prop bets. We will discuss them a little bit later on, though.
As we said, most Super Bowl halftime bets are going to be tied to the halftime show. You are essentially betting on what will happen during the halftime show. For example:
- Betting on the color of the performer's outfit.
- The length of the show
- Whether there is a wardrobe malfunction
- The songs that are performed (generally the order that they are performed in).
However, if you are looking for more traditional sports betting, then you will be gambling on what happens in the second half of the game. These are just like any other prop bet that you can make on the game, but they are only tied to what happens in the second half of the game. The first half doesn't matter.
The Most Popular Halftime Prop Bets Super Bowl
When you are looking to place your halftime prop bets on the Super Bowl, you certainly won't be short of options. Sites like BetUS and MyBookie will have dozens and dozens of potential bets that you can make.
Obviously, we cannot go through all of them here. It would actually be impossible. Many companies are now starting to come up with unique bets (e.g. Octopus bet), so you never know what is going to appear each year.
Your best bet is to check out the prop bets on your favorite sportsbook and see which one catches your attention.
Let's run you through some of our favorites.
Halftime Show Prop Bets
You may struggle to find halftime show prop bets, particularly on US-based websites. However, they are around.
Most of them are going to be tied to what happens on the stage. Not the greatest bets to place, which is why they are classed as novelty bets more than anything. We like to bet on the length of the show (or at least the songs that may be performed), but you will never get great odds on them.
Halftime Game Prop Bets
The halftime game prop bets are not all that different from the prop bets that you can place before the game. In fact, the only difference is that they are going to be limited to just a small part of the game. This means:
Player Performances
You may want to consider betting on how certain players may perform on the field. For example, the number of passing yards, the number of points a player may score, etc.
Some people may even see the MVP as a second-half Super Bowl prop bet. Obviously, the MVP is going to be based on performances over the course of the entire game. However, by the second half, you should have a bit of an inkling about which player may end up walking away as the MVP.
One of the newest forms of prop bets for player performance is known as the Octopus Bet. This is when a player scores a touchdown and then hits the 2-point conversion after (so, 8 points). These bets tend to offer fantastic odds as the chances of there being an Octopus pulled off is incredibly rare.
Game Play
This is where you will often get the most eclectic selection of bets. You can bet on the number of turnovers, how the first play of the second half is going to go, and various overall stats related to the game. You may even be gambling on the types of decisions that the ref has to make in the game.
These bets are often some of the trickiest to win because you often cannot use the data that you have collected in the first half of the Super Bowl game to make a decision. However, this does often mean that the odds are going to be a lot better. This means that if you do win, you end up with a rather sizeable sum of cash in your pocket.
Team Performances
These will (mostly) be related to points betting i.e. how many points you believe the team will score in the second half of the game.
You can even have a second-half moneyline i.e. you bet on which team will perform the best in the second half. However, this isn't really seen as a traditional prop bet. It is just a fancier moneyline.
Choosing Your Super Bowl Halftime Betting Line
Choosing your Super Bowl halftime betting line shouldn't be too different from choosing any other betting line.
You should only ever bet on what you understand. So, if you barely ever watch the NFL, we wouldn't recommend that you dive into complicated prop bets as you won't really know what you are doing.
Make sure that you do a ton of research too. This means looking at past team/player performances, as well as how those people are performing in the first half of the game. This will give you an informed bet.
You can even look at the way other gamblers are betting. For example, if you see the odds of a bet shortening, then it tends to indicate that most gamblers believe that event is going to happen.
Is It Worth Placing a Halftime Prop Bet?
If you are betting on the halftime show, then probably not. Most sportsbooks will not even offer odds on halftime show performances, especially close to game day.
This is because information about what can happen during the halftime show can easily be leaked, which means that the bookies stand to make a huge loss if they offer odds that are too great.
This means that you are barely ever going to make a profit. You can use sites like Bovada to place your halftime show bets, but it probably won't be worth it (in most cases).
If you are betting on the player or a team's performance in the second half of the game, then it is probably going to be worth it.
One of the major benefits of only betting on the second half of the Super Bowl is that you have had the benefit of the entire first half to get a feel for how each person on the field is performing.
This means that you can pour a ton of analysis into making the right bet.
Although, do bear in mind that if you are betting just before the start of the second half, the odds are not going to be as great as before the game.
So, you are going to be losing a little bit of cash on the win, but the risk is going to be much, much lower.
Summary
Betting on the second half of the Super Bowl is awesome. Keep an eye on how players and teams perform in the first half, and then use that to make performance-focused bets for the second half of the game.
While halftime bets do not always deliver the greatest returns, they tend to have less risk than if you bet before the game.
FAQ's
General Questions
1. What are Super Bowl commercial prop bets?
Super Bowl commercial prop bets are wagers placed on various aspects of the commercials aired during the Super Bowl broadcast. These bets can range from the order in which commercials appear to specific details within the ads, such as featured celebrities, animals, or slogans.
2. How do commercial prop bets work?
Commercial prop bets work by allowing participants to place wagers on outcomes related to the commercials. For example, you might bet on which brand’s ad will air first, how many ads will feature a certain type of product, or whether a particular celebrity will make an appearance.
3. Why are Super Bowl commercials a popular prop betting category?
Super Bowl commercials are a huge part of the overall entertainment experience. With millions of dollars spent on producing creative, high-profile ads, viewers eagerly anticipate these moments, making commercial prop bets an exciting way to engage with the broadcast beyond the game itself.
4. Do I need to watch the game to place commercial prop bets?
Not necessarily, but watching the game live enhances the experience. Many commercial prop bets are determined in real-time, so being tuned in helps you track results and enjoy the process. Some sportsbooks also update odds or offer live betting as commercials air.
5. Where can I find Super Bowl commercial prop bets?
You can find Super Bowl commercial prop bets at major sportsbooks, including DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and Caesars. These platforms often offer a wide variety of creative prop bets during the Super Bowl.
Types of Super Bowl Commercial Prop Bets
6. What are the most common Super Bowl commercial prop bets?
Some of the most common prop bets for commercials include:
- First commercial to air: Betting on which brand’s ad will be shown first.
- Most frequent brand: Wagering on the brand with the most ads aired.
- Celebrity appearances: Betting on whether certain celebrities will appear.
- Commercial themes: Wagering on whether ads will focus on humor, nostalgia, or current events.
7. Can you bet on the first commercial to air during the Super Bowl?
Yes, betting on the first commercial to air is one of the most popular Super Bowl commercial prop bets. Typically, sportsbooks will list major brands like beer, soda, or car manufacturers and assign odds to each one.
8. Is there a prop bet for the total number of commercials aired?
Yes, some sportsbooks offer bets on the total number of commercials aired throughout the broadcast. Bettors might wager on over/under totals or guess the exact number.
9. Are there prop bets related to specific brands or products?
Absolutely! You can bet on specific brands or products, such as whether a certain tech company or beverage brand will have the most commercials, or whether certain types of products (e.g., snacks, cars, or smartphones) will dominate the ad slots.
10. Can you bet on celebrity appearances in commercials?
Yes, betting on celebrity appearances is a popular type of prop bet. Sportsbooks may offer specific wagers on whether high-profile celebrities, like athletes, actors, or musicians, will appear in a commercial. You can also bet on multiple celebrity appearances or surprise guest appearances.
Timing and Appearance Bets
11. Can I bet on which quarter will have the most commercials?
Yes, some sportsbooks offer prop bets on the distribution of commercials across different quarters. Bettors can wager on whether the first, second, third, or fourth quarter will feature the most ads.
12. Are there prop bets for how long a specific commercial will last?
Yes, some sportsbooks allow betting on the length of specific commercials. Most Super Bowl ads last 30 to 60 seconds, but there are often wagers for whether a certain ad will run longer or shorter than expected.
13. Is there a bet for the last commercial shown before halftime?
Yes, sportsbooks often list a prop bet for the brand or type of product featured in the final commercial before halftime. This bet can be tricky but is a favorite among those watching closely before the halftime show begins.
14. What are live prop bets for Super Bowl commercials?
Live prop bets allow you to place wagers during the game and commercials. For example, you might bet on whether the next commercial will feature a car, a celebrity, or a specific color theme. These bets are dynamic and fast-paced, adding extra excitement to watching the game live.
15. Can you bet on the number of new brands advertising during the Super Bowl?
Yes, betting on the number of new brands making their Super Bowl debut is another fun prop bet. Since the Super Bowl often attracts first-time advertisers hoping to make a splash, this wager adds an extra element of interest.
Fun and Creative Bets
16. Can I bet on whether a commercial will feature animals?
Yes, you can! Betting on commercials featuring animals is a popular novelty prop bet. Ads with dogs, horses, and other animals (especially in beer or snack commercials) are a common Super Bowl tradition.
17. Are there prop bets for the funniest or most memorable commercial?
While sportsbooks don’t typically offer bets on subjective outcomes like “funniest” or “most memorable” commercial, some fan-based pools or informal betting groups may include these categories, often decided by vote after the game.
18. Is there a bet on which commercial will go viral the fastest?
Yes, some sportsbooks or pools might offer a wager on which commercial will gain the most social media attention or views within a specific time frame after airing. This is especially relevant in today’s digital age, where viral content spreads quickly.
19. Can you bet on whether a commercial will reference current events?
Yes, betting on whether a commercial will reference current events, such as politics, cultural trends, or recent news, is a common novelty prop bet. These bets are popular because many brands try to capitalize on timely topics during the Super Bowl.
20. Are there any novelty prop bets for commercials involving Super Bowl traditions?
Yes, there are often novelty bets related to long-standing Super Bowl commercial traditions, such as:
- Whether Budweiser’s iconic Clydesdales will appear.
- Whether there will be a Doritos ad featuring a new flavor.
- Whether Coca-Cola or Pepsi will mention their rivalry.