Monday, January 31, 2011

2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) Prop Bet: The Brett Favre Mentions


Leading up to the 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) between the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers, we'll be taking a look at Super Bowl proposition betting, or more specifically, the fun or funny Super Bowl 45 (XLV) prop bets that you hear so much about. That includes props on the Super Bowl coin toss, Super Bowl halftime show, Super Bowl National Anthem, Super Bowl postgame Gatorade Shower dump and much more. Follow along on the Super Bowl sidebar to the right!

Sure, Aaron Rodgers has led the Packers to a Super Bowl. Sure, he's won as many playoff games this season as his predecessor Brett Favre won in his last 10 years with the Packers. But to many--be it in the media or at the water cooler--Rodgers is still in the shadow of the man who has quarterbacked the division rival Minnesota Vikings for the past two seasons. And that brings us to our next 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) prop bet.

While Aaron Rodgers and surely many Packer fans have probably had just about enough of the constant mentions of Brett Favre on various broadcasts and in print, we're more than happy to watch members of the media babble on about Favre when talking about Rodgers--because we know two media members who won't be doing that.

Check out the Super Bowl prop that has been created as a result of the Favre/Rodgers saga:

How Many Times will FOX mention “Brett Favre” on TV during the Game?
Wager is on the number of times“Brett Favre”will be mentioned on TV during the Game (from kick off until final whistle). Live commentary only, Any Taped or Past Video does not count towards wager, must say“Brett Favre”exactly.
Over 2.5 (-140)
UNDER 2.5 (EVEN)

To many in the public who have been hearing Favre/Rodgers comparisons ad nauseam for the past three seasons (and especially for the casual football fans attracted to fun Super Bowl proposition betting), this looks like a steal. How could the FOX broadcast not mention Brett Favre at least three times during the Super Bowl?

Well, we can assure you, they won't. The broadcast team of Joe Buck and Troy Aikman have literally called the last five Packer games, and they've had plenty opportunity to talk about Favre over that time. And while they've mentioned No. 4 every so often, they aren't the ones in the media beating us to death on this topic.

During today's 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) Media Day, and throughout the rest of the week, you'll hear all about Favre as you have up to this point. But come game day, you can count on Buck and Aikman focusing on the players on the field and recognizing that this is Aaron Rodger's show in a game between the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers.

And, of course, the loophole that requires the announcers to use the entire name "Brett Favre" doesn't hurt. Everybody knows who the Packers previous quarterback was, which allows for vague mentions about "replacing a legend" or living up to "that other guy."

So while the pre-game Super Bowl hype, including the pre-game shows leading right up to the game on Sunday, and post-game might throw around F(avre)-bombs like nothing, we're predicting that that won't be the case during the actual game, as the prop specifies (kickoff to the final whistle). We predict one full Brett Favre mention--if that--but certainly no more, and certainly not three (more than 2 1/2).

Sunday, January 30, 2011

2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) Prop Bet: The Postgame MVP Thank You


Leading up to the 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) between the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers, we'll be taking a look at Super Bowl proposition betting, or more specifically, the fun or funny Super Bowl 45 (XLV) prop bets that you hear so much about. That includes props on the Super Bowl coin toss, Super Bowl halftime show, Super Bowl National Anthem, Super Bowl postgame Gatorade Shower dump and much more. Follow along on the Super Bowl sidebar to the right!

We've got another Super Bowl prop bet that we're hoping will have you thanking us: The Postgame Thank You. The prop reads:

Who will the Super Bowl MVP of the game thank first?
Wager is on Interview done with the Super Bowl MVP on field during the Trophy Presentation only. If Co-MVP wager is on first to speak.
Coach +1000
Family +400
God +150
Teammates +250
Does Not Thank Anyone +200

This prop is a bit tricky in that it's up to the books judgement as far as what constitutes a thank you, and Bodog, among other online books, doesn't quite have a reputation for fairness in these situations.

When analyzing the Thankfulness prop, we first need to take a stab at who will win the Super Bowl MVP, which we've covered at length. Assuming that one of the quarterbacks wins, which we estimated as a 50% chance, the prop becomes who will Aaron Rodgers or Ben Roethlisberger thank first. The good news is that we have some video evidence of both of these star players at their respective AFC/NFC Championship trophy presentation ceremonies. The bad news is that the results are pretty inconclusive.

Take the Aaron Rodgers portion of the trophy presentation, for example. He doesn't ever say "I want to thank ____" or any variation of that, but he does say, "You gotta give credit to our defense." Now, is that technically a thank you? No. But we can envision a bookie giving credit for Rodgers "thanking" his teammates. Which is where things get sticky. If Rodgers is named the Super Bowl MVP and he's going to thank anyone, it will absolutely be his teammates, but whether or not the wording qualifies as a thank you is out of your hands.


Things don't get any easier for potential MVP Ben Roethlisberger. He is a lock to mention God now that he is re-making his image in the media and all that jazz. He's been mentioning God in almost every postgame interview he has done this season. Below, he says "God is good." A blanket statement that can be construed as a thank you, but not necessarily. He goes on to say "This one is for Steeler fans," another non-thank you thank you. So again, the wording isn't exactly clear.


So who will the Super Bowl MVP "thank" first in the postgame press conference? If you like the Packers, your best bet would be teammates. If you like the Steelers, go with God. Either way, we definitely recommend asking your book for clarification before delving into this one.

And yes, you can thank us later.

More prop betting action to come throughout this week, as we continue to look at some of the fun 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) prop bets while also diving into the heavy stuff--legitimate team and player proposition bets.

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Free 2011 NFL Pro Bowl Pick


We may be the best source for 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) prop betting analysis (self-proclaimed), but as far as we're concerned, there still two NFL games remaining this season. We're talking, of course, about the 2011 NFL Pro Bowl!

While many are quick to dismiss the Pro Bowl as a terrible All-Star game, we love the game, if only because we know how desperate we're going to be for any sort of football during the months following the Super Bowl (as evidenced by our occasional AFL and UFL coverage).

This year, with the Pro Bowl back in Hawaii, we're excited to make our Free Pro Bowl Picks--though as we warned earlier, we don't technically count these as Free NFL Picks given that they are not part of our system. Though it is worth noting, our Free NFL Pro Bowl Picks were 2-o last year. Just sayin'.

AFC (PICK) over NFC

UNDER 64

Last year, we went with the NFC and the OVER, and won them both as the all-time Pro Bowl record evened between the AFC and NFC to 20-20. This year, we think the AFC regains their lead. Injuries and replacements decimated both sides, but particularly the NFC's defense. Aside from that, Bill Belichick is 2-0 all-time as the coach of the Pro Bowl, and we generally think the better coach usually wins this game. Hoodie has the edge over Mike Smith. Aside from that, we're supposed to bet against Mr. Pro Bowl, Peyton Manning? Not gonna happen.

As for the under, this over/under is set a little higher than normal after the shootout in 2010. Over usually draws most of the action in the Pro Bowl (and Super Bowl), but we think under is the play this year.

We'll throw in some Pro Bowl prop bets before the game tomorrow, and our Super Bowl prop bet coverage is nowhere near complete, so stay with us here at Stock Lemon as we continue to make the final games of the 2010 NFL season as fun as possible.

Friday, January 28, 2011

2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) Complete Prop Bet List


Leading up to the 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) between the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers, we'll be taking a look at Super Bowl proposition betting, or more specifically, the fun or funny Super Bowl 45 (XLV) prop bets that you hear so much about. That includes props on the Super Bowl coin toss, Super Bowl halftime show, Super Bowl National Anthem, Super Bowl postgame Gatorade Shower dump and much more. Follow along on the Super Bowl sidebar to the right!

So far, we've been focusing on individual Super Bowl prop bets and breaking them down bit by bit with the most extensive prop bet analysis on the web. It has occurred to us, though, that a complete list of the available prop bets might be of some use to those of you checking out our analysis. We're not even close to finished taking an in depth look at some of the more popular props, as well as looking closely at the valuable plays on the board. But, should you need to reference it, here is the full list of prop bets courtesy of Bodog, some of which we have covered and several others we will get to in the next week. Enjoy!

Super Bowl XLV - Pittsburgh Steelers Total Team Points
Over/Under 21

Super Bowl XLV - Green Bay Packers Total Team Points
Over/Under 23.5

Super Bowl XLV - Pittsburgh Steelers Total 1st Half Team Points
Over/Under 11.5

Super Bowl XLV - Green Bay Packers Total 1st Half Team Points
Over/Under 12

Super Bowl Media Props

Super Bowl XLV Specials - What will the TV Rating be?
Over/Under Nielsen Rating 46

Super Bowl XLV Specials - Which region will have the higher local TV Rating?
Pittsburgh -140
Green Bay EVEN

Super Bowl XLV - How long will it take Christina Aguilera to sing the National Anthem?
Over/Under 1 minute 50 seconds

Super Bowl XLV - How long will Christina Aguilera hold the note “Brave” at the end of the National Anthem?
Over/Under 6 seconds

Super Bowl XLV Specials - Will Christina Aguilera wear a cowboy hat while singing the National Anthem?
Yes 3/1

Super Bowl XLV Specials - Will Christina Aguilera's hair color be anything except completely blonde when she sings the National Anthem?
Yes 7/4

Super Bowl XLV Specials - What will Fergie be wearing when she appears first on stage during the Super Bowl Halftime Show?
Skirt/Dress 1/1
Pants (Below Knees) 1/1
Shorts (Above Knees) 7/2
Thong/G-String/Bikini Bottom 10/1

Super Bowl XLV Specials - Will Fergie be dressed as a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader at any point during the Halftime show?
Yes 5/1

Super Bowl XLV - How Many Times will FOX show Jerry Jones on TV during the Game?
Over/Under 3

(Wager is on the number of times Jerry Jones will appear on TV during the Game (from kick off until final whistle). Live pictures only, Any Taped Pictures or Past Video does not count towards wager.)

Super Bowl XLV – Who will FOX show first on TV during the game?
Jessica Szohr (Aaron Rodgers’ Girlfriend) -140
Ashley Harlan (Ben Roethlisberger’s FiancĂ©e) Even

Super Bowl XLV - How Many Times will FOX mention “Brett Favre” on TV during the Game?
Over/Under 2.5
(Wager is on the number of times “Brett Favre” will be mentioned on TV during the Game (from kick off until final whistle). Live commentary only, Any Taped or Past Video does not count towards wager, must say “Brett Favre” exactly.)

Super Bowl XLV - How Many Times will FOX mention “Lockout” on TV during the Game?
Over/Under 2.5

(Wager is on the number of times “Lockout” will be mentioned on TV during the Game (from kick off until final whistle). Live commentary only, Any Taped or Past Video does not count towards wager, must say “Lockout” exactly.)

Super Bowl XLV - Who will the FOX announcers say has better hair TV during the Game?
Troy Polamalu -120
Clay Matthews -120

Super Bowl XLV - What Color will the Gatorade be that is dumped on the Head Coach of the Winning Super Bowl Team?
Yellow 3/2
Clear/Water 2/1
Orange 5/2
Lime Green 5/1
Red 15/2
Blue 10/1

Super Bowl XLV - What side of the ball will the Players that perform the Gatorade Shower be from?
Offensive +150
Defensive -200

Super Bowl XLV - Who will the Super Bowl MVP of the Game thank first?
God 3/2
Does Not Thank Anyone 2/1
Teammates 5/2
Family 4/1
Coach 10/1

Super Bowl XLV - Will a punt hit the scoreboard during the game?
Yes 10/1

Super Bowl XLV Specials - Will a Steelers player do the Aaron Rodgers Championship Belt Celebration during the game?
Yes EVEN
No -140

Super Bowl XLV Specials - Will Any Player do the Lambeau Leap after a TD?
Yes 2/1

Super Bowl XLV - Will B.J.Raji be on the field for at least 1 offensive play?
Yes -175
No +135

Super Bowl XLV - Who will President Obama pick to win the game?
Pittsburgh Steelers -140
Green Bay Packers Even

Super Bowl XLV -How many current NFL Players will be arrested during Super Bowl Week?
Over 0.5 +150
Under 0.5 -200

Super Bowl XLV - Which Super Bowl commercial will have a higher rating on USA Today's annual Ad Meter?
Bud Light 11/4
Budweiser 11/4
Doritos 11/2
Pepsi Max 6/1
GoDaddy.com 10/1
Skechers 12/1
Teleflora 15/1
Other 5/2

Super Bowl XLV Specials - If there is a picture of someone holding the Lombardi Trophy on the Cover of the USA Today on Monday February 7th, who will it be?
Aaron Rodgers 3/2
Ben Roethlisberger 3/1
Troy Polamalu 12/1
Clay Matthews 15/1
Mike Tomlin 18/1
Mike McCarthy 18/1
Any Other Pittsburgh Player 2/1
Any Other Green Bay Player 2/1
Any Other Person 15/1
Jerry Jones 100/1

Super Bowl XLV Specials - What will happen with the Dow Jones the day after the Super Bowl?
Market Up -140
Market Down EVEN

Super Bowl Game Props

Super Bowl XLV - What will be the result of the Super Bowl XLV Coin Toss?
Heads (Coin Toss) -105
Tails (Coin Toss) -105

Super Bowl XLV - Team to win the opening coin toss
Pittsburgh Steelers (Win Opening Coin Toss) -105
Green Bay Packers (Win Opening Coin Toss) -105

Super Bowl XLV - Team to score first in the game
Pittsburgh Steelers (Score First) Even
Green Bay Packers (Score First) -130

Super Bowl XLV - Will there be a score in the first 7min 30 seconds of the 1st quarter?
Yes (First 7 min 30 sec of 1st Qtr) -175
No (First 7 min 30 sec of 1st Qtr) +145

Super Bowl XLV - Will Either team score 3 unanswered times in the game?
Yes (3 Unanswered Scores) -180
No (3 Unanswered Scores) +150

Super Bowl XLV - Will there be a score in the final 2 minutes of the 1st half?
Yes (Score in Final 2 Minutes of 1st Half) -260
No (Score in Final 2 Minutes of 2nd Half) +200

Super Bowl XLV - Which Will be the Highest Scoring Quarter?
1st Quarter 4/1
2nd Quarter 8/5
3rd Quarter 4/1
4th Quarter 2/1

Super Bowl XLV - Will the game go to overtime?
Yes (Overtime) +900
No (Overtime) -1800

Super Bowl XLV - Longest Touchdown Scored in the Game (Yardage)
Over/Under 43.5

Super Bowl XLV - Shortest Touchdown Scored in the Game (Yardage)
Over/Under 1.5

Super Bowl XLV - Will there be a Special Teams or Defensive Touchdown scored in the game?
Yes (Defensive or Special Teams TD) +145
No (Defensive or Special Teams TD) -175

Super Bowl XLV - Super Bowl XLV - What will be the result of the first coaches challenge in the game?
Play Overturned -130
Play Stands Even

Player Odds

SUPER BOWL XLV - Odds to win MVP
Aaron Rodgers (GB) QB 7/4
Ben Roethlisberger (PIT) QB 7/2
Rashard Mendenhall (PIT) RB 15/2
Greg Jennings (GB) WR 12/1
James Starks (GB) RB 14/1
Troy Polamalu (PIT) S 15/1
Mike Wallace (PIT) WR 16/1
Clay Matthews (GB) LB 18/1
Charles Woodson (GB) CB 20/1
James Harrison (PIT) LB 22/1
Tramon Williams (GB) CB 25/1
Hines Ward (PIT) WR 25/1
Heath Miller (PIT) TE 25/1
Donald Driver (GB) WR 25/1
James Farrior (PIT) LB 28/1
Lawrence Timmons (PIT) LB 28/1
James Jones (GB) WR 30/1
Jordy Nelson (GB) WR 30/1
A.J. Hawk (GB) LB 30/1
B.J. Raji (GB) DT 30/1
Emmanuel Sanders (PIT) WR 35/1
Sam Shields (GB) CB 35/1
Cullen Jenkins (GB) DE 50/1
Brandon Jackson (GB) RB 50/1
Field 15/1

SUPER BOWL XLV - Player to score the first TD in the game
Rashard Mendenhall (PIT) RB 5/1
Greg Jennings (GB) WR 13/2
Mike Wallace (PIT) WR 15/2
James Starks (GB) RB 17/2
John Kuhn (GB) FB 12/1
Hines Ward (PIT) WR 12/1
Heath Miller (PIT) TE 12/1
Donald Driver (GB) WR 12/1
James Jones (GB) WR 12/1
Jordy Nelson (GB) WR 14/1
Aaron Rodgers (GB) QB 14/1
Emmanuel Sanders (PIT) WR 16/1
Ben Roethlisberger (PIT) QB 16/1
Brandon Jackson (GB) RB 18/1
Andrew Quarless (GB) TE 20/1
Isaac Redman (PIT) RB 20/1
Antonio Brown (PIT) WR 25/1
Mewelde Moore (PIT) RB 28/1
Donald Lee (GB) TE 28/1
Any Other Pittsburgh Player 14/1
Any Other Green Bay Player 14/1
No TD Scored In The Game 50/1

SUPER BOWL XLV - Total Passing Yards - Ben Roethlisberger (PIT)
Over/Under 240.5

SUPER BOWL XLV - Total TD Passes - Ben Roethlisberger (PIT)
Over TD Passes O 1½ (+125)
Under TD Passes U 1½ (-155)

SUPER BOWL XLV - Total Passing Yards – Aaron Rodgers (GB)
Over/Under 275.5

SUPER BOWL XLV - Total TD Passes – Aaron Rodgers (GB)
Over TD Passes O 2 (+125)
Under TD Passes U 2 (-155)

SUPER BOWL XLV - Who will record more Rushing Yards in the game?
James Starks (GB) RB +25½ (-115)
Rashard Mendenhall (PIT) RB -25½ (-115)

SUPER BOWL XLV - Who will record more Receiving Yards in the game?
Mike Wallace (PIT) WR +9½ (-130)
Greg Jennings (GB) WR -9½ (EVEN)

Historical Matchups

HISTORICAL MATCHUP - Total Passing Yards, which will be higher?
Aaron Rodgers Super Bowl XLV -29½ (-110)
Brett Favre Super Bowl XXXI (246 Passing Yards) +29½ (-120)

HISTORICAL MATCHUP - Total TD Passes, which will be higher?
Aaron Rodgers Super Bowl XLV +125
Brett Favre Super Bowl XXXI (2 TD Passes) -155

HISTORICAL MATCHUP - Completion Percentage, which will be higher?
Aaron Rodgers Super Bowl XLV -11.5% +105
Brett Favre Super Bowl (51.8%) +11.5% -135

HISTORICAL MATCHUP - Total Passing yards, which will be higher?
Ben Roethlisberger Super Bowl XLV -115.5 Yards
Ben Roethlisberger Super Bowl XL (123 Passing Yards) +115.5 Yards

HISTORICAL MATCHUP - Total Passing yards, which will be higher?
Ben Roethlisberger Super Bowl XLV ` +15½ (-115)
Ben Roethlisberger Super Bowl XLIII (256 Passing Yards) -15½ (-115)

2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) Prop Bet: The Cowboys Stadium Scoreboard


Leading up to the 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) between the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers, we'll be taking a look at Super Bowl proposition betting, or more specifically, the fun or funny Super Bowl 45 (XLV) prop bets that you hear so much about. That includes props on the Super Bowl coin toss, Super Bowl halftime show, Super Bowl National Anthem, Super Bowl postgame Gatorade Shower dump and much more. Follow along on the Super Bowl sidebar to the right!

Sucker bet alert! Sucker bet alert!

We post this next prop as more of a public service announcement than anything else. You'll find plenty of funny and wacky props to bet on during 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45), but stray from prop bets like this one: the scoreboard prop.

These props, and there are plenty of them, will give you an outlandish scenario and an enticing line, such as this one:

Will a punt hit the scoreboard during the game?
Yes +1000

The odds are so against the occurrence, that "No" is not even offered as an option. Your choice is Yes or not to play. And you shouldn't play.

This particular prop could see a lot of public action, as the Cowboys Stadium scoreboard received plenty of publicity. Look at that thing, for crying out loud. It's HUGE!

Of course, back in the preseason, Titans punter A.J. Trapasso made headlines when he knocked a kick into Jerry Jones' brand new toy in his brand new billion dollar stadium. Trapasso, a camp body in every sense of the word, had stated his intent to do so in the exhibition game against the Cowboys, as he had done several times in warm-ups.

Sure enough, his attempt worked, resulting in, as Joe Buck rightly points out, a backyard-style do-over. That's all well and good in a preseason game, but could you imagine that happening in the Super Bowl?


The above punt resulted in a saga between the NFL and Jerry Jones, in which Jones refused to raise the scoreboard, as it met the league's requirements on scoreboard height. Months later, we have ourselves a prop bet.

We mean this as no disrespect to Packers punter Tim Masthay or Steelers punter Jeremy Kapinos, but this is definitely a bet that you shouldn't make. And we don't say that about many Super Bowl proposition wagers. Masthay or Kapinos would have to purposefully strike a ball into the oversized TV above the field, and while someone might do that in a preseason game when his tenure with the team is coming to an end anyway, there is now way Masthay or Kapinos would pull something like that in the biggest game of the year just to prove a point.

Don't bet on this prop, and don't bet on several others that don't even give you "No" as an option. What you can bet on is us continuing our coverage of 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) prop bets throughout the next week leading up to the Big Game. And you can also bet on the several props we've already analyzed, simply by clicking the appropriate link on the right sidebar.

2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) Prop Bet: The Christina Aguilera National Anthem


Leading up to the 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) between the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers, we'll be taking a look at Super Bowl proposition betting, or more specifically, the fun or funny Super Bowl 45 (XLV) prop bets that you hear so much about. That includes props on the Super Bowl coin toss, Super Bowl halftime show, Super Bowl National Anthem, Super Bowl postgame Gatorade Shower dump and much more. Follow along on the Super Bowl sidebar to the right!

Our 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) prop bet coverage continues with one of everybody's favorites: The National Anthem. As you may know (by, for example, reading the title of this post), Christina Aguilera will take on the Star Spangled Banner duties prior to the commencement of the Steelers and Packers actually playing this game. On Bodog, we have the following odds:

How long will it take Christina Aguilera to sing the National Anthem?
Time starts from when she starts singing until her last note ends.
Over 1 minute, 50 seconds -125
Under 1 minute 50, seconds -115

On BetUS, however, the odds look like this:

Over 1 minute, 56 seconds -120
Under 1 minute, 56 seconds -120

One of the first things that stands out is the amount of juice required for this very popular prop. To lay -120 on a bet either way is rare (-110 is standard, and even -105 is more common than -120).

Secondly, obviously, is the enormous disparity between these two books on the same prop bet. Six seconds on the National anthem is the equivalent of a touchdown spread (-7) in an actual game, according to Super Bowl National Anthem Prop Betting Experts (read: us).

There is such a great opportunity to middle these two bets, laying the OVER on 1 minute 50 seconds and the UNDER on 1 minute 56 seconds. Frankly, we haven't seen anything like it and expect those odds to change--on Bodog's end. Bodog opened at -120 juice both ways, but as you can see the heavier action on the over is causing the chalk to rise on that bet. Eventually, the total will rise. Why? Because Christina Aguilera will go OVER 1 minute 50 seconds on the National Anthem prop bet. Our research (Embedded YouTube clips) follows.

Take a listen to her most recent anthem available, from Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics, just over half a year ago on June 17, 2010:



From first note to last, she belts out a 1 minute 54 second rendition of the Star Spangled Banner, obviously over the 1 minute 50 second mark offered by Bodog. This is a big stage, the NBA's equivalent to the NFL's Super Bowl, so we can expect a similar version to this. While nothing compares to the atmosphere of the Super Bowl, this is certainly one of the best settings we can think in finding a comparative performance.

Not conclusive enough for you? How about the anthem she sung just two days prior, when she took to the microphone for Game 6 of the same Finals on June 15, 2010.


This time, Aguilera clocked in at a slighter quicker pace, 1 minute and 52 seconds. Once again, though, her time falls right in the middle of the prop bets offered by Bodog and BetUS.

Oh say, you can see that Aguilera's most recent couple of anthems have been right in that middle, but evidence of her Star Spangled skills weren't on display all that much prior to her back-to-back in the Finals. You have to go all the way back to an anthem familiar to many Pittsburgh fans, sung at a Pittsburgh Penguins NHL game on October 8, 2005.


Now, given that it was more than five years ago, we put less stock into this performance lasting only 1 minute and 45 seconds. The stage wasn't as large, so there was less inclination to ham it up like many anthem singers do.

If only we could find one more instance of Christina on the Staples Center court in Los Angeles, say six years prior to her recent Finals appearances. What's that? She also sung at the 2004 NBA All-Star Game on February 15, 2004? Perfect!


This time, Aguilera finishes closer to Bodog's mark of 1 minute and 50 seconds, finishing just 1 second under that mark at 1 minute and 49 seconds in a funky anthem at a time when she seems to have been going through a "phase." Regardless, we still see a trend upward as she's grown older.

We have further proof that she's been trending upward with this footage:


Aguilera, as an 11-year-old, sang at the Stanley Cup Finals between her hometown Penguins and the Chicago Blackhawks in 1992, representing the United States of America with this 1 minute, 37 second version.

Despite evidence that she has stretched her anthems out as she has gotten older, there is a wildcard in the bunch. At a hockey game in Anaheim, Aguilera didn't waste any time with Francis Scott Key's famous tune.


For those of you without stopwatches, that was a meager 1 minute, 21 seconds. Not knowing the event taking place or the date it was held, we aren't sure what to make of this version. Regardless, we are chalking it up as an anomaly. We also know, without video evidence, that Aguilera has sung the anthem at a Pittsburgh Pirates game on April 4, 2000 and likely has sung a few others as well, but we're making due with what's available.

The chronological breakdown of Christina Aguilera's National Anthem history, as provided by YouTube, is as follows:

1992 Stanley Cup Finals: 1 minute, 37 seconds
Random Anthem in Anaheim (date unknown): 1 minute, 21 seconds
2004 NBA All-Star Game: 1 minute, 49 seconds
2005 Pittsburgh Penguins game: 1 minute, 45 seconds
2010 NBA Finals Game 6: 1 minute, 52 seconds
2010 NBA Finals Game 7: 1 minute, 54 seconds

Due to the upward trend in her anthems (mostly), and the propensity to hold notes a little longer when performing the sports' world's single biggest event, our bet is definitely on OVER 1 minute, 50 seconds at Bodog (-125), and while we're at it, we'll take that UNDER on 1 minute, 56 seconds (-120) over at BetUS and hope to middle this anthem.

But wait, there's more!

Bodog also has this little nugget:

How long will Christina Aguilera hold the note “Brave” at the end of the National Anthem?
Time starts from when she starts saying "Brave" until her the note ends. If she says the full word twice wagers will be No Action.
Over 6 seconds -140
Under 6 seconds EVEN


Looking back at the above videos, here's what we have for "Brave" note:

1992 Stanley Cup Finals: 4 seconds
Random Anthem in Anaheim (date unknown): 5 seconds
2004 NBA All-Star Game: 4 seconds/5 seconds (said full word twice, would be graded as NO ACTION)
2005 Pittsburgh Penguins game: 4 seconds
2010 NBA Finals Game 6: 6 seconds
2010 NBA Finals Game 7: 5 seconds

Despite our insistence that Christina Aguilera will ham it up at the Super Bowl National Anthem, we think she holds the Brave note for UNDER 6 seconds. She's only reached 6 seconds in one of the six clips available, meaning the under has a 5-0-1 record. And at EVEN odds, it's a way better bet than taking the OVER at -140.

The final talley for Christina Aguilera's 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) National Anthem prop bet:
OVER 1 minute, 50 seconds National Anthem
UNDER 1 minute, 56 seconds National Anthem
UNDER 6 seconds "Brave" note

Those are the conclusions we draw from our 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) National Anthem prop bet analysis. God bless America.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) Prop Bet: The Gatorade Shower/Bath/Dump


Leading up to the 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) between the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers, we'll be taking a look at Super Bowl proposition betting, or more specifically, the fun or funny Super Bowl 45 (XLV) prop bets that you hear so much about. That includes props on the Super Bowl coin toss, Super Bowl halftime show, Super Bowl National Anthem, Super Bowl postgame Gatorade Shower dump and much more. Follow along on the Super Bowl sidebar to the right!

2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) prop betting is finally here! Let's continue our Super Bowl prop betting analysis with one of our favorite Super Bowl prop bets of the year: The Gatorade Shower.

This is an interesting year in that, with both AFC and NFC Championship games being perhaps a bit too cold for this ritual, there were no Gatorade dumps in either game, so neither the Packers nor the Steelers tipped their hand in that regard. Usually, we would have a better idea of what color Gatorade dump is preferred by either Mike McCarthy or Mike Tomlin, but no so this year.

Here are the odds for the Super Bowl prop bet: What color liquid will be doused on the Super Bowl winning head coach:

Clear +200
Any Shade of Green +200
Yellow +300
Red +300
Blue +500
Purple +500

Field (Any Other) +500


Before we dive into our predictions, let's get yo up to speed on this tradition. The Gatorade dump, which originated back in 1984 when Chicago Bears' lineman Dan Hampton gave Head Coach Mike Ditka a Gatorade shower after clinching a division title, has since become so much more--a fixture during Super Bowl prop betting season. The Bears went on to win the Super Bowl in 1985, but it wasn't until 1987 that the Gatorade Shower made its first Super Bowl Appearance. Following a New York Giants win over the Denver Broncos is Super Bowl XXI (21), Giants lineman Harry Carson soaked Coach Bill Parcells in Gatorade, creating one of the most unlikely traditions. In fact, his trend caught on quickly, as he even gave a Gatorade shower to President Ronald Reagen on the team's subsequent visit to the White House (of course, he used popcorn rather than actual Gatorade, the one flavor Gatorade has not yet come out with).


Even with the Gatorade dump becoming more commonplace, it wasn't until the turn of the century that they became almost automatic following the country's biggest sporting event--the Super Bowl. Let's take a look at the Gatorade showers of the 21st century, beginning way back in 2001.

Following the Baltimore Ravens blowout win over the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXV (35), the 2000 NFL season, Abraham Zapruder snapped this screenshot of Brian Billick getting a golden shower... er yellow Gatorade dumped on him.

In 2002, Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots upset the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI (36), but the Hoodie did not receive a Gatorade shower--more on that in a bit.

In 2003, though, Jon Gruden did get wet after a game of football, rewarded with the rare Purple shower from his Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers after a win over the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII (37).

In Super Bowl XXXVIII (38) in 2004, Bill Belichick again won the Super Bowl, this time over the Carolina Panthers, and again did not receive a Gatorade shower.

Finally, the following year in Super Bowl XXXIX (39) in 2005, Belichick was soaked in clear liquid after his third Super Bowl in four years, a win over the Philadelphia Eagles and a quarterback who could probably use more electrolytes in his life. But why the long wait for the traditional shower?

Well, the first two of the Patriots' three Super Bowls came down to a last second field goal, preventing a shower at the conclusion of the game. Though the Pats still won by virtue of an Adam Vinatieri boot in 2005, the kick came with more than eight minutes left, plenty of time to fill a bucket full of water and dump it on another human being.

And since the Hoodie finally took his, we haven't missed a beat, with the last six Super Bowls all culminating in Gatorade baths for the winning head coaches. In Super Bowl XL (40) in 2006, Bill Cowher took the clear liquid like a Super bowl champ after beating the Seattle Seahawks.

In 2007, Super Bowl XLI (41), already rain-soaked Colts coach Tony Dungy got more clear liquid poured on him after his Colts defeated the Chicago Bears. Interestingly enough, a second bucket of Gatorade was almost immediately dumped on Dungy, containing an orange liquid (which you can see remnants of here, but the bet was settled with the first cooler--giving liquid its third straight win.

In Super Bowl XLII (42) in 2008, Giants coach Tom Coughlin received the fourth consecutive bucket of clear liquid in Gatorade Shower annals after preventing the Patriots from completing a perfect 19-0 season. Talk about a dynasty!

Onto the 2009 Super Bowl XLIII (43), Mike Tomlin and the Steelers returned to the Super Bowl and won it again, this time over the Arizona Cardinals. There was one upset, though, as Tomlin received a yellow Gatorade shower, the first since Brian Billick's in 2001, ending a string of four-straight clear liquid dumps and proving that the same team won't necessarily stick with the same color Gatorade should they return to the game a couple years later.

Finally, last year in Super Bowl XLIV (44) in 2010, there was another Gatorade (or G) upset as Sean Payton took a bucket of orange liquid to the face.

With that, over the last 10 Super Bowl's, here's what we've seen in the Gatorade bath department:

2001 Super Bowl XXXV (35): Yellow (Ravens)
2002 Super Bowl XXXVI (36): None (Patriots)
2003 Super Bowl XXXVII (37): Purple (Buccaneers)
2004 Super Bowl XXXVIII (38): None (Patriots)
2005 Super Bowl XXXIX (39): Clear (Patriots)
2006 Super Bowl XL (40): Clear (Steelers)
2007 Super Bowl XLI (41): Clear (Colts)
2008 Super Bowl XLII (42): Clear (Giants)
2009 Super Bowl XLIII (43): Yellow (Steelers)
2010 Super Bowl XLIV (44): Orange (Saints)

And so, the breakdown of the last ten Super Bowls looks like this:

Clear - 4
Yellow - 2
None - 2
Purple - 1
Orange - 1

Our analysis: Clearly, the clear/water option is the most viable, having the most clear baths in the last 10 years. However, the last time the Steelers won the Super Bowl, current coach Mike Tomlin received a yellow shower (though his predecessor Bill Cowher took a clear bath). Getting Clear at +200 or Yellow at +300 are strong bets. Red, Blue, Green and Purple are all sucker bets, in our minds, though we have had an instance of Purple in the last 10 years. We were surprised to find Orange, the color liquid used last year, as part of the field, so the +500 odds are enticing as well.

At the end of the day, though, we're going with Clear (+200). That is, if there even is a Gatorade dump on Mike Tomlin or Mike McCarthy, neither of whom took the shower after their championship game victories.

Speaking of the end of the day, we're just getting started with our Super Bowl prop bet analysis on the unofficial prop bet Thursday. We'll have plenty to come as we approach the 45th Super Bowl.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) Prop Bet: The Super Bowl MVP


Leading up to the 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) between the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers, we'll be taking a look at Super Bowl proposition betting, or more specifically, the fun or funny Super Bowl 45 (XLV) prop bets that you hear so much about. That includes props on the Super Bowl coin toss, Super Bowl halftime show, Super Bowl National Anthem, Super Bowl postgame Gatorade Shower dump and much more. Follow along on the Super Bowl sidebar to the right!

We take a slight break from the goofy prop bets to look at a more standard option--the 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) MVP.

Who will win the Super Bowl MVP?

Aaron Rodgers 7/4
James Starks 14/1
Brandon Jackson 50/1
Greg Jennings 12/1
Donald Driver 25/1
James Jones 30/1
Jordy Nelson 30/1
A.J. Hawk 30/1
Clay Matthews 18/1
B.J. Raji 30/1
Cullen Jenkins 50/1
Tramon Williams 25/1
Charles Woodson 20/1
Sam Shields 35/1

Ben Roethlisberger 7/2
Rashard Mendenhall 15/2
Mike Wallace 16/1
Hines Ward 25/1
Emmanuel Sanders 35/1
Heath Miller 25/1
Troy Polamalu 15/1
James Harrison 22/1
James Farrior 28/1
Lawrence Timmons 28/1

Field 15/1

Before determining who will win the Most Valuable Player Award in the Super Bowl, you must first decide your pick to win the game--the Packers or Steelers. The losing team simply will not have a player win the MVP--as has happened once in 1971 when Chuck Howley of the Cowboys won the award despite a loss the Colts in Super Bowl V (5). Howley refused to even accept the award, which he found meaningless after the loss, so you can bank on that result never happening again.

When you make your pick for the eventual Super Bowl champion, you can eliminate half of your above options for the MVP. Beyond that, it gets tricky, but you can narrow it down to an educated guess.

For example, like the Super Bowl coin toss prop bet, we are essentially dealing with a 50/50 proposition here--a quarterback has won the award 52% of the time (23/44). However, when the Steelers have been in the Super Bowl, only Terry Bradshaws back-to-back MVPs have been won by a quarterback, giving them just a 33% historical chance at a QB (2/6) winning the award. The Packers, thanks to Bart Starr's back-to-back awards, are 67% (2/3).

Most importantly from the above figures is that Ben Roethlisberger has not won the award. In the Steelers past two Super Bowls, his receivers Santonio Holmes and Hines Ward, respectively, have won the award. Given that he has not won it, and given the tendency to automatically give the QB the award (Peyton Manning over Dominic Rhodes in Super Bowl XLI is evidence of that), we like Roethlisberger's odds of 7/2. Like the previous Super Bowl winning QB in Pittsburgh, Terry Bradshaw, two position players have won the award in his first two cracks, but we anticipate the third time being the charm should the Steelers defeat the Packers.

If we had to make a wild card selection for the Steelers (aka not a QB), we would say Rashard Mendenhall. Mendenhall ran tough throughout the playoffs and looks determined to get a ring as a member of the active roster (unlike in Super Bowl XLIII when he was injured; not sure whether or not he was included in the team photo). Getting 15/2 odds isn't bad for the running back, though an RB has not won since Terrell Davis in Super Bowl XXXII (32).

As for the Packers, the fact that they are favored to win means that Aaron Rodgers' odds (7/4) are slightly better than Roethlisberger's, and he will rightfully be a popular pick for the Super Bowl MVP should the Packers win it all. Otherwise, keep an eye on Greg Jennings at 12/1, or even some of his other targets. The way the Packers throw the ball it is far more likely that a WR win the award rather than a RB.

While both teams have good defenses and could potentially have a defensive player win the award (Sam Shields or B.J. Raji likely would have captured the award in the NFC Championship game, if one were given), a defender typically has to make multiple big plays in order to win the award, and even then it is rare.

Only eight defensive players in total (including co-MVPs in Super Bowl XII) have won the Super Bowl MVP, as well as one special teams player--Packer fans might remember Desmond Howard's big returns making him the MVP of Super Bowl XXXI (31), surprisingly over Brett Favre and his three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing).

While it can happen, this is again about making as educated a bet as possible. Some names are thrown on the list of potential MVPs (such as Brandon Jackson at 50/1) simply to entice the loads of public money on some unlikely players. Stray from the random bets and stick with what we know. In theory, if quarterbacks win the award about 50 percent of the time, and there are two quarterbacks in the game, our math gives us just over a 25 percent chance on either QB choice.

So whether you like the Packers or Steelers to win the game, expect Aaron Rodgers or Ben Roethlisberger to take this year's MVP. The quarterback play is simply too good in this one to pass up.

Thursday is the big day when many books release the official numbers on some of the standard props--as well as bucket load of funny proposition bets. Check back tomorrow for our take on some of the whackier prop bets of 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45).

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) Prop Bet: The Coin Toss/Flip


Leading up to the 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) between the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers, we'll be taking a look at Super Bowl proposition betting, or more specifically, the fun or funny Super Bowl 45 (XLV) prop bets that you hear so much about. That includes props on the Super Bowl coin toss, Super Bowl halftime show, Super Bowl National Anthem, Super Bowl postgame Gatorade Shower dump and much more. Follow along on the Super Bowl sidebar to the right!

One of the most bet on Super Bowl prop bets is, appropriately enough, over before the game even begins. It will have absolutely nothing to do with the Packers or Steelers or the game that is played. It is, of course, the opening Super Bowl coin toss/flip. As a matter of fact, quite a few of the popular prop bets have little to do with football, as they require no knowledge of the actual game and are essentially a 50/50 chance. Or, you guessed it, a flip of the coin.

So when it comes to the 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) Coin toss/flip prop bet, should you go with heads or tails? NFC (Packers) or AFC (Steelers)? As always, let's turn to our good friend history to iron out some of these flipping details. Here are some fun facts about the Super Bowl coin toss/flip:
  • Remarkably enough, the 50/50 proposition that is a coin toss has, through 44 Super Bowls, been a 50/50 split. Heads and Tails have both shown an equal 22 times, with last year's Heads call evening things back up.
  • The team to win the coin toss has a losing record in the Super Bowl of 21-23, but these "winners" have had even less success recently. In the last 14 Super Bowl coin flips, the winner of the toss lost the game in 10 of those 14, including five losses in the last seven Super Bowls (the underdog Giants and Saints are the exceptions).
  • The NFC has not had much success in the Super Bowl since winning 13 straight of them in the 80's and 90's, however the conference has won the last 13 Super Bowl coin tosses and is 30-14 all-time in calling the correct side of the coin over the AFC representative.
  • Only one team has chosen not to receive the opening kick, when the Arizona Cardinals chose to defer after winning the coin toss in 2008 at Super Bowl XLIII (43), better known as "the last time the Steelers were in the Super Bowl." Arizona, for what it's worth, lost the game.
  • As the visiting team, the Steelers will make the call of heads or tails, just as they did when they lost the call (but won the game) in 2008.
  • The Packers hold an all-time record of 2-2 in the Super Bowl coin toss coin flip (1-2 in wins; 1-0 in losses).
  • The Steelers, on the other hand, are just 1-6 all-time in the Super Bowl coin flip (1-5 in wins; 0-1 in losses).
Given that a coin flip has, by nature, a 50/50 chance of landing on either side, the odds for the Super Bowl coin flip are obviously even, minus some juice:

What will be the result of the 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) coin toss/flip
Heads (-105)
Tails (-105)

It helps, too, that the toss has landed an even 22 times on both options, to get rid of the conspiracy theorists who might say that one side of the coin carries more weight or that it bounces favorably for one side or the other off of natural grass versus an artificial surface (yes, these are things gamblers think about). Obviously, if you can find a book that has odds favoring one side of the coin over the other, take the better odds. Since we landed on heads last year, we like the Steelers to make a heads call and lose the toss, giving tails the 23-22 all-time Super Bowl coin flip advantage.

The Coin flip/toss betting doesn't end with heads and tails, though. As we mentioned, the NFC has a 13-game "win" streak going when it comes to the toss, and you can bet on whether the Packers or Steelers will win it.

Which team will win the 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) coin toss/flip?
Packers (-105)
Steelers (-105)

This is a no-brainer. You have to ride the hot hand and go with the Packers, representing the unstoppable NFC coin-flippers. Although, it was the Packers who, in 1998 Super Bowl XXXII (32), ended the NFC's reign of 13-straight Super Bowl victories. Could unlucky 13 undo the Pack again at The Big Game? We still say no.

Lastly, you can bet on whether the Steelers will correctly call the flip. This is pretty much the same bet, just worded differently.

Will the player making the 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) coin toss/flip call be correct or incorrect?
Correct (-105)
Incorrect (-105)

Since we know that the visiting Steelers are calling it, this really means the exact same thing as which team will win the toss. In which case, we'll say that the Steelers are incorrect, giving the Packers (and the NFC) another coin flip victory.

The bottom line when it comes to the 2011 Super Bowl XLV coin toss proposition bet? Don't flip out. Stick with what we know and ride the trends until proven otherwise.

More 2011 Super Bowl XLV prop betting coverage to come. Stay tuned throughout the next two weeks as we continue to break down the most ridiculous Super Bowl props out there.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Early 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) Prop Bets


Leading up to the 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) between the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers, we'll be taking a look at Super Bowl proposition betting, or more specifically, the fun or funny Super Bowl 45 (XLV) prop bets that you hear so much about. That includes props on the Super Bowl coin toss, Super Bowl halftime show, Super Bowl National Anthem, Super Bowl postgame Gatorade Shower dump and much more. Follow along on the Super Bowl sidebar to the right!

As your unofficial home for all things Super Bowl prop betting, we wanted to give you an idea of what to expect in your proposition betting adventures over the course of the next two weeks leading up to The Big Game.

Here are some standard and generic prop bets that will be offered for the matchup between the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers.

For starters, some of which we mentioned earlier this morning, here are some of the fun and wacky Super Bowl prop bets we look forward to every year:
  • How long will the National Anthem last? This will be an over/under, usually somewhere between 1:30-2:00. This year, the Star Spangled Banner will be performed by Christina Aguilera.
  • How many times the announcers will say ____? This could be the name of a player not involved in the game but heavily mentioned in the pre-game hype. Brett Favre is an obvious possibility.
  • How many times will cameras show ____? This could again be a famous person or player not involved in the game but in attendance. Not President Barack Obama, evidently.
  • Will this be the highest rated Super Bowl ever? With two large fan bases in the Packers and Steelers, this will be attainable. This year's Super Bowl will air on FOX.)
  • What color will the liquid poured on the winning coach be? One of our favorites, this will be a multiple choice question. Just pick a color, simple as that.
  • Who will the game MVP thank first? It could be teammates, a higher power, God, parents, fans, etc.
  • What songs will the halftime entertainer sing? The Black Eyed Peas are this year's halftime act. You can always expect their biggest hits to be played, but there is usually a wild card or two thrown in there.
  • Will the coin toss be heads or tails? Very easy to bet on. Very popular bet. Yes, there is a correlation between the two.
  • Which Super Bowl commercial will have the highest rating according to the USA Today's annual ad meter? Here, you'll bet on which company will be advertised in the top commercial. Beer makers, soft drink producers, and some of the other major Super Bowl advertisers will be options.
  • Which game will be higher scoring, the Super Bowl or _____? Variations of this will exist, asking whether the Super Bowl score will be higher than a college basketball game on Super Sunday, or if a quarterback will have more completions than a basketball player has points, etc.
Aside from the fun props, here's a general list of what to expect:

First, there are your regular lines. The Packers opened at -2 favorites with an over/under set at 45. Don't feel like you have to bet on those, though. Those lines will be different on a quarter-by-quarter basis and updated as the game goes on. The basic bets look like this:
  • Spread
  • Moneyline
  • First half line
  • First quarter line
  • Second quarter line
  • Third quarter line
  • Fourth quarter line (not including overtime)
  • Over/Under
Then you get a little more specific:
  • Total points scored by the home team (Packers)
  • Total points scored by the visiting team (Steelers)
  • First team to score
  • Last team to score
  • Will the last team to score win the game?
  • Will there be a score in the last two minutes of the first half?
  • Will either team score three unanswered times?
  • Will there be a score in the first six and a half minutes of the game?
  • Which team will have the longest touchdown?
  • Will there be a successful two-point conversion?
  • Will there be a safety?
  • Which half will have the highest point score?
  • Which quarter will have the highest point score?
  • Will the home team ever have the lead?
  • Which team will commit the first turnover?
  • Which team will use the coaches' challenge first?
  • Which team will be the first to call a timeout?
  • Will there be overtime?
  • Which team will get the first penalty?
Then, as we inch closer to the game, we'll have plenty of player props:
  • Who will have more yards between a Packers RB/WR (such as Greg Jennings) and Steelers RB/WR (such as Hines Ward)?
  • Who will have more tackles between a Packers defender (such as Clay Matthews) or Steelers defender (such as James Harrison)?
  • How many yards will a team's star player (such as Aaron Rodgers) have? Answers will be in increments. For example: Between 200-240; Between 240-280, etc.)
Now that you know what to expect, you can expect to find more in-depth coverage of the above proposition bets right here at Stock Lemon. Tomorrow we will begin with our very detailed coverage of some of these aforementioned prop bets as we try to make prop betting profitable during the 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) between the Packers and Steelers.

2011 Super Bowl XLV (45): Prop Betting Schedule


Leading up to the 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) between the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers, we'll be taking a look at Super Bowl proposition betting, or more specifically, the funny Super Bowl 45 (XLV) prop bets that you hear so much about. That includes props on the Super Bowl coin toss, Super Bowl halftime show, Super Bowl National Anthem, Super Bowl postgame Gatorade Shower and much more. Follow along on the Super Bowl sidebar to the right!

The Super Bowl is finally set, but before we can get the ball rolling on our 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) Prop Bet analysis, we wanted to give somewhat of a layout as far as when we'll be releasing the aforementioned proposition betting insight.

This is a tentative schedule, but our main focus throughout the first week will be to touch upon our favorite props--the fun, goofier ones, such as the ones listed above: the length of Christina Aguilera's Star Spangled Banner, the pre-game coin flip, and the post-game Gatorade dump.

Over the weekend, we'll look at a few 2011 Pro Bowl props with a pick on the NFL's All-Star game between the AFC and NFC, taking place on January 30 in Hawaii.

Following the Pro Bowl, when we're officially down to the Super Bowl as the final football game of the 2010(-11) season, we'll take a closer look at some of the more serious stuff--the player and team prop bets.

Later today, we'll get the ball rolling when we take a look at some early 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) prop bets to keep an eye on. Stay with us throughout these next two weeks as we approach Super Bowl 45, and we promise, you won't be disappointed.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) Lines: Green Bay Packers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers


It's official: It's the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) in two weeks. Over the course of that time, we'll roll out our highly anticipated and fun Super Bowl prop bet coverage, which we'll get to in a bit.

But first things first, let's get to the just released early spread and odds for Super Bowl XLV between the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers, just as the oddsmakers predicted headed into championship week.

Green Bay Packers -2
Pittsburgh Steelers +2
OVER/UNDER 45

Our early thoughts are that we're a little surprised Green Bay is still favored after a shaky performance in Chicago (even favored by -2 1/2 some places). The OVER/UNDER seems to be set pretty well once again, and our early gut feeling is that it will be over with the explosive Packers offense in a dome.

As for our undefeated Free NFL Playoff Picks? Not so undefeated anymore. Both the Bears and Jets failed to cover as we predicted. Keep in mind, as we have mentioned, that these picks would not necessarily be Free NFL Picks if not for the big-game stature. What fun is betting if you don't bet the big games? But they count as Free NFL Picks nonetheless, moving us down to 4-2 in the postseason and 60% (still pretty good) overall for the 2010 NFL campaign.

And our 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) prop bet coverage begins... now. Or shortly. When we next post.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

AFC Championship Free NFL Pick: New York Jets vs. Pittsburgh Steelers


Our Free NFC Championship Pick is in, and now it's time to see who will represent the AFC in the 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45).

As we mentioned earlier today, we've been riding the dogs to a 4-0 Free NFL Playoff Pick record--all of whom have won straight their matchups straight up. That includes these plucky Jets, 9 1/2 point dogs last week in New England and all.

It's our longterm philosophy to not bet on money lines and rather stick straight to spreads, but the way we are picking winners this postseason, we may need to rethink that bogus philosophy, because it would have led to an even more profitable 2011 NFL season that has seen our Free NFL Picks hit 62%.

And, in case you forgot, these picks are completely free, outperforming those of many paid "expert" sites. Free, unless you count shamelessly requesting donations via the Paypal button the left.

Anyway, as we said earlier, we expect another dog day afternoon on Sunday on the way to the Super Bowl in North Texas. Our Free AFC Championship Pick:

New York Jets +3 1/2 over the Pittsburgh Steelers

This one, we feel, is a little tricker than in the NFC. In the NFC we have an underrated home dog against an injury riddled public darling. In the AFC, we have about exactly what you'd expect. A quality football team laying just over a field goal at home against a team they are slightly better than--even though Pittsburgh fell to New York earlier this year.

But, in what could be a defensive smashmouth type of game, we like the points. And speaking of mouths, we like Rex Ryan and the Jets. Like the Packers, they are a hot 6-seed taking down quality opponents on their way to the conference championship game. But they are up against a team that is properly valued, having won two Super Bowls in the last six years, and therefore have been lost in the shuffle a bit.

And so it is. We're riding these playoff dogs like it's the Iditarod, all the way to 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45). See you there, Jets (or Steelers by a field goal).

NFC Championship Free NFL Pick: Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears


The NFC and AFC Championship games--our last roadblock before we begin our coverage of the 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45), take place this weekend, and we're using our Saturday to deliver our Free NFL Picks on both games.

Our Free NFL Picks that, oh by the way, are hitting 62% this season, including a perfect 4-0 mark in the playoffs. So technically, the team we pick to lose has only a 38% chance of covering the spread. Or is it even less than that?

All four of our Free NFL Playoff Picks have been underdogs. All four have gone on to not only cover, but also win their matchup straight up. And we're riding the dogs all the way to the Super Bowl with our Free NFC Championship Pick:

Chicago Bears +3 1/2 over the Green Bay Packers

The Packers are good. We've gathered as much from their impressive run in the playoffs. They are, as dubbed both by themselves and the national media, the hottest team in all of football. We have a hard time disagreeing. But this is a division game--on the road. For the Bears, the division winner and 2-seed in the NFC, mind you--to be dogs by more than a field goal is almost unheard of.

The public loves the Packers, and with good reason. Like we said, they have a ton of talent. The more talented team, though, doesn't always win, particularly on the road against a divisional rival. At the very least, the more talented team doesn't always cover. And you should always, ALWAYS beware of the home dog. We'll take the Bears and the points.

So, who will the Bears face in Super Bowl XLV? Don't worry, our Free AFC Championship Pick will be up shortly. Stay tuned as we spend our Saturday doing what we've done at a 62% clip this season--picking NFL winners.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Projected 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) Spreads


We're down to the Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers as we prepare for our coverage of 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45). But why wait until the matchup is actually determined to take a look at possible spreads for the Super Bowl. Bob's Blitz has the scoop, and here's what those lines look like:

Packers -1 over Steelers
Packers -1.5 over Jets
Jets -2.5 over Bears
Steelers -3 over Bears


So this confirms it: Vegas thinks the Packers will win it all regardless and the Bears will lose it regardless. Of course, these lines are easily swayed by the most recent performance of a team, so if there is a blowout in one of the AFC or NFC Championship games, expect that to be reflected in the actual 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) spread.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Updated 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) Odds: Will it be Packers vs. Steelers?


It's the Tuesday before 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) in North Texas, and before we can get to our Super Bowl prop betting analysis, we have to wait for the actual matchup to be determined.

With that in mind, let's take a look at the updated odds to win Super Bowl XLV (45).

Green Bay Packers +175
Pittsburgh Steelers +200
New York Jets +350
Chicago Bears +450

The Packers are clearly the favorite to come out of the NFC--going into Chicago to beat the division rival Bears. The Pack have the hot hand, and it's often wise to ride it in the NFL playoffs. Yet, for a road team to be such overwhelming favorites has to raise the eyebrows a bit. Beware the road dogs, as they say, particularly in the NFC Championship game. Aaron Rodgers recent performances have the public loving the Packers a little too much.

The Steelers are the team favored to matchup with the Packers, and according to the odds, lose to Green Bay in the Super Bowl. The difference between the Steelers and Jets (+150) is a little more reasonable than the (+275) difference between the Packers and Bears, again keeping in mind that this game is played at Soldier Field.

So those are the individual team odds, but what about the actual matchups? What are the odds on the predicted Steelers/Packers matchup based on the team odds to win the game?

Your odds to meet in Super Bowl XLV (45) are as follows:

Packers vs. Steelers +110
Packers vs. Jets +250
Bears vs. Steelers +250
Bears vs. Jets +500

From our perspective, as we've been riding dogs throughout the NFL postseason, we like seeing these +500 odds on the two underdogs, the Bears and Jets. Aside from oddsmakers overwhelmingly thinking the Packers and Steelers will meet for the Lombardi trophy, is that the Packers/Jets (total of +525 to win Super Bowl individually) can be had at the same odds as the Steelers/Bears (+650). But again, those +500 odds are something to think about for a Bear/Jets matchup, despite the bookies' opinion (which is a reflection of the way the public thinks, or at least the way bookies expect them to think) that the Packers and Steelers will meet.

The way these NFL Playoffs have been going, always expect the unexpected--including for the Super Bowl XLV (45) matchup.

Monday, January 17, 2011

An Early Look at the NFL Championship Game Odds



The early lines are out for the final two NFL games before the Super Bowl and boy does the new Super Bowl logo look good. The NFC Championship and AFC Championships ain't too shabby either. Enough with the Super Bowl logos, let's take a look at what next weekend's slate of games has to offer and which team the bookmakers think has the best odds to advance to the 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) in North Texas:


Packers -3
Bears +3
OVER/UNDER 43 1/2


The first thing that comes to mind is that over/under. The Bears have put up 35-plus in five of the last six weeks (the exception being a three-point performance in Week 17 against the Packers), and the Packers are well-known for their explosive offense. In two matchups this season, though, the teams combined for 50 points, just 6 1/2 more than this one game calls them to score. It's winter. It's Chicago. It's cold. And on top of that, it's a division rivalry between two excellent defenses. We have a hard time thinking that number won't drop a little.


As for the spread, the Packers open as favorites for the first time this postseason after winning as dogs in Atlanta and Philly. Will this have an impact on the nobody believes in us theme? The public is riding high on the Packers, and rightfully so, but it's clear that nobody believes in the Bears, the No. 2 seed in the NFC and the division champs, playing at home where they beat the division runner-up Pack earlier this season. Bears bettors have to be salivating over this one.


Jets +3
Steelers -3
OVER/UNDER 38


These lines--both the over/under and the spread--seem much more in line with what we typically see when a No. 2 seed hosts a No. 6. The Steelers and Jets both defeated division rivals to get to this point, so both are coming off huge emotional victories with no real advantage either way. The over/under seems about right, and our initial lean might even be the over as both, while known for their defense, have very productive offenses with plenty of weapons.


We're amped up for what should prove to be an exciting few weeks, as we bet the NFC Championship, AFC Championship, Pro Bowl and Super Bowl, with plenty of prop bets in between.



The BetFirms odds feed is constantly updated with the latest lines and their handicappers will help you come out on top.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Four Dogs, Four Straight Up Wins For Free NFL Playoff Picks


... Now let's go eat a god damn snack!

If you're not following our Free NFL Playoff Picks, what are you waiting for? After a successful season over 60%, we are now 4-0 in the playoffs, picking four dogs and seeing them win straight up in each contest so far. While we foolishly haven't been betting money lines (part of a long-term philosophy that we may need to re-think), we hope you have been doing so or at least hoping on these picks and taking the points.

The Jets are the latest to win straight up despite being huge dogs of 9 1/2 points. As we noted earlier this week, this line was largely public driven based on the Week 13 game between these two clubs. Sure, the Pats kicked the crap out of the Jets, but not to the point where they should be nearly 10 point favorites in an intra-division playoff game against a highly confident and talented squad.

While our Free NFL Picks stay hot (7-1 since Week 17), they are far from finished. We'll have plenty of coverage as the NFL's Final Four heads toward the 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45). Will it be the Jets-Bears? Jets-Packers? Steelers-Bears? Steelers-Packers? We'll find out soon enough--and then the real fun begins: Super bowl prop betting season.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Rodgers and Packers Improve Free NFL Playoff Picks to 3-0


We interrupt our regularly scheduled posts featuring scantily-clad young ladies to show you something that, to those wagering on the Packers Saturday, is even sexier.

Aaron Rodgers is the reason we felt confident in our Free NFL Pick of the Packers +2 1/2 over the Falcons, and his play has helped those very picks to a 3-0 playoff start.

The Packers and Steelers have made it to the Final Four in the NFL and will await their opponents on Sunday. We'll pick up the coverage of those match-ups as the Super Bowl nears, and we may even have some 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) proposition wagers prior to the Super Bowl matchup even being determined.

And, of course, once our Super Bowl teams are set in stone, the prop betting fun really begins when we take a look at some of the wackier prop bets of Super Bowl 45, including the coin toss, Gatorade dump and National Anthem.

As a reminder, our Free NFL Pick for Sunday's slate of games:

Jets +9 1/2 over the Patriots

Good luck and stay with us throughout the NFL Playoffs as we close in on our expansive Super Bowl gambling coverage!

Free NFL Playoff Picks Continue as Super Bowl Nears (61%)



At this point, we are already just counting down the days to 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) in Dallas, waiting to unleash the fury of our prop betting expertise. But for now, we will "settle" for high-caliber playoff football in what some call the best weekend in the NFL.


As it stand right now, we have one pick for Saturday and one pick for Sunday. They are:


Packers +1 1/2 over Falcons


Jets +9 1/2 over Patriots


We have been riding the dogs this postseason (believe us, Seahawks +10 and Ravens +3 1/2 are also very tempting), but we think these two plays represent the best value on the board. The Packers seem to be too obvious of a pick, and too many people are counting out the 13-3 Falcons who rarely lose at home. Still, the Packers have the hot hand and in the playoffs, you ride it.


In the Jets/Patriots showdown, much has been made about the pre-game smack talk. We think much more needs to be made about the fact that the Pats defense isn't all that good. Sure, Mark Sanchez is horrible, but we just think the Patriots are more vulnerable than most think--even at home. To get 9 1/2 points against a division team in the playoffs is absurd and something that is basically the result of one single game that the Patriots and Jets played.


Lots of value with the dogs once again, as is often the case in the playoffs, and we're riding with these two as our 2-0 Free NFL Playoff Picks look to remain winless.



Check the BetFirms odds feed for live lines and sign up for their expert NFL picks to win more of your bets.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Free NCAA Football Picks Year In Review (55%)


Now that we have had a couple of days to reflect on the 2010 NCAA Football season, and we've come to the realization that no, there won't be a plus-one game added so that the undefeated Auburn Tigers and TCU Horned Frogs can determine a real college football champion. We've also had a little bit of time to take a look back at our Free NCAA Football Picks for the season.

After a less than stellar regular season just barely over 52%, we kicked it into high gear for an impressive 9-1 bowl record to finish at 64-53-1 (55%) for the season. Our stated goal is always 60%, and clearly we were short of that mark yet, but we did find some success, particularly at the end of the season.

So with that, take a final look at our week-by-week Free NCAA Football Pick records before we begin preparations for an even more profitable 2011.

Free NCAA Football Picks
Week 1: 5-4-1
Week 2: 8-4
Week 3: 3-6
Week 4: 4-7
Week 5: 3-6
Week 6: 5-2
Week 7: 5-3
Week 8: 5-3
Week 9: 5-0
Week 10: 3-3
Week 11: 1-7
Week 12: 2-2
Week 13: 4-3
Week 14: 2-2
Bowls: 9-1
Overall: 64-53-1... 55%

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Free NHL Picks Improve to 4-0 in 2010-11


Shockingly, we haven't had a Free NHL Pick all year! We have held off on a few plays in 2011 and finally pulled the trigger with Philly tonight, resulting in our fourth Free NHL Pick win in four attempts this season.

It didn't start pretty, as the Flyers found themselves down to the Sabres 2-0 at the start, but it wasn't anything five unanswered goals couldn't take care of.

And so, we are 4-0 in our Free NHL Picks, roughly 100% if we're any good at math. This is a good thing, because once the NFL season ends, there will be a lot more hockey action around here.

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