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 Fiancée) 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 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.

Some MLB Futures to Ponder

We were looking at some MLB Futures today and saw a couple of frontrunners at decent value. 

As many of you know, since Jenn Sterger became a fan of our Stock Lemon Facebook page, we try tie her in to anything and everything that we do that can even remotely be traced to her, hence the picture of her wearing a Cubs hat. 

This, of course, ties in to this particular post because we really see value in the Cubs odds to win the NL Central. 1/2 odds don't seem like a great value now, but come July you'll be glad you got on the Cubs when you did. 

With the Brewers (11/2) likely to fall from the high brought on by last year's Wild Card appearance, we see the Cardinals (3/1) as the only real threat for the NL Central crown. In the end, the Cubs are just too good to let either of these teams take the division. We're not saying they'll win it all this year, in fact we'd strongly persuade you not to make a bet that crazy, but the division should be all theirs. 

Meanwhile, the AL East appeals to us as well. The division boasts the three headed monster that is the Red Sox (7/5), Rays (5/1), and Yankees (6/5). After being the odd team out last year, the Yankees made some major free agent upgrades--and for once spent their money wisely. We like the Yankees to get back to the playoffs via the division crown. 

We don't have a system to support us in these predictions, just, we think, a little common sense.  

Super Bowl XLIII Prop Bet: The Gatorade Shower

To see the 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) Gatorade Shower Prop Bet in the game between the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers, click here.

Leading up to the Super Bowl, we'll be taking a look at various proposition bets for the 2009 Super Bowl, Super Bowl 43, Super Bowl XLIII, The Big Game, or whatever you want to call it. You can check out previous prop bet analysis on the upper right sidebar.

We've talked about the coin toss and the National Anthem, two prop bets that take place before all the action. Now it's time to talk about something that takes place after all, or at least most, of the action--the Gatorade shower!

Bodog has plenty of choices for you in the prop bet: What Color will the Gatorade be that is dumped on the Head Coach of the Winning Super Bowl Team?

There's lime green, yellow, orange, red, blue, clear/water, and whatever else they add or delete from this list after reading our analysis.

We might not be able to tell you exactly which color Gatorade will be dumped on the winning coach, but we can certainly narrow it down.

Go ahead and cross off orange, red, blue, and lime green from that list right away. The only way that any of those colors will make an appearance is if Bodog claims that the yellow Gatorade is really lime green, just to screw with everyone.

That leaves us with yellow (3/1 odds) and clear/water (4/5). Your safe bet here is to go with clear/water, though you'll lose some juice (get it?). If you're feeling a little risky, though, yellow is as safe a risk you can make at 3/1 odds this Super Bowl. Here's why:

In both the NFC and AFC Championship Games, yellow Gatorade was dumped onto the winning coaches.

Ken Whisenhunt got his improbable golden shower after the Cardinals clinched their first ever Super Bowl appearance...

As did Mike Tomlin after bringing the Steelers back to The Big Game for the team's second appearance in four years.

Now, despite the fact that yellow was the preferred color in both Championship games, the reason clear/water is the favorite is because of its history in recent Super Bowls.

Let's start with those Steelers back in Super Bowl XL in 2006, when Bill Cowher took a bath in the clear liquid.

In 2007, in a rainy Super Bowl XLI, Colts coach Tony Dungy found himself under a rain cloud shaped like a Gatorade bucket.

Then of course, last year in Super Bowl XLII, Giants coach Tom Coughlin received the perfect reward for his team's upset win.

So, in at least the last three Super Bowls, including one in which the Steelers made it rain on their coach, clear/water was the color beverage doused onto the winning signal caller.

In our view, you have two choices. You can either go with the Championship Game momentum of the yellow Gatorade and hope to triple your cash, or you can stick with the recent Super Bowl trend of clear/water.

Either way, this is a good prop bet for those looking to whet their appetite for wet coaches.

We Have Readers in Antigua

We here at Stock Lemon must apologize, for we may have inadvertently helped the bookies figure out that they were way off on the National Anthem Super Bowl Prop Bet.

Originally, the books had the over/under set at 1 minute 54 seconds. While the odds slowly shifted and eventually forced over bettors to lay some heavy chalk, they could still do so at 1 minute 54 seconds.

Then we posted about Jennifer Hudson's previous performances of the National Anthem, all of which went well over 1 minute 54 seconds, and mere hours later the line on this prop has shot up to 2 minutes 1 second!

Line movement on a National Anthem prop is nothing new. These things happen as books get more action on one side than they get on the other (the over in this case). But seven seconds?

We think we might have accidently done the homework for Bodog, comfortably reading from their headquarters in Antigua.

Hopefully you were able to get on this prop, or can still find it at another book, at 1 minute 54 seconds, in which case the over is still a steal.

If not, it's probably one we would stay away from. Don't worry though, there are plenty of other props to bet on, and some of them even include the Steelers and Cardinals!

Super Bowl XLIII Prop Bet: The National Anthem

To see the 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) National Anthem Prop Bet, featuring Christina Aguilera in the game between the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers, click here.

Over the next week and half leading up to the Super Bowl, we'll be taking a look at various proposition bets for the 2009 Super Bowl, Super Bowl 43, Super Bowl XLIII, The Big Game, or whatever you want to call it.



Before the Steelers and Cardinals can execute their keys to the game, America (and several countries outside the United States) will be paying close attention to some keys prior to kickoff--the keys song by Jennifer Hudson during the National Anthem.



The former American Idol contestant, whether she knows it or not, will be responsible for what might be the first of many prop bets for millions around the world.



Bodog currently has the following odds:



Super Bowl XLIII - How long will it take Jennifer Hudson to sing the National Anthem?

Clock starts as soon as Hudson sings first Note and Stops when she sings her last note. Singles Only. Max $50. (This Prop is Closed for Betting)

Over 1 Minute and 54 Seconds -250

Under 1 Minute and 54 Seconds +195



Thanks to modern technology, aka Youtube, we're able to disect this proposition wager and determine the best possible bet. And we've determined that the Over is, even at -250 odds, an absolute steal. The evidence is below.



Let's first take a look at the Anthem that Hudson delivered at the Democratic National Convention on August 28, 2008.









Her first note starts at about :02 into the video and ends at the 2:03 mark. Simple math will tell you that that equates to a 2 minute and 1 second long anthem, seven seconds longer than the prop bet calls for.



What's interesting about this clip is that you'll notice that she could have been done at about the 1:50 mark when she finished the last word of the song, only to repeat it again immediately after, which would put the anthem at just 1 minute and 48 seconds.



Fear not, over bettors, because she would have held out that last note and dragged out the word "brave" if not for her putting her own creative spin on the Anthem. And, yes, we have more evidence to support our claim.



Here's another Anthem which, despite its phone camera quality, is very telling. This one is from Jackie Robinson Day back on April 15, 2007, prior to a Dodgers-Padres game.









This one, high quality as it is, cuts off the first two words of her performance (Oh Say), beginning with the word "can." It's hard to tell exactly when it stops, but we're going to guess its around the 1:58 mark. Remember, the bet ends on the very last note, and even without two words, she's still four seconds longer than the over/under.



Since the Dodger game is obviously a sports venue, we feel pretty confident that we'll get a similar Anthem out of her at the Super Bowl.



Finally, although Hudson, like many others, tends to drag out more notes or add a creative element during live performance--which the Super Bowl will be, of course--we thought we would go ahead and include her studio release of the famliar tune, in case anyone is paranoid that the audience at either previous performance caused her to go longer than she normally would.









The studio version begins at about the :18 mark and finishes at 2:16 for a grand total of 1 minute and 58 seconds. So, let's recap.



DNC August 28, 2008: 2 minute 1 second; 7 seconds longer than over/under

Dodgers April 15, 2007: 1 minute 58 seconds (w/o two words); 4+ seconds longer than o/u

Recorded version: 1 minute 58 seconds; 4 seconds longer than o/u

Needless to say, we're pretty confident that when Hudson ends with "And the Land of the Free, Home of the Brave," she'll be well over the 1 minute and 54 second mark.

Be brave and feel free to make that bet.



Get all of the latest NFL odds by visiting BetFirms.com.

Keep an Eye on the Patriots Line

As Tom Brady limped off the field Sunday, we couldn't wait to see the line for the Patriots next game agains the Jets this week. We figured, with the star quarterback lost for the year in a game that saw his team barely sneak by the Chiefs, the Patriots won't be getting any respect this week against Brett Favre and the J-E-T-S.

We were right.

The Patriots line is +1 1/2 on Bodog, and that will be one to watch for this weekend as we dish out our Free NFL Picks (which were 60% in week one). Keep a close eye on this line, as the public might give the Patriots even more points!

The bottom line is this: the Patriots went 18-1 and earned a Super Bowl appearance last year as a team. Although Brady was a huge part of that, the Patriots still have a great team, and should still be able to beat the Jets.

Brady or no Brady, Favre or no Favre, there's no way we pass up on a chance to take the most dominant team in the league at +1 1/2 over the Jets, who looked shakey at best last week against the Dolphins.

All that the new Pats QB Matt Cassel has to do is chuck it up to Randy Moss, which he proved capable of in Kansas City, and the Patriots stellar offensive line, underrated rushing game, and solid defense should take care of the rest.

When the Patriots steamroll the Jets this weekend, remember to thank us. And Bernard Pollard.

MLB Tonight, NBA Futures

Despite the deciding game seven of the Hornets and Spurs being played tonight, we do not have a play on this game that fits our system. We do, however, have one MLB play for tonight.

Chicago Cubs -1 1/2 (+125) over the Houston Astros

Lance Berkman and the Astros are hot, but Alfonso Soriano and the Cubs are hotter. Our Free MLB Picks went 3-0 on Saturday, and we expect to add another win to our record.

In addition to the MLB play tonight, we have some NBA Future Bets on the Pistons/Celtics Eastern Conference Finals. These are not Free NBA Picks, but are plays we are making nonetheless. They are:

Pistons to win the Series (+115 at Bodog)

Will the Celtics Win a Road Game in this Series? NO (+165 at Bodog)

So there you have them. We like the Pistons to advance the NBA Finals and the Celtics road woes to continue.

For tonight, though, just the Cubs to beat up on the Stros. Good luck!

UPDATE: We took the Pistons in the series at +115 odds.

Another NBA Playoff Bet

We have one play today as we try to continue to the small momentum from a 4-2 NBA weekend.

Boston Celtics/Cleveland Cavaliers UNDER 185

Good luck!

UPDATE: We realize that this line is now lower than 185. We placed our bet yesterday at Bodog, but to avoid confusion, we always post our bets on the day of the game. We will try post as soon as we make a bet, and be very clear about what day the game is on. Posting in advance is especially confusing in MLB, when teams play each other for consecutive days, so we generally try to avoid it this time of year.

Fun With NFL Draft Prop Bets

The Miami Dolphins made Michigan tackle Jake Long the first overall pick in the NFL Draft, reminding us that the draft is fast approaching. We'll wager on plenty of NFL Draft prop bets this weekend, and of course, we'll try to get as many "cocrect" as possible.

That said, we've found our first juicy bet on Bodog.

The prop is: Who will be the second QB drafted?

We think it's almost a lock that Louisville's Brian Brohm is the second quarterback selected, after Boston College's Matt Ryan--and we don't use the word "lock" often. At 5/6 odds, this is still a pretty good value, but we'd imagine the odds will only get worse as the draft approaches.

Brohm was once considered a Top 10 pick earlier in the year, and there is no reason for the other options (Delaware's Joe Flacco, Michigan's Chad Henne, and the talented Other) to be picked higher than Brohm.

We'll have more draft pick props in the coming days, so be sure to make us your home for NFL Draft prop bets.

Is That a Trick Question?

Take a look at this prop offered by Bodog pertaining to this weekend's NFL Draft.

If you want some "cocrect" picks, make Stock Lemon your home for the NFL Draft. We'll take a look at some props, as well as live-betting options, to help your wallet draft a few dead presidents over the weekend.

NBA All-Star Game on Bodog Live

We have yet to mention one of our favorite betting features, but since some people tend to get a little bored during all-star games, we thought the NBA All-Star Game would be the perfect time to let you in on our secret. We love in-game betting, and nobody has a better in-game betting tool than Bodog's aptly titled Bodog Live.

It's a fun and easy way to stay interested in an otherwise meaningless game, with instant payouts into your Bodog account as well as instant gratification. We've had some fun with this, betting on nearly every play during a game, and have made a little bit of money, although we do it mostly for fun than for cash.

If live betting isn't your thing (you're crazy), you can do some reading instead. The loyal Stock Lemon followers over at The Bucky Channel (who even have a link to us on their site) will have a live blog of the game that is worth checking out. Enjoy the game!

Free NASCAR Picks for Daytona 500

We had no plays in any sports yesterday, but we're expecting a huge day today. Since we've done so well venturing out with our Free NHL Picks (3-0 so far), we decided to try out another new sport--NASCAR!

Today, of course, is the Daytona 500, and there are four favorites to win the race. Right off the bat, you can pretty much narrow it down to these four:

Dale Earnhardt Jr... 11/5

Tony Stewart... 4/1

Jeff Gordon... 5/1

Jimmie Johnson... 5/1

But who do you select in a group filled with talented drivers like this? You bet on the hungriest one of the four. Earnhardt Jr., Gordon, and Johnson won the race in 2004, 2005, and 2006, respectively. Tony Stewart had big leagues near the end of all those races, but could never finish the job. Well folks, this is Tony Stewart's year. At 4/1 odds, we like No. 20 to get it done today at Daytona.

Aside from our winning selection of Stewart, we also like a head-to-head matchup we found on Bodog. Clint Bowyer is underrated in this contest, and we like him straight up at +125 odds to finish ahead of Casey Mears. Good luck and enjoy the race!

Democratic Presidential Candidate Wager

Here at Stock Lemon, we don't just bet on sports--we bet on anything that we think we can win money on. That's why we're throwing our hat into the political ring to bet on the 2008 Democratic nomination for the Presidential Election.

That being said, we're putting our money on Barack Obama to win this one. With odds currently at 5/8 for Obama to win, this is a bargain. The odds at Bodog are shifting by the minute as Obama rapidly becomes the clear-cut favorite over Hillary Clinton througout the state primaries, so get this one while you can.

Clinton will continue to shed tears as Obama makes a strong run at the presidency, while anyone with money on Obama will be shedding tears of joy--and will be using 100 dollar bills to wipe those sweet, victorious tears.

Free Pro Bowl Picks

We were hoping to provide you with plenty of prop bets to keep you busy on Pro Bowl Sunday, but Bodog must be all NFL-proped out, because they have nothing to offer.

As for the actual game, we like the Peyton Manning and the AFC -3 today over the NFC. The AFC has been superior to the NFC for the last few years, and the spread is usually at least a touchdown in favor of the AFC come Pro Bowl time.

We also like the teams to score over 62 points, since defense is usually non-existent in this game. Good luck!

Gasol Debut Calls For Bonus NBA Prop Bets

With Pau Gasol now wearing purple, we like our odds at winning some green with a few bonus NBA Prop Bets for tonight's game between the Lakers and the Nets.

It'll be the first game as a Laker for the Spaniard, and we expect him and Kobe Bryant to light up the Nets. The Lakers will be jacked up after acquiring Gasol from the Grizzlies, and will likely jump out to an early lead and keep it. We're not betting on the actual game, but we like the Lakers to be the first to 10 points and then to 20 points as well. The odds for the props are -150 and -165, respectively, at Bodog.

And for our readers from the great country of Spain, keep checking back! With Gasol on the Lakers, this team will be hard to stop!

Good luck with the bonus bets!

Breaking News: National Anthem Line Changed!

With the Super Bowl just about an hour away, there are new lines on Bodog for the Jordin Sparks National Anthem prop. The line is now up to 1 minute and 48 seconds, and the under is going for +110 odds! We were sold on the under at 1 minute and 42 seconds with the odds set at -110, and now this! Six more seconds is a long time.

We are feeling a little worse about our bet at this point, but if you want it at better odds, it's there for the taking. 

Enjoy the game and good luck.

Super Bowl May Smash Audience Record

Here's an article for anyone still on the fence about whether or not Super Bowl XLII between the Giants and Patriots will be the most watched in history. In case you forgot, we took Yes for -200 at Bodog, and are feeling better than ever about that Super Bowl prop bet. From the article:

While the Patriots' quest for history will be the focus, they must beat the New York Giants, who represent the biggest television market in the country. The Giants' underdog run to the Super Bowl has captivated its fan base, and the NFC championship victory over the Green Bay Packers had the biggest audience for that game since 1995, according to Nielsen Media Research.

There's also the fresh memory of the thrilling game the Giants and Patriots played on the last night of the regular season, where New England had to come from behind to keep their unbeaten streak alive. That game was seen by 34.5 million people, the most-watched NFL regular season game since 1990. Fox says that setting a record is possible.

The game airs on Fox on Sunday, so there's plenty of time to make your bet.

Bonus Free NBA Pick

We have a bonus play on the Houston Rockets -3 tonight against the Golden State Warriors. This line opened at -8 1/2 on Bodog before being pulled, and is now down to -3 because the Rockets may be without Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming tonight. Either way, the Rockets still have plenty of value at home.

Even More Super Bowl Prop Bets

We've already picked out a few Super Bowl props that we like, but for those of you who don't fancy betting on hypothetical handshakes and national anthem times, we've gone ahead and found a few more props that you might be interested in betting on.

Just like the props we've already bet on, few of these have anything to do with the Patriots and Giants actually playing football. What would be the fun in that? We have nothing riding on any of these (yet), but here are a few of the other options out there:

• Which QB will Troy Aikman mention first after opening kickoff, Eli Manning or Tom Brady?
• How many times will Joe Buck mention Peyton Manning's name during the broadcast? Over/Under 5 1/2 times
• If the Patriots win, will Bob Kraft mention the 72 Dolphins during the Trophy Presentation, yes or no?
• How many times will Archie Manning be shown on the TV Broadcast? Over/Under 4 1/2 times
• Will the entire Fox pre-game team pick the Patriots to win the Super Bowl, yes or no?

These props and more can all be found on Bodog. If for some reason you want to bet on the actual game, they have a few props for that as well.