Image via Complex Original
Super Bowl Sunday is one of the biggest gambling days of the year. Last year, $98.93 million was generated in gambling in the state of Nevada alone. This year, with the No. 1 offense of the Denver Broncos taking on the No. 1 defense of the Seattle Seahawks, the Broncos find themselves as a 2.5 point favorite in the Meadowlands. Weather will be a factor. Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson will be factors. The remarkably tough Seattle secondary comprised of Kam Chancellor, Earl Thomas, Richard Sherman, and Walter Thurmond will be a factor. But what are you willing to bet on? More specifically, what are you willing to bet on that is actually interesting? It gets a little boring to place your money on trivial stuff like sacks or the first person to score a touchdown, doesn't it? Isn't anyone out there wondering if what part the polar vortex will play in the game? You know that Winter Storm Leon isn't about to let Super Bowl XLVIII go off without a hitch.
With questions like this in mind, we put together a list of the Most Ridiculous Super Bowl Prop Bets. Get your wallets out, and get ready for the game. If you don't have a stake in this match-up, then this is a quick and easy way to get invested.
Over/Under -4: Number of Times That the Announcers Compare Peyton Manning and John Elway's Legacies
The bet: Over.
Peyton Manning has spent a lot time deflecting talk about his "legacy" this past week, but you can be sure that without No. 18 to keep them in check, Joe Buck and Troy Aikman and the entire FOX Studio won't be afraid to beat that topic into the ground. And, with Elway watching from the owner's box above, the Broncos president will be a natural subject of comparison for Peyton. Don't hesitate to take the over here.
Over/Under -5: Number of Super Bowl Commercials That Feature Peyton Manning
The bet: Over.
This bet is sort've a trick question, because it's more likely than not that Peyton Manning will be in literally every single Super Bowl commercial possible. Five? For Mr. Cut That Meat? That's chump change. Expect Manning to break one more record this season when he dominates the off-the-field aspect of the Super Bowl as well.
15/1: Odds That Bruno Mars Wears Pharrell's Hat During the Halftime Show
The bet: Bet against.
Bruno Mars is a man who likes his hats. There's no doubt about that, and the proof is well-documented. But is he able to match the fashion vision of Pharrell and go as bold as Skateboard P did during the Grammys? Don't count on it.
50/1: Odds That Joe Buck and Troy Aikman Light Up a Blunt in the Booth
The bet: Take the odds.
It's the Super Bowl, and this time, that name isn't just about the football. As you may or may not have heard, both Denver and Seattle have some pretty loose policies with regards to weed. And Joe Buck and Troy Aikman are definitely aware of that, right? The only question is: will they take a taste of Seattle or Denver's finest? Be bold. Take the bet. If you win, it will be the greatest moment of every football fan's life.
20/1: Odds That the Polar Vortex Postpones the Game Indefinitely
The bet: Take the odds.
The timing is just too perfect. The winter of 2013-14 has been one of the worst in recent memory, forcing school closings, accidents, flight delays, and other catastrophes in just about every part of the country. And the NFL thinks that they'll make it through an entire football game with all of this? Not if Winter Storm Leon has anything to say about it.
4/1: Odds That Richard Sherman Yells Into the Camera if the Seahawks Win the Coin Toss
The bet: Take the odds.
I'M THE BEST COIN-CALLER IN THE GAME. WHEN YOU TRY ME WITH A SORRY SIDE LIKE TAILS, THAT'S THE RESULT YOU GONNA GET. DON'T YOU EVER CALL TAILS ON ME. DON'T YOU OPEN YOUR MOUTH ABOUT THE BEST OR I'M GONNA SHUT IT FOR YOU REAL QUICK.
25/1: Odds That The Red Hot Chili Peppers Come Out Onto the Stage Completely Naked
The bet: Take the odds.
As you can see from the picture above, the Red Hot Chili Peppers have never been afraid to strip down and rock out. On the grandest stage in America, do you really think that they're going to shrink in the spotlight? If M.I.A. wasn't afraid to flick off the camera during the 2012 Super Bowl, bet that Anthony Kiedis is willing to stride the stage in his birthday suit.
3/1: Odds That Bruno Mars Appears Genuinely Terrified of The Red Hot Chili Peppers
The bet: Take the odds.
If the rumors that have been going around are true, then Chili Peppers drummer, Chad Smith, is going to be laying out Bruno Mars at some point. Would you feel comfortable if you were Bruno Mars and you saw Chad Smith barrelling at you on the stage? Also, if it does turn out that the Red Hot Chili Peppers are actually nude, then double the fear. Remember, this is the Red Hot Chili Peppers we're talking about; nothing is off the table.
Over/Under -5: Number of Guys Who Will Announce Their High School Instead of Their College During Line-Up Introductions
The bet: Under.
This was more of a trend in the mid-2000s, when players were even going so far as to shout out their elementary schools. Now, you still mostly hear colleges. The inevitable "The U" or "THE Ohio State University" shout-out will pop-up. However, when there are 22 different players being shown, and they're thinking about who they want to give a nod to the most, it's entirely possible that more than a five players will instead opt to go with their high school. However, we're not quite willing to bet on that one. School spirit usually holds the tightest with college.
Over/Under -30: Number of Camera Shots That Cut to Eli and/or Archie Manning
The bet: Over.
At the present moment, the Mannings are basically the royal family of football, and you can be sure that FOX will be letting Eli and Archie get their proper due on the camera, thrilling viewers with the 396th retelling of the story about how Archie would throw in the backyard with Eli and Peyton when they were kids. Meanwhile, Eli will be watching in amazement, wondering how Peyton and Russell Wilson have managed to avoid throwing an interception five minutes into the game.
Over/Under -2: Number of Times That the Announcers Mentions That Archie Manning Never Won a Super Bowl
The bet: Under.
Of course, if Archie Manning is on-camera, there also has to be the obligatory mention of the fact that he never won a Super Bowl, and instead had to lead the hapless Saints for much of his career. The announcers will only bring it up once, though, just because they don't want to rub dirt in the wound. Meanwhile, Eli will be sitting next to him, polishing his rings, praying that the Seahawks win so that he can continue to have something to hold over Peyton's head.
100/1: Odds That Macklemore Refs the Game
The bet: Take the odds.
You'd think that Seattle rapper, Macklemore—after having inexplicably earned three Grammys this past weekend along with his partner-in-crime, Ryan Lewis—would be done terrorizing his haters. Unfortunately, not. There is no limit to the number of things that Macklemore can ruin. He will find himself some stripes, and he will not be afraid to throw a few flags Peyton Manning's way, helping the Seahawks pull-off the ultimate heist in the process.
5/2: Odds That Macklemore Texts Peyton Manning After the Game If the Seahawks Win
The bet: Take the odds.
The text, composed to "Peyton Real," will read: "You got robbed. I wanted you to win. It's weird and it sucks that we robbed you. I was gonna say that during my speech. Then the confetti started falling and I froze. Anyway, you know what it is. Congrats on this year and your statistical records. Appreciate you as an athlete and a friend. Oh, and if you see Crabtree, tell him to NEVER TALK ABOUT ME LIKE THAT AGAIN."
25/1: Odds That Percy Harvin Makes It Through the First Half
The bet: Bet against.
There's just no way that he can do it. Percy Harvin has been one of the most notoriously injury-prone players since he was a freshman at Florida. It's nothing to root for, but the guy really just can't make it through a full game. No one wants to see it happen again, as Harvin has already been out for much of the season with a hip injury, but if you had to put money on it, are you really going to wager that he can stick around?
400/1: Odds That Percy Harvin's Bones Will Be Discovered to Be Made of Glass
The bet: Take the odds.
After Seahawks receiver Percy Harvin is dealt yet another sprained neck or unfortunate concussion or twisted ankle, team doctors will take him to sports specialist Dr. James Andrews who, for the first time, will discover that Harvin's entire skeletal structure is actually made out of thin, fragile glass. Basically like Samuel L. Jackson's character in Unbreakable. Tough break, there, Percy. No pun intended.
10/1: Odds That GoDaddy's Super Bowl Commercial Will Feature a More Realistic Woman
The bet: Take the odds.
GoDaddy.com made its name off of their Super Bowl commercials, which have been famous for blatantly featuring ridiculously gorgeous women. However, backlash over the years has accumulated to the point that the company will reportedly be taking a different direction with their ads this year. The only hint we've been given about it is that the ad will feature a "real person," as previewed in a teaser with John Turturro above.
We're not saying that a woman isn't ridiculously hot if she doesn't look like a former GoDaddy girl, but take the odds if you think that the featured woman will act and look a bit more realistic. You wouldn't bet that Bar Raefeli goes around kissing dudes like this everyday, would you?
Over/Under -3: Gallons of Tears Shed by Knowshon Moreno During the National Anthem
The bet: Over, or push.
Is three gallons a tad superfluous? Maybe. But let's not forget that Moreno's famous crying came during the national anthem of a regular season game. It's the Super Bowl now, and the number of tears, much like the stakes, will be that much higher. Opt for the over here or, at the very least, a push.
Over/Under -30: The Number of Times that Peyton Manning Yells, "Omaha!"
The bet: Under.
Considering that Peyton Manning called out "Omaha" at the line of scrimmage 31 times in the AFC Championship Game, it's tempting to choose the over on this, but resist your better instincts, and consider the stakes for a moment. In case you're unaware, the Chamber of Commerce of the city of Omaha, Neb. has pledged $1,500 every single time that Manning calls out "Omaha" during the Super Bowl. Now, the only problem? The Seahawks D will prevent Peyton and the Broncos from having the ball enough for him to do so. Seattle is a stout D that is almost certain to hold the Broncos to a lower point total than the Patriots did, and that relies on the Seahawks remaining as tough as ever.
Over/Under -250: The Number of Skittles that Marshawn Lynch Will Consume
The bet: Over.
Much like Kel loves orange soda, Marshawn Lynch loves his Skittles. So much so, in fact, that the Seattle running back finally earned an endorsement deal with the popular candy brand after stating his love for them for years. It's the first time that Skittles has ever endorsed an athlete, but Lynch is well deserving considering how many times he has cited Skittles as the reason for his Beast Mode abilities. So, in the Super Bowl, it seems like Lynch will be tasting the rainbow now more than ever. Just look how he houses that bowl of Skittles. That is going to be his pre-game and half-time meal.
