The National Anthem Prop Bet: Oh Say Can You See How Long the Anthem Will Be?
The pageantry of the Super Bowl is on the fullest display in its opening ceremonies: unfurl a huge flag, acknowledge military service people and first responders, cue the honor guard, and sing The Star Spangled Banner. Stars of increasing notoriety who are invited to perform desire to offer their best and most memorable rendition on one of the world’s largest stages.
Popstar Demi Lovato will call for the rockets’ red glare before Super Bowl 54 in Miami. The 27-year old pop and R&B artist started her career on Barney and Friends and broke through into stardom on the Disney Channel. She has earned Grammy nominations and won People’s Choice Awards, Teen Choice Awards, Latin American Music Awards, and an MTV Video Music Award. Once she was announced as the Super Bowl anthem choice, oddsmakers and potential bettors began scouring the internet for other National Anthem performances. She clocked in at two minutes and twelve seconds prior to the 2017 MacGregor-Mayweather bout and at 1:58 for game four of the 2015 World Series.
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Why Two Minutes is the Magic Number for the National Anthem Prop Bet
The average length of the National Anthem during the last decade and a half is one minute 57 seconds. Billy Joel offered a swift 1:30 version at Super Bowl 41, outdoing Kelly Clarkson’s 1:34 at Super Bowl 46. Alicia Keys went all out the following year lasting an overwhelming 2:35. The most recent five were Idina Menzel SB XLIX at 2:04; Lady Gaga SB 50 at 2:09; Luke Bryan SB LI 2:04; P!nk SB LII 1:53; and Gladys Knight last year SB XLIII at 1:49.
The gold standard of National Anthem performances belongs to Whitney Houston. Her 1991 version at Super Bowl XXV was so beloved it was eventually released as a single and reached number twenty on the Billboard charts following the September 11 attacks a decade later. Houston clocked in at 1:56.
It’s Not as Simple as Hitting a Stop Watch
When wagering real money is involved, nothing is quite as simple as starting and stopping a stopwatch to time the National Anthem. When Christina Aguilera sang the National Anthem at Super Bowl XLV, she doubled down on the end, singing “the brave” twice in her rendition. Needless to say, bombs were busting in air. This fomented the creation of a betting rule that the official length of the rendition would henceforth be scored at the conclusion of the first “home of the brave.”
At Super Bowl XLIII, Gladys Knight, the Empress of Soul, honored America before the game. She held the last word “brave,” but it was unclear whether she ended her first brave and started a second brave, or if she just held that first brave. Due to the uncertainty, various sportsbooks took the wagers off the board. Others had paid the over, and, upon review, paid the under as well.
What are this Year’s Super Bowl National Anthem odds?
Over 2:00 is the favorite at -220; undergoes off at +155. Under 2:00 minutes has been the winner in six of the last ten Super Bowls.
But wait! There are more National Anthem prop bets this year!
- Length of the final word “Brave?” Over 5.5 seconds 175/under +135
- Will any scoring drive take less time than the Anthem? Yes -240/No +165
- Will she blow the lyrics? No -900/Yes +500 (See Aguilera’s “twilights’ last reaming”)
- Will Lovato wear a dress, skirt, or gown? Yes -200/No +150
- Hair color? Black -500/Blonde +500/Other +300
- Nail Polish? Yes -1750/No +650
- First Coach shown on the broadcast during the Anthem? Reid +110/Shanahan +120/Saleh +500/None +350
- First Quarterback shown? Mahomes -150/Garoppolo +110
- First Tight End shown? Kelce -120/Kittle -120
