We all know that sports gambling is a $Billion industry. But, you really have a problem when you start laying down money on some of these bets.
Coin toss props
This is a prop classic. The Las Vegas Hilton sports book is supplying you with almost even money at -101 (risk $101 to win $100) for either heads or tails. But we all know metallic currency has a 50-50 shot of landing on one side or the other and history proves it.
Going into last season’s Super Bowl, 21 heads and 21 tails had turned up. When the Steelers incorrectly called tails, the NFC won its 12th straight coin toss and heads took a 22-21 advantage. So if the law of averages remains constant, this year’s toss will drop a tails.
Gatorade props
Gatorade is the lifeblood of any athlete. But big game after big game we witness coaches getting doused with the famous sports beverage.
So oddsmakers have come up with a bet-quenching prop that asks: What color will the Gatorade be that sends a chill shock down the spine of the victorious coach?
Yellow is the favorite with “clear” or water coming in second and orange, lime green, blue and red are the other options.
Wait…aren’t lime green and yellow the same flavor?
But the Gatorade prop drenching doesn’t stop there. You can even attempt to predict whether defensive or offensive players will do the pouring.
This one likely depends on who is on the field at game’s end. If the offense is taking a knee, the shower will most certainly come from the defensive personnel who are listed at -165 (offense +135).
Celebrity props
Celebs can always be seen in the primo suites on Super Sunday and the books have delivered some odds on how many times the director in the production truck will cut to them.
Kim Kardashian, who boasts Saints all-purpose back Reggie Bush as her beau, has been given an appearance total of 2.5.
But the books have gone a few sizes extra with her prop options. They have asked bettors: If the Saints win the Super Bowl will Bush and Kardashian be engaged by July 31, 2010?
The answer of “NO” is the popular choice with odds of -170. Come on now, it’s a match made in Hollywood.
And you can even wager on what color top the goddess will be wearing at the big game. Black is the favorite at 5/6, white comes in at 53/20 and any other color is 6/5.
By SCOTT COOLEY
