Super Bowl 61 Prop Bets: What to Know Before Betting

The Vince Lombardi Trophy has found a new home after the Seattle Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 60. With the season now officially in the books, sportsbooks and prediction markets have temporarily closed their doors on NFL prop wagering.

For those looking ahead to next year's spectacle at SoFi Stadium, please note that the Super Bowl 61 prop markets typically begin to reopen in late December as the playoff picture becomes clear, with the full menu of exotic and player props arriving in January. We will update this guide with live odds, market movements, and expert analysis the moment they become available.

What happened in the last Super Bowl?

Super Bowl 60 concluded with the Seahawks securing a dominant 29-13 victory over the Patriots at Levi's Stadium. In a rare nod to the ground game, Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III was named MVP after rushing for 135 yards on 27 carries. Defying the modern pass-heavy trend, Walker's performance anchored a Seattle offense that relied on ball control while their "Dark Side" defense hounded Drake Maye.

Prop bettors saw several long-shot wins, most notably Jason Myers setting a Super Bowl record with five made field goals. For the novelty hunters, Charlie Puth's rendition of the national anthem clocked in at a brisk 111 seconds (clearing the Under), while Mike Macdonald was doused in Yellow/Green/Lime Gatorade. Notable surprises included the Patriots' offense being held scoreless until the late third quarter and the game staying comfortably Under the 45.5-point total, frustrating those expecting a shootout between the two young quarterbacks.

Super Bowl 61 player prop odds

Super Bowl player props are wagers centered on the individual statistical performance of a player rather than the final score of the game. These markets typically allow bettors to wager on Over/Under totals for specific metrics, such as passing yards, rushing attempts, or total receptions. They also include high-stakes markets like Anytime Touchdown Scorer and First Touchdown Scorer.

These markets are immensely popular because they allow fans to leverage their fantasy football knowledge. Instead of worrying about a team's defensive breakdown or a late-game collapse, a bettor can focus solely on a star wide receiver's targets or a quarterback's mobility. As we approach January 2027, this section will be populated with live odds for the AFC and NFC champions' top playmakers.

Super Bowl 61 novelty prop odds

Novelty props are bets on events that occur outside the actual field of play. These markets are a hallmark of the Super Bowl, transforming the broadcast into a betting event from the first note of the music to the final trophy presentation. Common novelty markets include:

• The Super Bowl National Anthem: Betting on whether the performance duration will be Over or Under a set time.
• The Super Bowl Halftime Show: Wagering on the first song performed, the number of songs performed, wardrobe choices, or potential guest appearances.
• The Super Bowl Gatorade Color: Predicting the color of the liquid poured on the winning coach.
• The Super Bowl Coin Toss: A pure 50/50 "heads or tails" bet to start the night.

These markets are popular because they require zero football knowledge, making the Super Bowl accessible to casual viewers. They add an extra layer of entertainment to the "spectacle" of the game, ensuring there is something at stake during every commercial break and musical interlude.

Super Bowl 61 MVP odds

Sportsbooks and prediction markets typically begin to post Super Bowl MVP odds during the Wild Card round. Odds can fluctuate dramatically with every game as teams are eliminated and new heroes emerge on the grid iron.

How Super Bowl props are priced

Sportsbooks and prediction markets price Super Bowl props by balancing statistical projections with anticipated betting volume. Oddsmakers use sophisticated algorithms to set a "true" probability for player stats or novelty events, then apply a vig (or juice), typically ranging from -110 to -115.

Because the Super Bowl attracts massive public money, lines often shift based on "fan favorites" rather than just data. For high-variance novelty props, like the Gatorade color, books set wider margins to mitigate risk. Ultimately, the goal is to set a price that attracts equal action on both sides, ensuring the house profits regardless of the outcome.

Tips for betting Super Bowl props

While Super Bowl props can be a lot of fun to bet on, you should have a strategy and follow these tips to make sure you end up in the Big Game black:

Build a narrative

Chances are if you're betting Super Bowl props, you likely have a wager on the point spread or total. Use those wagers to build a narrative around how you see the game playing out and what each team has to do to get to that projected result.

Avoid contradictions

With so many Super Bowl bets available, it's easy to get your action tangled up. Make sure you're not betting against yourself by contradicting previous wagers. If you like the Over, don't bet on the Under when it comes to scoring or passing props. If you like the underdog to cover the spread, don't bet on the favorite to go Over their yardage props.

Mind the movement

Betting on props was long considered a square" market for many years. However, with the rapid expansion in prop offerings as well as the explosion in advanced analytics, more and more sharp bettors and professional gamblers are flocking to the opening prop odds.

If you're trying to get the best of the numbers, pay attention to the early prop odds movement in the 12 to 24 hours after sportsbooks release these markets. Bookmakers will adjust quickly to these early sharp opinions. If you're waiting until Super Bowl Sunday to get your prop bets down, you're likely to get the worst of the number.

Shop for props

Sportsbooks up their available prop markets every February with more and more Big Game betting options. Plenty of these props are the same, in terms of format, but the totals and juice/vig attached to them can vary from book to book. If you have multiple sportsbooks available to you, don't be afraid to shop around for the best return on your prop betting opinions.

When are Super Bowl prop bets released?

Super Bowl prop bets, from basic game props and team props to the initial batch of player props, are released in the immediate hours after the Super Bowl matchup is set. Although now some sportsbooks are even providing hypothetical odds for matchups based on the potential outcomes of the AFC/NFC title games.

Follow along as we'll be updating this page - and our player props page - withlive odds, picks, and analysis as soon as they are available.

When do Super Bowl prop bets get paid out?

Depending on what they're based on, Super Bowl prop bets can be graded and paid out either throughout the game or at the end of the game. The timing and promptness of payouts for Super Bowl bets depend on the sportsbook.

What are the best betting sites for Super Bowl prop bets?

Most Super Bowl betting sites have a large menu of Super Bowl prop bets. However, online-based books will offer more in the way of specials and exotics because state regulations or rules do not limit them.

Instant replay: Super Bowl prop bets

While subjective, Super Bowl proposition bets (props) have nearly eclipsed commercials as the most fun and engaging part of the telecast. These entertaining alternatives to the standard odds markets can boost your winnings and maybe morale, too. Here are our keys to the props betting game:

• Great way to diversify your bets, spreading action to different parts of the contest.
• Take your pick from the most commonly available: player, game, and exotic props.
• Make sure you're not betting against yourself. If you like the Over, don't bet on the Under when it comes to scoring or passing props.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here