Super Bowl Prop Bet History: National Anthem Length

I’m thrilled that we get to start looking ahead to a Super Bowl between two teams rife with storylines. Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Aaron Donald, Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp… and on, and on, and on. There are so many players and stories to talk about.

Which is exactly why we’re going to talk about the National Anthem, and how to bet on it. 

How does the National Anthem prop bet work?

Firstly, we’ll talk logistics. The prop bet works based on when the singing starts singing, not when the music starts. The time is calculated from the start of the singing until the end of “brave,” even if that singing holds it out forever and ever while getting a screaming ovation. 

Betting history of the National Anthem

Think about how this prop bet could go, with every musician potentially putting their own creative flair on the National Anthem. In the last 15 Super Bowls, the anthem has gone over eight times, under six times, and with one push. The shortest time was Billy Joel in Super Bowl 41 at 1:30, with the longest time logged was Alicia Keys in Super Bowl 47 at 2:36. A full 66 second difference.

Seven of the last nine Super Bowl National Anthems have clocked in at over 2:00, compared to five of the first six in the last 15 years to go under that mark. Artists appear to be taking a slower approach in recent years.

The one push in the last 15 years was Kelly Clarkson, which makes sense considering she just wants everyone to be happy. 

How does this year stack up with the trends?

This year will feature country singer Mickey Guyton performing the national Anthem. She sang the National Anthem during the National Memorial Day Concert last May, and clocked in at 1:23. Prior to Guyton, three country singers had performed the Super Bowl National Anthem in the last 15 years, with two of them hitting the over on their props.

Although Guyton performed it quickly during the Memorial Day Concert, it is possible that she’ll opt for a lengthier rendition at a ruckus event like the Super Bowl. 1:23 would be the fastest time at the Super Bowl since 1990. A consensus line has been set this year at 95 seconds, which would be the fastest time since Kelly Clarkson in 2012. 

There’s plenty of history to add to this fun prop bet, and I’m going to disagree with my partner Donovan, who decided to take the under. I’ll bet on the opposite side, as 95 seconds is a low bar to hurdle. 

You can find all of Jon Helmkamp’s picks here.