Feb 8, 2021 - 11:07 AM ET
The Super Bowl halftime show is a break from the action on the field. But thanks to creative oddsmakers and the numerous novelty props, the halftime show doesn’t have to be a break in your Super Bowl betting.
Super Bowl 55 featured a fun halftime show from Canadian singer, songwriter The Weeknd. Online sportsbooks offered plenty of wagering options that went along with the show. Find out which bets were winners and learn everything you need to know about betting on the Super Bowl halftime show with this guide.
Super Bowl halftime prop odds
When it comes to exotic markets at the Super Bowl, there is always wild line movement in some markets leading up to the event. The first song performed at the halftime show is usually one of those as rumors begin to fly about leaked setlists.
In 2021, that began about a week before the game when an apparent tweet moved "Save Your Tears" from opening odds of +1,200 all the way down to +200. Not long after, most betting sites had pulled the first song odds altogether. Many of those same sportsbooks didn't even put the market back up. Others continued taking action on the first song and you can see the closing odds below.
As it turns out, that "leaked setlist" was nothing but a rumor and Starboy ended up cashing for first song bettors.
The Weeknd's first song performed at Super Bowl halftime show
| Selection | Current Odds | Opening Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Starboy | -300 | +250 |
| Call Out My Name | +300 | NA |
| Blinding Lights | +425 | +175 |
| The Hills | +700 | +1,000 |
| Can't Feel My Face | +900 | +320 |
| Save Your Tears | +900 | +1,200 |
| In Your Eyes | +1,000 | +1,200 |
| Pray For Me | +1,200 | +250 |
| I feel it Coming | +1,800 | +900 |
| Earned it | +2,800 | +1,000 |
| Hawai | +2,800 | +700 |
| Lost In The Fire | +3,300 | +1,600 |
| Love Me Harder | +3,300 | +1,000 |
How many songs will be played during the halftime show?
This wager ended in a push as exactly eight songs were performed.
| Selection | Current Odds | Opening Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Over 8 | -200 | -175 |
| Under 8 | +150 | +135 |
Number of wardrobe changes by The Weeknd
| Selection | Current Odds | Opening Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Over 0.5 | -380 | -220 |
| Under 0.5 | +240 | +155 |
Will The Weeknd wear gloves?
| Selection | Current Odds |
|---|---|
| Yes | -208 |
| No | +145 |
Will The Weeknd have sunglasses on to start the show?
| Selection | Current Odds |
|---|---|
| Yes | -110 |
| No | -130 |
Will The Weeknd perform with bandages on his face?
| Selection | Current Odds |
|---|---|
| Yes | +600 |
| No | -1500 |
Another popular way to wager on the halftime show is by betting on who might appear on stage with the main performer, although no one joined The Weeknd on stage in 2021.
Who will appear with The Weeknd during the Super Bowl halftime show?
- Ariana Grande: No (-600) / Yes (+350)
- Doja Cat: No (-700) / Yes (+400)
- Drake: No (-800) / Yes (+425)
- Kenny G: No (-580) / Yes (+340)
Super Bowl LV Halftime Show Pick: Doja Cat +400
The Weeknd doesn’t generally work with too many big-name artists but I’d be shocked if there wasn’t a guest appearance from someone this year.
While Ariana Grande and The Weeknd collaborated on “Off the Table” it’s a bit slow and Doja Cat making a surprise entrance would be more likely to get the online crowd amped up.
With all due respect to the smooth saxophone of Kenny G (who performed onstage with The Weeknd at the AMAs), Doja Cat is one of the hottest names in the scene and their remix of “In Your Eyes” would be off the hook.
Pick made Feb. 2
Super Bowl halftime prop bets explained
The Super Bowl halftime show is must-watch TV, even for casual football fans. The midway mark of the NFL championship game is a spectacle just begging to be bet on, from the performer’s first song to the color of their outfits.
What is the Super Bowl halftime show?
The halftime show is a celebration as old as the Super Bowl itself. The original shows were planned around a theme, however, organizers ditched that method in the early 1990s and instead went with a notable headliner for the show, with guest appearances by other musical acts.
The halftime show extravaganza has gotten bigger and bigger every year, with complex sets and lighting, multiple guest appearances, and the occasional controversial moment. The Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime performance by Janet Jackson is one of the most memorable shows following her notorious “wardrobe malfunction.”
Super Bowl halftime prop bets
Super Bowl halftime prop bets have picked up in popularity, thanks to the online sports betting boom in the late 1990s. These novelty odds have grown each Super Bowl, limited only by the imagination of oddsmakers and fueled by bettors' appetite for Super Bowl props.
Halftime show props join the coin toss, the national anthem length, and color of the Gatorade bath as some of the more popular Super Bowl novelty odds available. The most common halftime show prop markets are centered around the first song performed, the color of the performer’s outfit, and possible guest appearances on stage during the performance.
How to bet on Super Bowl halftime
The list of Super Bowl halftime show props varies from sportsbook to sportsbook. However, you will see similar markets at most places, especially when it comes to the color of the performer’s outfit as well as the first song performed.
These types of props are often presented in a long list with odds for each option based on their probability. An artist’s most popular songs or newest songs often find themselves among the favorites to be the first song performed, while the colors of the teams playing in the Super Bowl can also influence potential performer outfit colors.
Looking back at Super Bowl LIV, here were some of the more popular performer markets:
- What will be the first song of the show?
- How many songs will be performed during the halftime show?
- How many wardrobe changes for Jennifer Lopez during the halftime show?
- How many times Alex Rodriguez will appear on camera during the halftime show?
USA TODAY Images
Another method for betting halftime props are Yes/No propositions, asking bettors to choose if something will occur or not. Both the Yes and No options will have attached odds, such as “Will a football be used as a prop?”: Yes +300/No -500.
Here are some other fun Yes/No props from the 2020 Super Bowl:
- Will there be a wardrobe malfunction during the Super Bowl show?
- Will a football be used as a prop during the halftime show?
- Will Shakira wear a hat during the halftime show?
- Will Gloria Estefan join the halftime show?
Super Bowl halftime betting history
Super Bowl halftime show prop betting was ushered in by the advances in online sports betting in the late 1990s and as the shows grew bigger, so did the odds offerings.
However, it wasn’t until Janet Jackson’s revealing Super Bowl XXXVIII performance that oddsmakers went wild with the prop odds. Thanks to that controversial moment, a possible “wardrobe malfunction” is always included in the Super Bowl halftime show prop mix.
These fun and exotic Super Bowl odds garner plenty of media attention as well, as they have a huge mainstream appeal beyond the Super Bowl, football, and sports in general.
Instant replay: Super Bowl Halftime Show prop bets
Super Bowl halftime props are an entertaining way to keep your wagering going while the on-field action is on pause:
- Halftime props are betting markets centered around the Super Bowl halftime show.
- Bets range from which songs will be played to what the performer will be wearing.
- These bets are usually only available at online sportsbooks.
Super Bowl halftime props FAQs
Can I bet on the Super Bowl halftime show?
Yes, but only at online sportsbooks outside of the United States. Land-based sportsbooks in the U.S. are not allowed to offer betting on the Super Bowl halftime show.
What kinds of Super Bowl halftime prop bets can I make?
The most common Super Bowl halftime props bets you can make are “First song performed” as well as “Color of the performer’s outfit.” However, prop options will vary from book to book.
When are Super Bowl halftime props released?
Super Bowl halftime props are most often released during the bye week before Super Sunday and the options grow the closer it gets to kickoff.
Who is the Super Bowl halftime show performer?
Canadian singer, songwriter The Weeknd performed at the Super Bowl halftime show in 2021.
