The Super Bowl brings the last opportunity for gamblers to bet on the NFL, and many will be looking for the last chance to score a few bucks. The big game offers several “unique” opportunities when the festivities kick off in February – and that even includes the over/under on the length of the National Anthem.
Once again this year, bettors will be hoping the Super Bowl National Anthem turns into some star-spangled cash. Over/under wagering on the National Anthem adds some extra fun to the biggest game of the NFL season. More than two centuries after Francis Scott Key wrote the “Star-Spangled Banner,” bettors have a decision to make again on his song’s length this year.
Jazmine Sullivan and Eric Church earned the duties for last season. The consensus over/under for their rendition before the game was 1 minute, 59 seconds. The duo went 18 seconds over that, with an unofficial time of 2 minutes and 17 seconds. It was the longest National Anthem since Lady Gaga’s rendition in 2016 went 2 minutes and 22 seconds.
Bet on the national anthem — only at DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings National Anthem prop odds
Sportsbooks in the US are not permitted to offer a prop bet strictly on the length of the National Anthem, but it is allowed if the wager includes something that can be found in the final box score of the game.
DraftKings Sportsbook will once again have a National Anthem-related prop, where you can bet on whether or not the shortest scoring drive of the game will be greater or less than the length of the National Anthem.
Keep in mind that scoring drives mean “football time” and not “real time.” For instance, Tampa Bay had a scoring drive of 55 seconds (in football time) right before the half in last year’s Super Bowl. So those DraftKings bettors who clicked “Yes” wound up victorious.
Most scoring drives last longer that 2 minutes. For instance, the Chiefs’ longest scoring drive in last year’s Big Game was 3 minutes and 23 seconds.
Who is singing the Super Bowl National Anthem this year?
It has not yet been announced who is singing the Super Bowl National Anthem this year. The NFL announced last year’s singers on Jan. 19. Halftime show performers have been named for Super Bowl 56 as Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem and Mary J. Blige will headline.
Prop bets: Betting the Banner
There hasn’t been much in the way of a trend in recent years. Since 2010, the Over has hit five times, the Under has hit five times and there was one push.
Although books haven’t released lines yet for the “Star-Spangled Banner,” the over/under usually checks in around 2 full minutes.
Keep in mind that the way the anthem is typically timed starts when the singer starts singing, not when the music starts playing. The timing also ends when the singer is finished singing the word “brave.”
Trending toward the long road
When it comes to the Super Bowl, a long song seems to be the norm. From 2013 to 2017, the anthem went over 2 minutes each year.
One trend is the overall lengthening of the song. In the 1990s, the anthem went over 2 minutes only twice. In the 2000s, it went over 120 seconds four times. And in the 2010s, it went over the 2 minutes mark six times.
Super Bowl National Anthem history
| Year | Singer | Over/Under Time | Actual Time | Over/Under |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Jazmine Sullivan and Eric Church | 1:59 | 2:17 | Over |
| 2020 | Demi Lovato | 1:55 | 1:49 (Video) | Under |
| 2019 | Gladys Knight | 1:47 | 2:01 (Video) | Over |
| 2018 | Pink | 2:00 | 1:52 (Video) | Under |
| 2017 | Luke Bryan | 2:09 | 2:04 (Video) | Under |
| 2016 | Lady Gaga | 2:22 | 2:22 (Video) | Over |
| 2015 | Idina Menzel | 2:02 | 2:04 (Video) | Over |
| 2014 | Renée Fleming | 2:23 | 2:03 (Video) | Under |
| 2013 | Alicia Keys | 2:15 | 2:36 (Video) | Over |
| 2012 | Kelly Clarkson | 1:34 | 1:34 (Video) | Push |
| 2011 | Christina Aguilera | 1:54 | 1:53 (Video) | Under |
| 2010 | Carrie Underwood | 1:41 | 1:47 (Video) | Over |
| 2009 | Jennifer Hudson | 2:04 | 2:10 (Video) | Over |
| 2008 | Jordin Sparks | 1:47 | 1:54 (Video) | Over |
| 2007 | Billy Joel | 1:44 | 1:30 (Video) | Under |
| 2006 | Aaron Neville/Aretha Franklin | N/A | 2:09 (Video) | N/A |
| 2005 | Choirs of the U.S. military academies | N/A | 1:53 (Video) | N/A |
| 2004 | Beyoncé | N/A | 2:09 (Video) | N/A |
| 2003 | Dixie Chicks | N/A | 1:33 (Video) | N/A |
| 2002 | Mariah Carey | N/A | 1:56 (Video) | N/A |
| 2001 | Backstreet Boys | N/A | 1:49 (Video) | N/A |
| 2000 | Faith Hill | N/A | 2:00 (Video) | N/A |
| 1999 | Cher | N/A | 1:55 (Video) | N/A |
| 1998 | Jewel | N/A | 1:27 (Video) | N/A |
| 1997 | Luther Vandross | N/A | 1:53 (Video) | N/A |
| 1996 | Vanessa Williams | N/A | 1:35 (Video) | N/A |
| 1995 | Kathie Lee Gifford | N/A | 1:40 (Video) | N/A |
| 1994 | Natalie Cole | N/A | 2:33 (Video) | N/A |
| 1993 | Garth Brooks | N/A | 1:45 (Video) | N/A |
| 1992 | Harry Connick Jr. | N/A | 2:06 (Video) | N/A |
| 1991 | Whitney Houston | N/A | 1:56 (Video) | N/A |
| 1990 | Aaron Neville | N/A | 1:25 (Video) | N/A |
Big sounds and big moments
The National Anthem and its singer bring plenty of interest each year. In 2015, some books halted betting on the National Anthem after some large bets came in on the over.
Figuring bettors may have been privy to rehearsal numbers, these books decided continued action might end on a sour note.
Christina Aguilera awarded under bets in 2011, but received criticism after completely flubbing a line in the song. Did that screw-up lead to the under performance? It’s possible.
Once of the most beloved performances is Whitney Houston’s 1991 rendition. It was melodic, patriotic, and brilliant.