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Sunday smorgasbord: As today’s effort is being crafted ever so carefully typed, it is snowing. Well, depending where you happen to be. Around here and other parts of the United States, it is snowing. Or has snowed recently. Or will snow. That pretty much covers it, all in a nice, white blanket. Unless you were planning to attend a Super Bowl party somewhere other than your own domicile. In which case you might want to give a thought to being out in the elements where double-digit snowfall is forecast.
Gisele Bundchen wants to root for hubby Tom Brady in this, it’s OK with us.
* Speaking of Super Bowl parties and traveling, a reminder that it’s always a good idea to err on the side of caution. Whether that means driving or alcoholic consumption. Another reminder: If you’re going to drink, please don’t drive — especially when road conditions are hazardous. If you’re going to drive, please be careful.
* Still speaking of Super Bowl parties, O’Donovan’s (2100 W. Irving Park Rd. in Chicago) will have its gathering for the Seattle Seahawks-New England Patriots contest. Featured — other than 20 54-inch plasma televisions — will bed drink specials: $5 White Trash Mimosas; $5 Salty Dogs; $5 Jumbo Screwdrivers; $5 Select Bombs; Mini Voga Bubbly buckets for $15; and 22-oz. Stadium Cups for $5 (refills for $4), among others. Food specials will include: $5.95 Sloppy Joes and chips; and Pint of Bacon (with choice of dipping sauces) for $3.95. These items are served all day. Specials from 4-11 p.m. include: 14-ounce Prime Rib with homemade horseradish sauce and choice of fries, mashed, or baked potatoes ($12.95), BBQ Baby Back Ribs with choice of potatoes ($13.95 full rack, $10.95 half rack) and Flatbread of the Day ($9.95). Reminder to self: Do not type items like this late at night because it can cause salivating on the computer keyboard.
* Speaking of the snow, there was none falling in Chicago for Ernie Banks’ memorial service Saturday. The gathering that included baseball legends and ordinary people made it seem like baseball was so near. The snow that fell Saturday night made baseball was so far away.
* Still speaking of snow, to all those who are inclined to shovel away the accumulation, please be careful. Even if you’re not a football fan, you still want to be around for Super Bowl kickoff, don’t you? This has been a public-service announcement prompted by The Wife who will be yelling at your humble correspondent shortly for being an idiot for trying to clear the driveway and walkway. OK, I’ll take it easy. See you Monday when we can discuss items of such cosmic consequence as the pregame festivities, halftime show and possibly even the game itself.
From the fine folks at Bovada, (www.Bovada.lv, Twitter: @BovadaLV), some of the offerings for those inclined to wagering. As always, we assure you these numbers are purely for entertainment purposes. And, as always, we would like to remind you that if you happen to win beaucoup bucks in any wagering (so much so that you don’t know what to day with a few extra thousand — or million — dollars, the non-tax-deductible retirement fund at ElliottHarris.com always welcomes any contributions. And, yes, we realize any such contributions are more likely than the snow in Chicago disappearing before kickoff for the Super Bowl. Anyway, here you go:
ENTERTAINMENT ODDS AND ENDS
How long will it take Idina Menzel to sing the National Anthem?
Over/Under 2 minutes 1 second
This would be an interesting costume for Katy Perry.
Will Idina Menzel forget or omit at least 1 word of the National Anthem?
Yes +400 (4/1)
No -600 (1/6)
How many times will “Deflated Balls” be referred to during the game?
Over/Under 2½
Will Marshawn Lynch be fined by the NFL for any incident on Media Day?
Yes +400 (4/1)
No -600 (1/6)
Will Marshawn Lynch grab his crotch after scoring a TD in the game?
Yes +400 (4/1)
No -600 (1/6)
Which Color will Bill Belichick’s hoodie be?
Gray 1/2
Blue 7/4
Red 7/1
Bill Belichick Hoodie Type?
Sleeves Cut -150 (2/3)
Sleeves Intact +110 (11/10)
Will Bill Belichick smile during the game on camera?
Yes +150 (3/2)
No -200 (1/2)
How many times will Katy Perry be mentioned in the 1st Half?
Over/Under 1½
Will Katy Perry perform “Roar” first?
Which song will Katy Perry perform first at Halftime?
Firework 3/2
Roar 3/2
This Is How We Do 5/1
Dark Horse 12/1
E.T. 12/1
Wide Awake 12/1
Waking Up In Vegas 20/1
What will Katy Perry be wearing when she begins the Halftime show?
Skirt or Dress 4/5
Pants (below knees) 2/1
Shorts (above knees) 2/1
What color will Katy Perry’s hair be when she begins the Halftime show?
Black/Brown 2/1
Pink/Red 3/1
Blue/Green 3/1
Blonde 4/1
Purple 5/1
Video below of Charlotte McKinney (not is this attire).
How many times will Gisele Bundchen be shown on TV?
Over/Under 1½
Will Al Michaels refer to the point spread, total, odds on who wins game or any prop bet?
Yes +200 (2/1)
No -300 (1/3)
Who will be shown more on TV during the game?
Robert Kraft -200 (1/2)
Paul Allen +150 (3/2)
Will it be mentioned that Pete Carroll was the last head coach of the Patriots?
Yes +110 (11/10)
No -150 (2/3)
What will the Nielsen Rating of the game be?
Over/Under 47½
Which region will have the higher Nielsen Rating?
Boston +110 (11/10)
Seattle -150 (2/3)
How many viewers will the game have?
Over/Under 113 Million
Who will the Super Bowl MVP mention first in his interview?
Teammates 3/2
God 5/1
Fans/City 15/2
Coach 12/1
Family 12/1
Owner 12/1
Does not mention any of the above 2/1
What Color will the Gatorade (or liquid) be that is dumped on the Head Coach of the Winning Super Bowl Team?
Orange 3/2
Yellow 5/2
Clear/Water 3/1
Red 15/2
Blue 15/2
Green 10/1
What will happen with the Dow Jones the day after the Super Bowl?
Market Up -140 (5/7)
Market Down EVEN (1/1)
Who will Barack Obama pick to win the game?
New England -140 (5/7)
Seattle EVEN (1/1)
What will be higher?
Russell Wilson Passing Yards -15½
US National Average Gas Price (in cents) on Monday, February 2nd +15½
Groundhog Day Parlay
Punxsutawney Phil sees shadow and Patriots win the Super Bowl 5/2
Punxsutawney Phil does not see shadow and Patriots win the Super Bowl 11/5
Punxsutawney Phil sees shadow and Seahawks win the Super Bowl 11/4
Punxsutawney Phil does not see shadow and Seahawks win the Super Bowl 12/5
TEAM/GAME PROPS
Margin of Victory
New England Patriots 1 to 6 points 7/2
New England Patriots 7 to 12 points 11/2
New England Patriots 13 to 18 points 8/1
New England Patriots 19 to 24 points 14/1
New England Patriots 25 to 30 points 20/1
New England Patriots 31 to 36 points 35/1
New England Patriots 37 or more points 30/1
Seattle Seahawks 1 to 6 points 7/2
Seattle Seahawks 7 to 12 points 11/2
Seattle Seahawks 13 to 18 points 8/1
Seattle Seahawks 19 to 24 points 14/1
Seattle Seahawks 25 to 30 points 20/1
Seattle Seahawks 31 to 36 points 35/1
Seattle Seahawks 37 or more points 30/1
Team to score first wins the game
Yes -165 (20/33)
No +135 (27/20)
Will there be a score in the first 7 minutes, 30 seconds of the 1st quarter?
Yes -180 (5/9)
No +150 (3/2)
The first score of the game will be?
New England Patriots Field Goal 4/1
New England Patriots TD Pass 3/1
New England Patriots Rushing TD 11/2
New England Patriots Safety 33/1
New England Patriots Defensive or Special Teams TD 14/1
Seattle Seahawks Field Goal 7/2
Seattle Seahawks TD Pass 4/1
Seattle Seahawks Rushing TD 4/1
Seattle Seahawks Safety 33/1
Seattle Seahawks Defensive or Special Teams TD 14/1
Total 1st-Half Team Points – New England Patriots
Over/Under 12½
Total Team Points – New England Patriots
Over/Under 24½
Total 1st-Half Team Points – Seattle Seahawks
Over/Under 12
Total Team Points – Seattle Seahawks
Over/Under 24½
Will the 1st half end in a tie?
Yes (1st Half Tied) +550 (11/2)
No (1st Half Not Tied) -900 (1/9)
Which will be the Highest-Scoring Quarter?
1st Quarter 9/2
2nd Quarter 7/5
3rd Quarter 9/2
4th Quarter 9/5
Will the game go to overtime?
Yes (Overtime) +800 (8/1)
No (Overtime) -1600 (1/16)
What will be the Result of the First Coach’s Challenge in the Game?
Play Overturned -130 (10/13)
Play Stands EVEN (1/1)
Will there be a safety scored in the game?
Yes (Safety) +550 (11/2)
No (Safety) -900 (1/9)
Longest Touchdown in the Game
Over/Under Yards 44½
Longest Successful Field Goal in the Game
Over/Under Yards 44½
Shortest Successful Field Goal in the Game
Over/Under 24½
Will there be a defensive or special teams TD scored in the game?
Yes +160 (8/5)
No -200 (1/2)
Total QB Sacks in the game
Over/Under 4½
Total Points – Odd or Even?
Odd -140 (5/7)
Even +110 (11/10)
Will a 2-point Conversion be attempted in the Game?
Yes (2-point Conversion Attempted) +200 (2/1)
No (2-point Conversion Not Attempted) -250 (2/5)
Will there be a Successful 2-point Conversion Attempt in the Game?
Yes (Successful 2-point Conversion Attempt) +350 (7/2)
No (Successful 2-point Conversion Attempt) -500 (1/5)
MVP AND FIRST TO SCORE A TOUCHDOWN ODDS
Super Bowl XLIX MVP – Odds to Win
Tom Brady 8/5
Russell Wilson 7/2
Marshawn Lynch 4/1
Rob Gronkowski 9/1
LeGarrette Blount 12/1
Julian Edelman 25/1
Doug Baldwin 33/1
Richard Sherman 33/1
Kam Chancellor 33/1
Darrelle Revis 33/1
Earl Thomas 40/1
Jermaine Kearse 50/1
Bobby Wagner 50/1
Jamie Collins 50/1
Brandon LaFell 66/1
Shane Vereen 66/1
K.J. Wright 75/1
Danny Amendola 75/1
Luke Willson 100/1
Rob Ninkovich 100/1
Dont’a Hightower 100/1
Patrick Chung 100/1
Devin McCourty 100/1
Stephen Gostkowski 100/1
Steven Hauschka 100/1
Malcolm Smith 100/1
Byron Maxwell 100/1
Field 25/1
Player to score the first TD in the game?
Marshawn Lynch (SEA) RB 11/2
Rob Gronkowski (NE) TE 13/2
LeGarrette Blount (NE) RB 9/1
Julian Edelman (NE) WR 10/1
Doug Baldwin (SEA) WR 12/1
Brandon LaFell (NE) WR 12/1
Russell Wilson (SEA) QB 12/1
Jermaine Kearse (SEA) WR 14/1
Shane Vereen (NE) RB 16/1
Luke Willson (SEA) TE 16/1
Danny Amendola (NE) WR 20/1
Ricardo Lockette (SEA) WR 20/1
Timothy Wright (NE) TE 20/1
Robert Turbin (SEA) RB 25/1
Brandon Bolden (NE) RB 30/1
Jonas Gray (NE) RB 30/1
Cooper Helfet (SEA) TE 30/1
Tom Brady (NE) QB 35/1
Tony Moeaki (SEA) TE 40/1
Kevin Norwood (SEA) WR 40/1
James Devlin (NE) FB 50/1
Michael Hoomanawanui (NE) TE 50/1
Christine Michael (SEA) RB 50/1
Will Tukuafu (SEA) FB 50/1
Field 15/2
No TD scored in the game 125/1
PLAYER PROPS
Total Passing Yards – Tom Brady (NE)
Over/Under 260½
Total TD Passes – Tom Brady (NE)
0 7/2
1 11/5
2 5/2
3 3/1
4 or more 7/1
Total Rushing Yards – LeGarrette Blount (NE)
Over/Under 62½
Total Receiving Yards – Rob Gronkowski (NE)
Over/Under 72½
Will Rob Gronkowski (NE) score a TD in the game?
Yes -170 (10/17)
No +140 (7/5)
Total Receiving Yards – Julian Edelman (NE)
Over/Under 67½
Total Receptions – Julian Edelman (NE)
Over/Under 6
Total Passing Yards – Russell Wilson (SEA)
Over/Under 219½
Total TD Passes – Russell Wilson (SEA)
0 5/2
1 3/2
2 13/5
3 5/1
4 or more 12/1
Total Rushing Yards – Russell Wilson (SEA)
Over/Under 40½
Will Russell Wilson (SEA) score a Rushing TD in the game?
Yes +220 (11/5)
No -280 (5/14)
Total Rushing Yards – Marshawn Lynch (SEA)
Over/Under 92½
Will Marshawn Lynch (SEA) score a TD in the game?
Yes -200 (1/2)
No +160 (8/5)
Total Receiving Yards – Doug Baldwin (SEA)
Over/Under 54½
Total Interceptions – Richard Sherman (SEA)
Over ½ (+200, 2/1)
Under ½ (-250, 2/5)
HISTORICAL MATCHUP PROPS
What will be higher?
Tom Brady Super Bowl 2015 Passing Yards +15½
Tom Brady Super Bowl 2012 Passing Yards (276 Yards) -15½
What will be higher?
Russell Wilson Super Bowl 2015 Passing Yards -13½
Russell Wilson Super Bowl 2014 Passing Yards (206 Yards) +13½
HEAD-TO-HEAD PLAYER PROPS
Who will have more Passing Yards in the game?
Tom Brady (NE) QB -39½
Russell Wilson (SEA) QB +39½
Who will have more Rushing Yards in the game?
LeGarrette Blount (NE) RB +29½
Marshawn Lynch (SEA) RB -29½
Who will have more Receiving Yards in the game?
Julian Edelman (NE) WR -12½
Doug Baldwin (SEA) WR +12½
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