When it’s time for betting on the Super Bowl, among the hundreds of props to choose from are a few that have crossover and entertainment-related appeal, such as those related to the singing of the national anthem. For legal US sportsbooks, bets on the time that it takes to complete “The Star Spangled Banner” are tied directly to the game itself, as wagers on the over/under for anthem singing time generally aren’t legal. Read on for a look at Super Bowl national anthem betting.
Super Bowl national anthem odds
In advance of the Super Bowl, legal online sportsbooks will release odds for hundreds of props. When lines are available for national anthem betting in advance of the next big game, we’ll have them right here.
How do you bet on the national anthem at the Super Bowl?
Just betting on the length of time it will take to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” generally isn’t something that legal US sportsbooks can offer. However, several of the top books have provided recent workarounds that tie together the performance with another aspect of the game.
For example, DraftKings Sportsbook has previously offered a prop on whether the singing of the anthem will be longer or shorter than the game’s fastest scoring drive, based on the amount of actual time that has ticked off the game clock.
If we look back to Super Bowl 57, the consensus on the expected time for Chris Stapleton’s performance was 2 minutes and 5 seconds. Here’s an example of a betting line:
- Which will be quicker — singing of the anthem or a scoring drive in the game?
- Singing of the anthem (-110)
- Game scoring drive (-110)
For the initial release, odds are typically equal for both choices, but the numbers can move in response to how people are betting.
Who is singing the national anthem at this year’s Super Bowl?
Country music superstar Chris Stapleton performed the national anthem at Super Bowl 57. The consensus expected time checked in at 2 minutes and 5 seconds. He clocked a time of 2 minutes and 1 second. We don’t yet have an announced national anthem performer for Super Bowl 58, which takes place on Feb. 11, 2024.
Recent national anthem trends at the Super Bowl
Last year, the national anthem performance time went under the consensus expected time, snapping a streak of two straight years of the rendition going over the estimated time. Reliable data on the estimated times for the anthem goes back to 2007. Since that point, here are the numbers:
- Over: Nine
- Under: Seven
- Push: One
- Longest: 2:36, Alicia Keys, 2013
- Shortest: 1:30, Billy Joel, 2007
- Over two minutes: Nine times
- Under two minutes: Eight times
Betting history for the Super Bowl national anthem
Here’s a breakdown of all anthem performances since 2007, along with the final result in relation to the estimated time:
| Year | Performer | Estimated | Actual | Over/Under |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Chris Stapleton | 2:05 | 2:01 | Over |
| 2022 | Mickey Guyton | 1:35 | 1:52 | Over |
| 2021 | Jazmine Sullivan and Eric Church | 1:59 | 2:17 | Over |
| 2020 | Demi Lovato | 1:55 | 1:49 | Under |
| 2019 | Gladys Knight | 1:47 | 2:01 | Over |
| 2018 | Pink | 2:00 | 1:52 | Under |
| 2017 | Luke Bryan | 2:09 | 2:04 | Under |
| 2016 | Lady Gaga | 1:57 | 2:21 | Over |
| 2015 | Idina Menzel | 2:02 | 2:04 | Over |
| 2014 | Renée Fleming | 2:23 | 2:03 | Under |
| 2013 | Alicia Keys | 2:15 | 2:36 | Over |
| 2012 | Kelly Clarkson | 1:34 | 1:34 | Puch |
| 2011 | Christina Aguilera | 1:54 | 1:53 | Under |
| 2010 | Carrie Underwood | 1:41 | 1:47 | Over |
| 2009 | Jennifer Hudson | 2:04 | 2:10 | Over |
| 2008 | Jordin Sparks | 1:47 | 1:54 | Over |
| 2007 | Billy Joel | 1:44 | 1:30 | Under |
Tips for anthem betting
As with any other bet, there’s simply no way to predict with 100% certainty exactly what’s going to happen with the singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” However, since betting on it has become increasingly popular recently, bettors have been trying to crack the code. Here are some tips if you want to give anthem betting a try:
- Does the performer have any public anthem history?: Many internet sleuths dig through YouTube and other social media archives to see if there’s any anthem track record for the current performer. If so, that start-to-finish time can serve as a benchmark for what may happen on the Super Bowl stage, but you’ll also want to account for any other factors that may impact the performance.
- What’s the consensus on the estimated time?: While this can be helpful, the estimated time has been off the mark with what actually happened a number of times in recent years. For bettors, the goal is to figure out if the book has made the benchmark too high or too low and to wager accordingly.
- Are there any notable recent trends?: Since Kelly Clarkson belted out the anthem in 1:34 in 2012, all other anthem performances have lasted 1:47 or longer. For the last three years, the performance has lasted at least 1:52, but no longer than 1:59. Recent trends are no guarantee of what’s going to happen next, but they can provide a good baseline for expectations.
FAQ
Who sang the national anthem at the first Super Bowl?
The anthem was a group effort at the inaugural big game. The UCLA choir, Michigan marching band, and The Pride of Arizona all took part in the performance.
What was the longest anthem performance in Super Bowl history?
Alicia Keys set the record at Super Bowl 47 in 2013. Her rendition of the anthem checked in at 2 minutes and 36 seconds.
What was the shortest anthem performance in Super Bowl history?
At Super Bowl 32 in 1998, Jewel blew through her anthem performance in 1 minute and 27 seconds. The record still stands, with Billy Joel coming the closest in 2007 at 1:30.
What’s the halftime show for this year’s Super Bowl?
Super Bowl 58 does not yet have an announced halftime performer.