The Super Bowl is basically the biggest sports, music, and culture podcast in the world. Sure it only has one show drop a year, but it’s a big one. The Big One, some might say.
While the majority of the focus will be obviously and rightfully focused on what happens during the game, there is so much going on around the game that even the most serious football watcher can’t avoid taking it in. This year some of the biggest pop culture stars will be on hand – Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar, Jason Kelce.
It should be no surprise that once again those stars and those moments away from the game are still garnering interest from those who want to partake in a little legal gambling. The Super Bowl is stuffed full with just about every prop bet imaginable, but FanDuel has put together a few that are entirely focused on the music around the game. From the Star Spangled Banner through the post-game celebration, it’s all on the table.
One of the standard bets every Super Bowl is the length of the National Anthem. Every year a big-name singer takes the responsibility of singing the Star Spangled Banner. The length of the anthem has typically come right around two minutes. Last year’s rendition by Reba McEntire was the shortest in more than a decade, coming in at only 95 seconds. The longest in recent history belongs to Alicia Keys who stretched it out to 155 seconds.
This year it will be Jon Batiste performing the song. FanDuel has set the over/under right at 120.5 seconds. Batiste is an amazing performer, but he’s not exactly known for drawing out notes and caterwauling. But if he’s also playing the piano, who knows how that could extend the song.
Kendrick Lamar’s Bad Blood With Drake
Once the anthem is over the game takes center stage. But by halftime the focus returns once again to the music world. This year’s headliner is rap superstar Kendrick Lamar, who … um … had a very busy 2024.
Lamar’s rap beef with Drake was among the biggest stories in the music world and had everyone south of the Canadian border yelling “A MINORRRR.” Lamar has been a superstar for more than a decade, so he has a long list of songs he could play that would have everyone at home and inside the Superdome cheering. FanDuel has the total amount of songs played during halftime set at 10.5.
But that’s not what fans will really be watching closely. The Super Bowl might be the biggest stage to air his grievances. KDot’s biggest song of the year unquestionably was ‘Not Like Us’ where the rapper absolutely dissects Drake in a song that is so damn catchy it played everywhere. According to FanDuel, ‘Not Like Us’ is among the favorites to be played first and is the clear favorite to be the last song played before halftime ends.
The song of the summer was far from Kendrick’s only big song aimed directly at Drake. He has so many, in fact, that FanDuel is taking bets as to how many he will play.
Taylor Swift and the Kelces
Like it or not, Taylor Swift’s romance with Chiefs’ Tight End Travis Kelce is one of the most universally known facts having anything to do with the current NFL game. The pop megastar is quickly found by cameras every single time she attends one of Kelce’s games.
Swift is expected to be at the Super Bowl once again. Last year after the Chiefs won The Big Game the star tight end and his girlfriend were snapped on camera kissing in a photo that would be one of the lasting moments from the entire game. If Kansas City wins again, Swift would almost certainly be on the field.
With their relationship maturing, there are rumblings that maybe Kelce will need to step his game up even more. That’s right, there might be a post-game Taylor Swift marriage proposal.
If that wasn’t enough stress on Travis heading into the game, he might not even have the full support of his own brother and former NFL star Jason Kelce.
No, Jason seems to be fully supportive of the relationship with Swift. But he’s clearly less supportive of his brother’s chase of another Super Bowl championship. Jason played his entire career with the Eagles and already said he plans to cheer for the Eagles to win.
So will the elder Kelce surprise everyone and don some Chiefs gear? Or will he stay true to the green in his blood?
The best Super Bowls keep fans riveted until the final moments. But with these wagers everyone could be watching well after the confetti has dropped.
