KAROL KUDYBA
Sports Writer

From football to soapbox derby racing, sports are always better when there is little money riding on them.

So how did those fans inject a little more excitement into Super Bowl XLIV?

By gambling — on everything.

What separates the Super Bowl from a normal football game — aside from having better commercials — is the ability to wager on every part of the game, whether it’s football related or not.

Some of the past few Super Bowls were decided in the opening minutes, and left fans without the opportunity to really get into the game. Basically gambling gives fans an extra kick of excitement and thrill if the real sporting event doesn’t satisfy.

Bets ranged from how long it would take Carrie Underwood to sing the Star Spangled Banner (the over/under was at 1:42, she came in at 1:47), to what Saint’s running back Reggie Bush’s girlfriend, Kim Kardashian, would wear during the game. If you had the money, there was something to be wagered on.

While this year’s game ended in electrifying fashion with a 31-17 Saints victory, the first half’s combined 16-point effort by the two most exciting teams in football was disappointing. Having a few prop bets spread out through the game ensured that no matter the score, there was something to get excited about every quarter.

“It’s what sports is about: entertainment. And more entertainment is a great thing,” said avid gambler Vincent Hui. “People who may not watch football will get drawn in.”

However, when it comes to placing bets on the “Star Spangled Banner,” Hui said that he tends to stay away from anything whose outcome might already be determined.

“Too much human control over these issues. I’m certain that people in Vegas have come up to Carrie Underwood and made offers,” said a risk-wary Hui. “Either way she has thought about it.”

Even when the Super Bowl match up was at its lower moments in the opening quarters, wagering fans still had something to get worked up about. Every five yard run by the Colts got them closer to breaking 99.5 yard over.

Those seemingly insignificant yards became critical, as the Colts finished the game with 99 rushing yards, simultaneously making Colts’ RB Joseph Addai both a hero and villain worldwide.

Even the game’s most exciting moment, the 73-yard interception return by Tracy Porter, was definitely more fun for anyone who had him getting the game’s first interception at 10-to-one odds.

Although the Saints may have just won one of the more exciting Super Bowls in recent memory, having $20 on Drew Brees winning the MVP made the game’s storied ending even better for one gambling sports reporter.

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photo: Flickr / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0