Ed Barkowitz's best prop bets of the Super Bowl
Bets from start to finish, from the game's first score to the game's MVP.
Check out more Super Bowl prop bets from the Daily News' Mike Kern here.
COLLEAGUE Mike Kern stumbled on an interesting - and very appropriate - stat.
There have been 48 Super Bowls. The opening coin toss has landed on heads 24 times and tails 24 times.
That's quite symbolic for those who try to make money picking this game. Tom Brady's offense vs. that red-hot Seahawks defense. Heads or tails.
So, with that, prop bets with fake money.
* I'm taking the Seahawks in another part of this paper, so my first move is to lay the $110 to win $100 that they will score first. Hoping to take advantage of Seattle's terrific defense, either by the Seahawks scoring themselves as they did last year when they hung a safety on the Broncos, or by stopping New England and giving Russell Wilson a short field to at least get a field goal.
It's a terrific theory unless the Seahawks get the ball first and go three-and-out.
* If you project a close contest, and I do, I can easily see a tied game at halftime. So for $100, wander over to the "Double Result" props and get 15-1 that the game is even at intermission and the Seahawks win. If that hits, a trip to the Capital Grille would be next.
* In the last four games, the Seahawks have given up 20 receptions to opposing tight ends. This won't get anyone into the Hall of Fame, but it's a reasonable enough amount to roll with New England's Rob Gronkowski to score the first touchdown.
This conflicts a little with the earlier wager on Seattle to score first, but it's hard to pass up 6-1 on Gronk, who has scored a touchdown in five consecutive games. Gronkowski might even be a little more amped, after Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane said, "I actually don't think he's that good. He's OK."
Ever try to tackle a Buick? That's Gronkowski.
* Can't say I'm much of a Katy Perry fan, but I do love the way she stood up when the NFL tried to make performers pay for the privilege of playing halftime.
"I put my foot down very early in the courtship," she told the Associated Press. "I said, 'Look guys, here's where I draw a line in the sand.' . . . I stuck to my position . . . I don't even care if my contract leaks . . . I have nothing to hide."
Like Kern, I'm also going to an outside source. Niece Amanda Zimmerman (age 13) says "Dark Horse" (10-1 odds) will be Perry's first song. I'm more comfortable with "Dark Side of the Moon," but I think there's a better chance of seeing Jesus yesterday than of Pink Floyd ever doing a halftime show.
* Because I would love nothing more than to see Marshawn Lynch win the game MVP, I'll lay another C-note on him rushing for over 90 1/2 yards.
After a modest 59 against Carolina in the Seahawks opener, Lynch beasted for 157 yards against the Packers in the NFC title game.
New England has given up yards to just about every decent running back it has played. Knowshon Moreno hit 'em for 134. Jamaal Charles had 92. Matt Forte carved out 114. Eddie Lacy had 98. And Justin Forsett gained 129 in a playoff game.
* While at the counter, I'd also throw $50 on Lynch to win the game MVP at 9-2. Every other MVP looks into the camera and announces he is going to Disney World. It would be absolutely awesome if Lynch said, "I'm just here so I don't get fined."