The NFL season culminates on one of the biggest weekends of the year, Super Bowl Sunday. But did you know that almost 20% of the audience tunes in to see the commercials?
That’s right, the NFL’s television bonanza attracts a vast array of viewers that consider the actual game a prime time to use the bathroom.
In fact, you can actually bet on how the commercials will play out during the game.
It may sound crazy, but I will walk you through a condensed history of Super Bowl commercials and how (or whether) you can place a wager on them during the Eagles vs Chiefs.
Super Bowl Commercials History 2024
The Super Bowl is the ultimate opportunity for brands to showcase their products to a massive audience at one time. However, the premium to run such an ad is very expensive. This has led to companies putting their best creative foot forward, creating some of television’s most memorable commercials.
In 1979, Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Joe Greene starred in the “Hey Kid, Catch!" ad for Coca-Cola, which is widely considered one of the best ads in tv history.
The commercial was legendary due to “Mean" Joe Greene, who had a reputation for being an imposing figure, offering an ice-cold bottle of coke to a young fan.
In fact, many of the most iconic commercials in Super Bowl history are tied to the food and beverage industry.
Who could forget “The Showdown" between Michael Jordan and Larry Bird, which saw the two NBA legends play a historic game of HORSE to determine the winner of a McDonald’s Big Mac.
Pepsi made its mark with supermodel Cindy Crawford in 1992 when it introduced a new can before Brittany Spears would star in the “Now and Then" campaign in 2002.
But perhaps the most notable commercials come from the beer industry. Budweiser’s Clydesdale horses, talking frogs (Bud-Weis-Er), and “Wassup" television spots are among the most successful Super Bowl ads to date.
The bottom line is that commercials are a large part of the allure that is Super Bowl Sunday. Whether a company decides to take the artistic route (Apple’s 1984 commercial) or the goofy route (Betty White eating a Snickers), you can rest assured that tons of money has been spent to keep you entertained and intrigued.
Super Bowl Commercial Prop Bets 2024
Can you bet props on Super Bowl ads?
You sure can. “Exotic" and “novelty" prop bets are widely available this week. This category consists of off-field action and includes National Anthem props, halftime show props, coin toss props, and commercials.
For example, you can place a wager on which “chip" commercial with air first: Doritos or Pringles, or which beer brand (Budweiser or Heineken) will make an appearance first.
You can find these wagers at various online operators, but we strongly advocate the use of legal domestic sportsbooks, such as DraftKings.
Do sportsbooks have Super Bowl commercial contests?
Absolutely. Many sportsbooks run special promotions for the Super Bowl, and that includes commercials.
In fact, DraftKings Sportsbook is running a free-to-play $500,000 pool that includes Miller Lite and Coors Light advertisements.
Molson Coors and DraftKings are offering viewers a piece of a $500,000 prize pool if they can correctly predict the contents of their commercial, “The High Stakes Beer Ad.”
The contest closes at 3:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, and winners are expected to be announced Monday morning after the Super Bowl.
What other ways can I play Super Bowl commercial games?
If you do not wish to place a straight wager on a Super Bowl ad, you can still get in on the fun by running a prop sheet game. These are a ton of fun and, similar to Super Bowl Squares, are easy to understand.
Essentially, you just have to pick the winner of several prop bets throughout the course of the event.
A typical sheet will include many traditional props from the game itself, like Super Bowl player props, in addition to some “entertaining" ones like Gatorade color props, the timing of the national anthem, and commercials.
Be sure to download The Game Day’s Super bowl prop sheet to share with friends and family at your Super Bowl party.
Bet on the Super Bowl Between Commercials
As fun as it can be to have some fun betting on Super Bowl ads, the main attraction is still the game itself, believe it or not.
At The Game Day, we have provided you with a comprehensive breakdown of our best bets and props for the big game that include:
You can also find player-specific prop pages at The Game Day for all the standout athletes in the big game, including Patrick Mahomes props, Jalen Hurts props, A.J. Brown props, and Travis Kelce props.
For the best Super Bowl odds, be sure to check out The Game Day’s list of top sportsbooks below:
