Super Bowl 59 is set to be the most heavily bet-on sporting event ever, which isn’t a surprise given the growth of legal online sports betting and the wide assortment of props you can find action on.
One of my favorite Super Bowl prop bets takes place before the game kicks off and involves luck than selecting heads or tails.
There is generally an edge to be found when betting on the length of the Super Bowl national anthem; all it takes is a little research and an observant eye on social media.
I’ve compiled some initial research below, but there’s usually a National Anthem practice run in the days leading up to the Big Game, so keep an eye on Twitter for any information that gets leaked.
Who’s Singing the Super Bowl’s National Anthem?
Louisiana native Jon Batiste will have the honor of performing “The Star-Spangled Banner" before the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles take the field at Caesars Superdome for Super Bowl 59.
The 38-year-old singer, songwriter also plays multiple instruments, including the piano and guitar. He and his band, Stay Human, provided the musical accompaniment to “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" from 2015 through 2022.
Batiste has won five Grammy Awards and has performed alongside Jazz and R&B icons Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder, Prince, and others.
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How Long Does It Take To Sing the National Anthem?
Generally, it takes less than two minutes to complete “The Star-Spangled Banner." Super Bowl National Anthem singers have drawn things out more in recent years, which makes sense given the big stage.
National Anthem Overs have hit in four of the previous six renditions, including last year’s performance from Reba McEntire.
Here are the times for the last five years of Super Bowl National Anthem renditions:
| Year | Artist | O/U | Actual Length | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Reba McEntire | 1:30 | 1:34 | Over |
| 2023 | Chris Stapleton | 2:07 | 2:01 | Under |
| 2022 | Mickey Guyton | 1:35 | 1:52 | Over |
| 2021 | Jazmine Sullivan & Eric Church | 1:59 | 2:17 | Over |
| 2020 | Demi Lovato | 1:56 | 1:49 | Under |
Jon Batiste Scouting Report
Knowing what to anticipate from this performance will be complicated.
Unlike last year with McEntire, who had performed the National Anthem countless times throughout her career, there is much less data to analyze. Plus, Batiste will likely play the piano in addition to singing, which is another factor we must account for.
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On the bright side, Batiste has performed the National Anthem at a few signature events, including the 2017 NBA All-Star Game, so being able to go back and watch those renditions on YouTube is a helpful exercise. From my review, he clocked in around 2:02 for that performance, which is Over the line of 119.5 seconds at DraftKings Sportsbook.
However, I timed it from the first piano note to the last. If you are betting on the National Anthem this year, check to see whether your sportsbook of choice will start the clock on the opening piano note or vocal note, which will likely differ by a few seconds.
Super Bowl National Anthem Over/Under Prediction
Jon Batiste to Perform Super Bowl National Anthem in 2:05
This National Anthem rendition will be on the longer side, as sportsbooks have set the Over/Under nearly 30 seconds higher than it was last year for McEntire. That line accounts for the added instrumental breaks, which will slow the song’s pace.
Batiste will likely finish around the same time as Chris Stapleton (2:01), who played the guitar and sang two seasons ago when these teams met in Glendale.
National Anthem Super Bowl Bet
National Anthem Over 119.5 Seconds (-130) at DraftKings
WAGER: 1 Unit
This Super Bowl National Anthem prop is too low, so I am comfortable taking the Over on any line set at 2:00 or lower.
From what I’ve seen, this should take at least 120 seconds, so I’m taking the Over as one of my best NFL bets today.
