The Super Bowl, the biggest intersection between sport and spectacle, attracts a betting frenzy like no other event, and this year it is expected to break new records, driven by the performance of Bad Bunny.
The Puerto Rican star’s popularity, coupled with political tension surrounding anti-immigration policies in the United States, has raised expectations for the iconic halftime show on Sunday (8).
According to the AGA (American Gaming Association), legal bets on the NFL championship game will increase by more than 20% this year, reaching US$1.76 billion (around R$9.22 billion at current prices).
The Seattle Seahawks are favorites to beat the New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, but bettors will also be keeping an eye on details beyond the game itself to try their luck.
The Bad Bunny show, shrouded in so much mystery, is giving rise to all kinds of speculation.
Songs and costumes
Among the most popular bets is guessing which song the reggaeton star will open his show with (“Tití Me Preguntó” leads the predictions on a popular betting site) and which song he will end the performance with (“DtMF”).
Bets are also being accepted on whether he will perform any new music and the exact length of the show.
As happens every year, the mystery also revolves around the guests who will take the stage with him. They are usually other artists, as was the case with Bad Bunny himself at Shakira and Jennifer Lopez’s presentation in 2020, but also other types of celebrities, such as former tennis player Serena Williams, who danced on stage last year alongside Kendrick Lamar.
This time, among the most frequently mentioned names are Colombian J Balvin, Puerto Rican duo Jowell & Randy and Americans Cardi B and Missy Elliott, should Bad Bunny open up the possibility of a collaboration in English.
More than betting sites, prediction markets allow you to speculate on every aspect of the show, including whether the performer will wear a dress or a skirt, or the type of hat they might wear.
After his message of protest at the Grammy Awards on Sunday (1st), expectations are also high to see if he will demonstrate again on stage against ICE, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service that became the target of revolt after shooting dead two American protesters in Minneapolis.
Favorite for the title and other predictions
The creative betting options also extend to the game itself, in which the Patriots will be fighting to regain lost glory after the end of Tom Brady’s dynasty.
For now, predictions from another major betting service point to the Seahawks winning with a margin of 60%, which would allow them to avenge the painful loss they suffered to New England in the 2015 Super Bowl.
With this scenario in mind, Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold emerges as the favorite to be named MVP (Most Valuable Player) of the final, ahead of his opponent from New England, young Drake Maye.
The end result is another common topic of speculation, including the possibility of a “scorigami,” or a score that has never occurred in the previous 59 Super Bowls.
From there, an infinite range of possibilities opens up, from the player who will score the first touchdown to the possible appearance of a naked invader on the field, to the color of the energy drink that, as tradition dictates, will be poured over the winning coach (orange and blue are the favorite colors).
