Opening line and (total): Colts -7 (49)

LAS VEGAS – The popularity of proposition bets is increasing every year. It used to only account for a small portion of a sports book’s Super Bowl handle. Now, at some places, it can result in nearly half of the bookmaker’s action.

Naming the player to score the first touchdown remains the most popular prop. The odds can vary from 5/1 on Chicago running back Thomas Jones to 25/1 on Rex Grossman. There are often around 17 players comprising the prop, with the rest comprising a ‘field’ wager.

It’s more wide open regarding who will score the first touchdown for Indianapolis, with Joseph Addai, Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison all at 6/1. Dallas Clark and Dominic Rhodes are at 10/1, while Bryan Fletcher is at 18/1 and Peyton Manning is at 20/1.

At some books, you can wager on who will have the first interception, pass reception and even the first holding penalty. You can also bet on how the first scoring play will occur, with a Colts’ field goal the 3/1 favorite.

Comparison props among various skill position players have become popular. At quarterback, for instance, you can wager on who will have more passing yards - Peyton Manning at minus 52 ½ yards or Grossman. Manning is minus 4 ½ to finish with more completions than Grossman.

There are also many team comparison props such as; which team will make the initial first down, which team will punt first, team to have the longest touchdown, team to record the first sack and team to finish with the most penalty yards.

Some sports books have individual comparison props where you can bet if Cedric Benson will have more or less than 48 ½ yards rushing. Will Grossman finish with over/under 217 passing yards? Will Dominic Rhodes catch over/under two passes?

There are traditional props such as index wagering where you can bet on one team’s margin of victory.

However, more sports books are putting up exotic props involving other sports being played on the same day.

Among some of the cross-sports props spotted are; will the Colts score more in the first-quarter than Detroit Pistons center Chris Webber scores against Cleveland in Sunday’s NBA contest? The Colts are plus 5 ½.

Who will have more on Sunday, Brian Urlacher solo tackles or New Jersey Nets guard Jason Kidd assists against Atlanta?

Who will have more, Richard Hamilton points against Cleveland, or Peyton Manning pass completions?

Which will be a higher total, Bernard Berrian’s receiving yards or Tiger Woods’ golf score for that day?

Who will have more on Sunday, Marvin Harrison pass receptions or Mary J. Blige’s Grammy Awards?

There are yes/no props as well. Will Peyton Manning win Super Bowl MVP honors? The ‘No’ is minus $1.25.

Although Nevada hotels aren’t allowed to take action on which player will win the MVP - because it’s decided by vote and not on the field of play - many Internet books have this prop available.

So it’s easy to see why the Super Bowl is the most heavily wagered sports event in North America.

There’s nothing the U.S. government can do about that.

February 1, 2007