By Drew Olson Special to OnMilwaukee.com Published Jan 30, 2009 at 4:24 PM

The Super Bowl -- America's annual excuse to use Roman numerals and get excited about taco dip and TV commercials - takes place Sunday afternoon at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

Though the game usually draws the biggest TV audience of the year, there are plenty of people who don't care about either of the contestants -- the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Arizona Cardinals -- or Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, who will perform at halftime. As a service to the silent, disinterested viewers, the folks in Las Vegas have engineered a surefire way to keep things interesting.

Ladies and gentlemen, we give you the "prop" bet ... and we're not talking about Carrot Top or Gallagher.

In this case, prop is short for "proposition." Even casual fans are aware that Pittsburgh is a seven-point favorite to win the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Plenty of people will bet on the total score of the game, too. (At last glance, the over-under for combined points was 47).

But, that's just the tip of the betting iceberg.

If you want to wager which team will win the coin toss, you can do it. If you want to bet on whether Cleveland Cavaliers guard LeBron James will score more points than Pittsburgh, you can bet on that, too. Want to bet which player will score the first and last touchdown in the game? Las Vegas has got you covered.

If you can think of a bet even vaguely connected to the game on Sunday, chances are someone already has a few bucks riding on it.

Here are a few examples -- both common and unusual -- to help spice up your viewing experience. Use the Talkback feature to supply your own.

How quickly will R&B star Jennifer Hudson finish the national anthem?

Our pick: The over-under we've seen is about 1 minute, 45 seconds. Beyonce surpassed the 2-minute mark a few years back. Hudson may try to beat her "Dreamgirls" co-star on that front.

Will the coin toss come up heads or tails?

Our pick: Amazingly, through 42 Super Bowls we've had 21 heads and 21 tails. Last year was tails. Heads is the right call.

What jersey number will the player who scores the first touchdown wear?

Our pick: The over-under is 38 ½. Take the over.

Will at least one quarter of the game be scoreless?

Our pick: Yes.

How many yards will the longest successful field goal travel?

Our pick: The over-under on this one is 45 yards. Take the under.

Which player will score the first touchdown?

Our pick: Pittsburgh's Willie Parker or Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald.

How many times in the game will NBC analyst John Madden mention food?

Our pick: It has to be at least twice.

What songs will Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band play during their 12-minute halftime set?

Our pick: Look for The Boss to open with something snappy, like "Badlands," followed by something from the new record, perhaps "My Lucky Day," into "Dancing in the Dark" and then "Born to Run."

How many times will NBC show Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner's wife, Brenda, during the game?

Our pick: At least three times, but more if the game is tight and the Cardinals have the ball late.

Which NBC show will get the most attention in promotions?

Our pick: "It's likely to be "Heroes" or "Chuck," but you may see a push for late-night hosts Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien, who are getting new roles this summer. The ability to promote their shows is why networks shell out big bucks to air the game in the first place.

Which commercial will get the highest rating from USA Today ad meter?

Our pick: It's hard to go wrong picking Budweiser, because of the Clydesdales.

What color liquid will players dump on the winning coach?

Our pick: It may be yellow Gatorade.

Who will the MVP thank first in his trophy acceptance speech?

Our pick: It's always a tossup between God, the fans and teammates. Bet on the Big Guy. 

Drew Olson Special to OnMilwaukee.com

Host of “The Drew Olson Show,” which airs 1-3 p.m. weekdays on The Big 902. Sidekick on “The Mike Heller Show,” airing weekdays on The Big 920 and a statewide network including stations in Madison, Appleton and Wausau. Co-author of Bill Schroeder’s “If These Walls Could Talk: Milwaukee Brewers” on Triumph Books. Co-host of “Big 12 Sports Saturday,” which airs Saturdays during football season on WISN-12. Former senior editor at OnMilwaukee.com. Former reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.