A look at some of the Super Bowl prop bets offered by Las Vegas sports books

Super Bowl XLII: the New England Patriots vs. the New York Giants on Feb. 3, 2008. The Giants defeated the Patriots 17-14 in Glendale, Ariz.

By Case Keefer (contact)

Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012 | 2:05 a.m.

Gone are the days when the Super Bowl’s point spread and over/under were the only numbers posted by Las Vegas sports books that anyone cared about.

The interest in proposition wagering has now at least equaled, or perhaps surpassed, the traditional betting methods heading into the annual big game. Hundreds of prop bets are available all across town leading into Sunday’s Super Bowl 46 between the New England Patriots and New York Giants.

At shops like the LVH Superbook — which releases the Bible of Super Bowl betting with a prop book listing more than 300 wagers — props make up nearly 50 percent of the handle.

Bettors can gamble on almost anything that will happen on the field at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis Sunday. Click through below for a sampling of some of the most popular, zany and profitable prop bets posted for Super Bowl 46. Wagers come from the LVH Superbook unless otherwise noted

Will either team score in the final 3:30 of the game?

Line: Yes -175, No +155 (If game goes into overtime, yes is the winner)

The general consensus is that Super Bowl 46 will come down to the wire. It’s a fair assumption considering how evenly matched the teams are and the way recent Super Bowls have played out. It’s been five years since a Super Bowl has gone scoreless in the final three-and-a-half minutes.

Pick: Yes

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Player to score first touchdown will have an odd- or even-numbered jersey?

Line: Odd -115, Even -115

Twelve players are currently listed at 20-to-1 or less to score the first touchdown in Super Bowl 46. Seven of them wear even-numbered jerseys. Five wear odd-numbered jerseys. Don’t count out New England’s BenJarvus Green-Ellis, No. 42, or Tom Brady, No. 12, who the team will count on to punch the ball in from the goal line. This prop is posted at Lucky’s sports books.

Pick: Even
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Over/under quarterback sacks by both teams combined

Line: Over 4 -110, Under 4 -110

It’s widely known that the Giants have one of the NFL’s best pass rushes behind the likes of Osi Umenyiora, Jason-Pierre Paul and Justin Tuck. But the Patriots much-maligned defense can get to the quarterback, too. New York averages three sacks per game this season. New England averages 2.6. Based on those statistics, it seems sports books could have posted the sacks total as high as 5 or 5.5.

Pick: Over 4
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Over/under receiving yards by Wes Welker

Line: Over 76.5, Under 76.5

A kneejerk reaction could lead bettors to the under. Welker has less than 60 receiving yards in four of his five last games. But there are a few other factors to consider. Welker could get more looks with the health concerns surrounding tight end Rob Gronkowski’s high ankle sprain. And, since joining the Patriots, Welker has torn the Giants apart with more than 100 yards in two meetings.

Pick: Over 76.5
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Over/under rushing attempts by Ahmad Bradshaw

Like: Over 14.5 -110, Under 14.5 -110

Bradshaw eclipsed the 14.5-carry mark once in three playoff games this season. The Giants may look to have a more balanced rushing attack in Super Bowl 46 with Brandon Jacobs also gobbling up carries. When the Giants met the Patriots earlier this season, Jacobs found success with a touchdown and 72 yards on 18 carries.

Pick: Under 14.5
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Over/under punts by Zoltan Mesko

Line: Over 3.5 -150, Under -3.5 +130

New England coach Bill Belichick has taken criticism in the past for aggressively chasing fourth-down conversions instead of punting. Although he may become more naturally conservative in a game of this magnitude, a plus-price is tempting. Belichick only sent Mesko onto the field twice in the Patriots two playoff games this season.

Pick: Under 3.5
/Bill Kostroun / Associated Press
Which team will have the most rushing yards?

Line: Giants -1.5, Patriots +1.5

The public perception is that the Giants have the superior ground game. That’s not necessarily true. New York ranked dead last in the NFL in rushing this season. New England was 20th. So much for the cliché about running the ball winning championships. But New England has gotten creative and run for more than 100 yards in four of its last five games — and 96 against the Ravens vaunted rush defense in the AFC Championship Game.

Pick: Patriots +1.5
/Lynne Sladky / associated press
Who will have more: LeBron James points, rebounds and assists or Deion Branch receiving yards

Line: LeBron James -3.5, Deion Branch +3.5

James is averaging 29 points, eight rebounds and seven assists per game for the Heat, who play the Raptors on Super Bowl Sunday. Based on his averages, Branch will need at least 41 yards against the Giants. That’s a lot to ask from a receiver who’s only averaged 29 receiving yards per game in the last two months.

Pick: LeBron James -3.5
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Who will have more: Phil Mickelson 4th-round birdies or Giants punts

Line: Mickelson -0.5 (+105), Giants punts +0.5 (-125)

Mickelson is off to a rough start in 2012 and missed the cut in last week’s Farmers Insurance Open. He’s won this week’s event, the Phoenix Open, twice in the past, but New York punter Steve Weatherford is more of a sure thing. New York coach Tom Couglin won’t mind punting in marginal situations, as evidenced by Weatherford’s staggering 12 punts in the NFC Championship Game.

Pick: Giants punts +0.5
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2013 Super Bowl line: AFC vs. NFC

Line: AFC +3 vs. NFC

It’s never too early to look ahead, or at least that’s what Lucky’s sports books are conveying by posting this prop. The NFC is likely favored because the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints looked like the two best teams at the end of this season. But the AFC has an awful lot of squads that project as dangerous next season — like the Patriots, Texans, Steelers, Ravens and Chargers.

Pick: AFC +3