Super Bowl Odds 2016 Money Line, Prop Bets, More for Panthers vs. Broncos

The Super Bowl has long been a paradise for those who love to wager on the NFL game.

Actually, Super Bowl betting is not restricted to those who are football fans. The game is so big that it attracts those with a casual interest and nonfootball fans as well, with the latter watching for the commercials, celebrities and trends that are set at the big game.

There are betting opportunities for everyone, including those nonfootball fans. They can bet on the length of the national anthem, the results of the coin toss or the color of the Gatorade that will drench the head of the winning coach.

Of course, there are many more conventional bets available to those who have an interest in wagering on the game.

Start off with the most basic of all NFL-related bets, the point spread.

The Carolina Panthers are six-point favorites over the Denver Broncos, according to Odds Shark. That line appears to have steadied at this point after moving sharply in favor of the Panthers in the first few days after the original 3.5-point line was announced.

Game	Point Spread	Over/Under	Money line
Denver Broncos vs. Carolina Panthers	Car. (-6)	45	Denver +172; Carolina -197

The other betting staple of the football season is the over/under, regularly referred to as the total. That number has been fairly level at 45, and it does not seem likely to change much before kickoff at Levi's Stadium on February 7 at 6:30 p.m. ET.

Fans who are only interested in picking the winner of the game without concerning themselves with the point spread can make a bet on the money line. Fans who want to back the favored Panthers have to risk $197 to win $100, while Broncos backers will bet $100 to win $172.

Prop bets are offered throughout the NFL season, but they multiply dramatically in the Super Bowl. Sportsbooks in Las Vegas may make as many as 500 props or more available to bettors who want to test their knowledge of the game and each team's personnel.

The coin toss is a perfect example of a Super Bowl prop bet that could get the nonfootball fan involved. Bettors can wager on heads or tails coming up or which team will win the toss. Bettors have to wager $105 to win $100 on any of those possibilities.

Some fans may be interested in how the game's first points will be scored. If the bettor wants to wager that the first points are scored on a touchdown, he must risk $145 to win $100. If the bettor believes the first points will come on a field goal (or a safety), she risks $100 to win $115.

One of the more popular props is figuring out which player will score the first touchdown of the game. This prop often features a solid return because there are so many players who could make into the end zone first. 

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Cam Newton is listed at +700, while Carolina teammates Greg Olsen (+750) and Jonathan Stewart (+800) are fairly close behind. C.J. Anderson, Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders of the Broncos are all +900 to score the first touchdown.

Another prop includes the number of touchdowns either team will score. If a bettor wants to wager that the Panthers will score three touchdowns or more, it's a proposition that will require a $100 wager and return an equal payoff. However, if the bet is the Panthers will score less than three touchdowns, the bettor must risk $130 to win $100.

The action number for the Broncos in the number of touchdowns scored is 2.5. Bettors who want the over will risk $100 to win $120, while the under bettors must risk $150 to win $100.

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The game itself features the explosive Carolina offense led by Newton against the Broncos' outstanding defense.

Newton, who has an excellent chance to win the regular-season MVP award, threw 35 TD passes in 2015—11 more than his previous career high. He also ran for 10 touchdowns and has continued his stellar play during the postseason.

The Broncos had the top-ranked defense in the league from start to finish this season, and that defense keyed their 20-18 victory over the New England Patriots in the AFC title game. Linebacker Von Miller is an outstanding pass-rusher and impact player who had 2.5 sacks and an interception against Tom Brady.

The Broncos don't have the offensive firepower with Peyton Manning in the lineup at this point in his career. Manning was a record-setting quarterback two years ago with 55 TD passes, but he had just seven scoring passes this season. If the Broncos are going to have a chance to win, they'll need a productive short passing game and a proficient running attack.

The longer the Broncos can hold on to the ball, the longer they can keep Newton off the field. 

That will not be easy against a Carolina defense that includes pass-rushing defensive tackle Kawann Short (11.0 sacks) and linebacker Luke Kuechly (two interceptions for touchdowns in the postseason).

The romantic version of the Super Bowl ends with Manning leading the Broncos to the win, lifting the Vince Lombardi Trophy before heading off into retirement.

The Panthers may have too much firepower to allow that to happen. This final game may not be the anticipated swan song Manning's fans would like to see.

Stats courtesy of CBSSports.com. All betting info courtesy of Odds Shark.