The definitive betting guide to the Super Bowl LV national anthem

There's so much to bet on ahead of Super Bowl LV, from MVP to game props to the coin flip. But one prop is studied, anticipated, and debated more than any other. I'm referring, of course, to the length of the national anthem.

Last year, we nailed the under on Demi Lovato's rendition, which clocked in at 1:49 - six seconds shorter than the closing line. This year, the duo of Eric Church and Jazmine Sullivan are expected to check in right around the two-minute mark.

Not every book offers an anthem-related prop, but many bettors will still be invested in the length of Sunday's performance. So, I donned my detective's cap and investigated the curious case of this year's rare duet. Roll the tape!

A brief history of the anthem

First, let's check the archives to see what we can learn from past performances. The average time over the last three decades has been roughly 1:55, while 16 of the last 23 anthems finished in under two minutes, according to Jason Logan of Covers.com.

Here's a look at every anthem since 2007, the first year with available betting data:

Since Alicia Keys' record-long performance in 2013, the anthem has gone under in six of the last seven years with an average length of 1:57. Three straight have finished in under two minutes, assuming your book stops the clock after the first "brave."

Church (43) and Sullivan (33) are among the older artists to perform the anthem in recent years, which is good news for under bettors. Since 2007, the six artists aged 33 or older went 5-1 to the under, averaging a 1:52 finish.

This is just the second duet in Super Bowl history and the first since 2006 when Aaron Neville and Aretha Franklin traded verses in a performance that lasted 2:08. Church told the Los Angeles Times' Mikael Wood that this year's performance - which both singers say is driven by a message of unity - will force each artist out of their "natural key." That suggests more harmonizing than dueling solos, which is a welcome sign for those betting on a shorter duet.

If this year's line closes at two minutes, it'll be tied for the third-shortest mark in nine years and the ninth-shortest since 2007. The previous eight artists priced at two minutes or shorter went 5-2-1 to the under.

Who is Eric Church?

Church's renegade vocal style and subversive songwriting have helped him become one of country music's biggest stars, but he's never performed the national anthem before.

Six country artists have gotten the call ahead of the Super Bowl, which doesn't include cross-genre artist Jewel, who sang the anthem in a record-low 1:27 in 1998. Even without her, the numbers speak for themselves:

Those six country singers averaged 1:44, and only Luke Bryan exceeded the two-minute mark - though he still ended five seconds under the betting line that year. The three male singers in that group averaged a brisk 1:41.

Unlike some of his predecessors, Church isn't known for his technical talents. He told Apple Music Country's Kelleigh Bannen that he's a "stylist, not a vocalist," and that he vowed to never sing the anthem - a notoriously difficult song for those with limited vocal range - before changing his mind when he heard Sullivan's voice.

His admiration for Sullivan's talent is another hint that this could go under. When asked about the plan for this year's anthem, Church said the two would start practicing this week and he hoped to incorporate guitar into his performance. Will that slow him down?

"We're keeping it based around the melody," he told Wood earlier this week. "Basically, if I can stay out of her way, we're golden."

That doesn't sound like an artist looking to embellish his notes on Sunday.

Who is Jazmine Sullivan?

Sullivan has drawn praise not just for her powerhouse vocals but for a raw, versatile approach to her music. She's among the best current artists yet to win a Grammy, and this opportunity is another step toward becoming a household name after her latest album, "Heaux Tales," topped the R&B charts.

Does that mean reinventing the anthem in hopes of a star turn? Not exactly. Here's what she had to say about this year's event, which will mark the 30-year anniversary of Whitney Houston's beloved rendition in 1991:

"Obviously, nobody can do another version, a better version than Whitney," she told ET's Nischelle Turner. "But I'm just here to represent for my people and go up there and sing and bring some soul to it."

She's certainly done that in the two anthem performances floating around the internet this week. She sang the anthem alongside a background guitar player - sound familiar? - at a Philadelphia 76ers game in 2014, which lasted 1:44. Two years later, she shaved six seconds off that time ahead of an NHL Stadium Series game between the Chicago Blackhawks and Minnesota Wild.

Like Church, she insinuated at harmony to this year's version, telling Turner she's excited to "blend the different sounds of music and just show some unity" with Sunday's performance. If her previous showings both clocked in below 1:45, why should an accompanying singer add 15 seconds to her time?

How long will the anthem take?

We have two examples of Sullivan performing the anthem, both coming well short of two minutes. Church is new to the task, though his style and genre suggest a swift performance, as do comments by both singers ahead of their duet.

Even the producer, Adam Blackstone, has a history of shorter anthems. He provided the music for Ne-Yo's rendition at the 2016 NBA All-Star Game, which was hailed for its simplicity and lasted 1:55 despite a long hold on "brave."

That's really the only thing that could derail the under this year. If Sullivan bleeds the final note dry, there's no telling how long it could go. Otherwise, all signs - including the weather in Tampa, a smaller crowd, and the pressure to reduce time together on stage in a COVID-impacted event - point to a short, sweet, and powerful performance on Sunday.

C Jackson Cowart is a betting writer for theScore. He's an award-winning journalist with stops at The Charlotte Observer, The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Times Herald-Record, and BetChicago. He's also a proud graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, and his love of sweet tea is rivaled only by that of a juicy prop bet. Find him on Twitter @CJacksonCowart.