Sports proposition bets are available throughout the year, but when it comes to the Super Bowl, well, it’s the ‘Super Bowl’ of prop betting. Sportsbooks offer literally hundreds of potential prop bets, some dealing with the game itself, some having to do with commercials, the broadcast, the coin flip, the halftime show, the color of the Gatorade poured on the winning coach…well you get the point.

Here are five tips on how to bet Super Bowl props.

1) Don't put all your eggs in one basket
If you think Eli Manning is going to have a big game and lead the Giants to another Super Bowl win, then wager on him to win Super Bowl MVP at 9/4. But it probably wouldn’t be a good idea to wager on Manning to win the MVP, score the first touchdown, throw for over 300 yards and to take the Giants moneyline on top of those prop bets. All those things are cause and effect, if Manning throws for over 300 yards and the Giants win outright, well, Eli is all but a shoe-in to win the MVP and you get much better odds at 9/4 than the other props.

2) Show some consistency in your prop bets
This may sound like exact opposite of the first tip, but the key with Super Bowl prop betting is to find a middle ground with your wagering. While you do not want to take every single pro-New England Patriot prop bet, you do not want to contradict yourself constantly. If you place a large wager on New England to win the game but then take a number of small prop bets on the New York Giants, you're not hedging, you're likely painting yourself into a best-case scenario of breaking even. If you have confidence in the Patriots defense, go ahead and take the Patriots to win the game and Giants under 26.5 points or Eli Manning 'under' a certain amount of passing yards.

3) Use caution when betting on the Super Bowl coin toss        
Remember, it is just a coin toss. There is nothing worse than being down a few units before the game even starts. You can wager on heads or tails and Giants or Patriots. And when everything is all said and done after the game, it would be a waste of NFL handicapping if you were forced to break even because your win on the point spread was nullified by bone-headed pregame props. The coin toss is a fun prop to bet on, just remember to keep it in perspective compared to your other wagers.

4) Bet with reputable sportsbook
Not only is it illegal to wager with your local guy, but when it comes to Super Bowl props, sometimes it just isn’t smart. Who do you trust to time the National Anthem if you wager on Kelly Clarkson 'over' 1 minute and some seconds. Who do you trust to count how many times the NBC broadcast shows Peyton and Archie Manning in the stands? What if there is some confusion on an off-the-wall prop bet on Madonna during the halftime show? Most sportsbooks will simply rule the wagers ‘no action’ if there is a legitimate dispute, that may not be the case with your local book.

5) Allocate your money
If you only have a certain amount of money available to wager or only a certain amount of money available in your online sportsbook account, do not blow through the bankroll on things not pertaining to the game only to have a few bucks left to wager on the actual total and side. If you have confidence in your handicapping ability of the actual football game it doesn’t make sense to have 75 percent of your wagers tied up in pregame ceremonies and the halftime show. You will end up with nothing to show for picking a winner. And remember, you're likely to get suckered into a few Super Bowl squares pools at the office.

Not sure who to take for the Super Bowl? Doc’s expert NFL handicappers have you covered. For just $25 Doc’s Super Bowl picks will provide you with the side and/or total for the game along with the best picks on Super Bowl props. Doc’s has 40 years of Super Bowl handicapping experience and he has assembled the best team of handicappers in the nation! Click here to sign up today.