Odds Say More Than 108.5 Million Will Watch Super Bowl 53

• Viewership of last year’s Super Bowl dipped to its lowest number since 2009
• The number of viewers tuning in to the Super Bowl has topped 110 million in six of past eight years
• National anthem controversy a major contributor to last year’s decline in viewers

The number of average viewers who tuned in to last year’s Super Bowl dipped to its lowest total since 2009, with just over 103.4 Americans taking in the action.

However, those numbers are expected to rebound next weekend (February 3rd) when the New England Patriots take on the Los Angeles Rams at Super Bowl 53, with the odds of viewership topping 108.5 million pegged at -143 on the NFL Fun Props.

Television Viewership of Super Bowl 53

*Odds taken 1/25

Super Bowl Viewership Enjoyed Steady Growth in Recent Years

Super Bowl viewership has skyrocketed over the past decade, with the average number of US viewers topping 110 million on six occasions since 2011.

It was capped by a record of over 114.4 million tuning in to watch as the Patriots mounted a thrilling fourth-quarter comeback on their way to a 28-24 victory over the Seattle Seahawks four years ago.

TV Ratings: Super Bowl LII Down Slightly in Early Numbers https://t.co/fTJVgspEgF

— Variety (@Variety) February 5, 2018

Viewership leveled off at approximately 111 million in each of the following two editions of the big game before last year’s sudden drop off.

NFL ratings experienced declines throughout the 2017 season, tumbling by an average of 9% during the regular season compared to the 2016 NFL campaign. Viewership of both AFC and NFC championship games a year ago also dropped sharply, by approximately 8%.

Anthem Controversy Contributed to Last Year’s Dip in Viewership

A number of factors likely contributed to the sudden decline to football fans tuning in for their Sunday fix. The ongoing national anthem controversy sparked by Colin Kaepernick in 2016 continued to rage last season, despite the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback’s departure from the NFL.

A vocal segment of fans opposed to Kaepernick’s actions, led by US president Donald Trump, called for players engaging in what they considered to be disrespectful actions targeted at the stars and stripes to be fired, and for Americans to boycott television broadcasts of NFL games.

Trump Calls for Boycott if N.F.L. Doesn’t Crack Down on Anthem Protests https://t.co/7ugZW2KZEn

— The New York Times (@nytimes) September 24, 2017

Conversely, supporters of Kaepernick, outraged by his inability to catch on with another NFL team after opting out of his contract with the 49ers following the 2016 campaign, called for a boycott of their own, with a preseason petition garnering over 200,000 signatures.

NFL: Fans boycott league because Colin Kaepernick remains unsigned https://t.co/dD23wCoWP7 via @usatoday

— Mark Geragos (@markgeragos) November 8, 2017

Super Bowl 53 Anthem, Halftime Show Performers Facing Fierce Criticism

Despite Nike’s bid to cash in on the controversy with an ad featuring Kaepernick earlier this season, and the highly publicized launch of a lawsuit against the NFL by the 31-year-old pivot, player protests during the national anthem have dropped off considerably during the 2018 regular season.

Pop group Maroon 5, and rappers Travis Scott and Big Boi have faced widespread criticism for agreeing to headline this year’s Super Bowl Halftime Show. In addition, legendary R&B singer Gladys Knight has come under fire for agreeing to perform the Star Spangled Banner in front of hometown fans in Atlanta.

Gladys Knight defends singing the anthem at the Super Bowl, addresses Colin Kaepernick's protests https://t.co/6244ddqxwH pic.twitter.com/vGV9jIZWVd

— Pitchfork (@pitchfork) January 18, 2019

As a result, it remains to be seen whether the NFL has moved past its recent turmoil, fueling attractive +113 odds of this year’s Super Bowl attracting an audience of under 108.5 million.