By Tom Jicha

Twelve points too many to lay on the Patriots in the Super Bowl but you don't really like the Giants and you can't make up your mind on whether there will be more or fewer total points than 54? There are still myriad ways to enjoy the game with more than an emotional rooting interest.

As always, there are more Super Bowl prop bets than there are players on both sidelines. You can get in action fast; there's a line on the coin toss. Either way it's minus 115.

(For future refernce, all odds are based on a $100 multiple. Minus 115 means you lay $115 to win $100--$215 total. In cases where the line is not even, minus 200, for example, translates to laying $200 to win $100 on the favored side. Plus $160 on the underdog means you get back $160 plus the $100 wagered. All lines quoted are from Sportsbook.com, so they are for entertainment purposes only (they make me say that) since betting with an offshore wagering site is illegal in the United States, which should have more urgent things to police.

Maybe you have a feeling about who will win the coin toss. Either way, it's also minus 115.

Think Tom Brady's passing yardage will exceed Eli Manning's by more than 97 1/2 yards? You can get plus 160. If you want to take the yards with Manning, it's minus 200.

Counting just completions, Brady less 2 1/2 is minus 250. Manning with the spot is plus 200.

Brady's total completions is minus 130 for over 25 1/2, even money for under.

You have to lay 290 if you think Brady's first pass will be completed and can take back 230 if you think it will be incomplete. Manning is minus 180 for a completion, plus 150 for an errant throw.

Brady's passing total is set at 274 1/2 yards. Over is minus 215, under plus 175. For Manning, it's 191 1/2 yards with the over at minus 220, the under plus 180.

(For novices, the disparity in prices is known as the "vig." It's the way, theoretically, bookies make their money, regardless of the outcome. The half-points are designed to eliminate ties.)

Maybe you prefer the running game. You can get 20 1/2 yards with the Giants' Brandon Jacobs against the Patriots Laurence Maroney. Either way, you lay 115.

Maybe you're into the team game. If you think the Giants will score first, you can get plus 150. For the Patriots you have to lay 180.

Front-runners might be interested in the "team that scores first wins the game" prop. Yes is minus 240; no plus 190.

Think the first score of the game will be a touchdown? The bookies do. It's minus 215. If you think it will be a field goal or safety, the take back is plus 175.

Those who like to back longshots have a couple of interesting opportunities. You can get 8-1 that there will be a safety but you have to lay 13-1 if you are a naysayer.

Taking the game to go into overtime will get you back 9-1 but you have to put up 14-1 to say no.

There's even a price on the bane of sports: instant replay. You can take either team to use the first coach's challenge for minus 115.

The most delicious irony of all this is how the sanctimonius NFL is beng used as the official arbiter. Sportsbook.com. decrees that all bets will be paid off according to the official stats posted on www.nfl.com.