I know what you’re thinking. Who would have won POPS PROPS V if Pete Carroll called the 4th-and-goal-from-the-1 play for Marshawn Lynch, instead of dialing up the Russell Wilson pass that Malcolm Butler intercepted? Who would have triumphed if Lynch scored and won MVP for leading the Hawks to a 31-28 victory?
Well, in that hypothetical scenario, 12 props would have changed:
* The Seahawks would win instead of the Patriots.
* The total points would be odd (59) instead of even (52).
* Lynch probably would win MVP for scoring two touchdowns, including the winning score with seconds left.
* A greater number of points would be scored in the second half (31) rather than the first half (28).
* Both teams would score in the final 3 1/2 minutes.
* The team that scored first would not win the game.
* The Seahawks would be the last team to score.
* The total number of interceptions would be under 2 1/2 (2 instead of 3).
* The two sums would have been equal for our final crossover question, because Gencierbirligi and Caykur Rizespor combined for 2 goals that night in the Turkish Super Lig, while Seattle and New England would combine for 2 total turnovers.
Even with all that, Marc Lampton still would win POPS PROPS V with 45 points, just one point more than runner-up Eric Schuh’s 44. That’s quite the swing for Schuh, who tied for 12th (38 points) in POPS PROPS V. Ben Zimmer would finish third with 42 points, while four competitors would tie at 41.