It has been only a recent phenomenon that Super Bowls have provided end-to-end drama.

Last year Green Bay didn’t secure the crown until the waning moments. It was the same for New Orleans a year earlier – and ditto for Pittsburgh the year before that. And in New England’s four Super visits the past decade, each was decided by a field goal.

But in the old days, snooze-fests were the norm, especially when Buffalo and Denver showed up. The Bills and Broncos went a combined 0-8 from January 1978 through January 1994, losing by an average of 24-plus points.

It was the prospect of yet another Super runaway that prompted Vegas line maker Jay Kornegay – formerly of the Imperial Palace and now the race and sportsbook director at the LVH – to put on his thinking cap in earnest to keep his customers from dozing.

And thus the Super Bowl proposition bonanza was born.

"In the late ’80s, there were maybe only a dozen or so choices," he said last Thursday by phone. "But it took off in 1995 for the 49ers and Chargers. That was a 19½-point spread, so there was no doubt who (49ers) was going to win. That’s when we took the prop menu to another level – maybe 170 or 180. It’s been that way ever since."

The past week Kornegay, "the Father of Prop Bets," was aided by staff members Ed Salmons, Jeff Sherman and Chris Bennett in coming up with props for the Giants and Patriots.

"Time is our only deterrent. It keeps us from having 400 props," Kornegay said. "What we want to do is create interest. It’s some of the simplest things that get the most action: Will there be overtime? Will there be a safety?"

He learned five seasons ago not to go overboard with odds, such as when he listed Chicago’s Devin Hester in the 25-1 to 30-1 range to score the game’s first TD against Indy. He scored on the opening kickoff.

"We took a hit there," Kornegay said, half chuckling. "I was just getting all the VIPs set up and they started cheering and jumping up and down, and I’m being like, ‘Oh my gosh, we’re down a healthy five figures before they run a play in the game!’"

Below is a look at fun props to consider and those that surely will empty your wallet.

IGNORE

A team will score 4 points: Even at 9,999-1, this would be seen as a preposterously foolish choice even by someone who’s heavily medicated. Only once in league history has a team totaled 4 – in 1923 when Racine trounced the visiting Chicago Cardinals, 10-4.

No touchdowns: At 500-1, another clunker. There have been 481 playoff games in NFL annals and four wound up without a TD, but none occurred in the Super Bowl. In three of those no-TD games, the league’s top-rated defense was involved. In the other, a second-rated unit played. Not so this time, when the 27th-rated Giants’ defense vies against the Patriots 31st-ranked defenders.

Manning scores first TD: At a watered-down 30-1, those are weak odds. He had only one of New York’s 56 TDs this year. The Patriots had 70 and it’s highly unlikely he’ll be the first to spike the ball in the end zone.

No turnovers: At about 7-1, this would be an extremely poor selection. There were only 11 turnover-free outings in 266 games this season, so even tripling the odds makes for a losing proposition.

BETTER OPTIONS

Over/Under Either Way: Considering these teams combined for 31 points in the fourth quarter of their Week 9 meeting, OVER would seem to be a savvy choice. Then again, these teams also played a scoreless first half, one of only two in the league all season.

OVER 69½: It’s fun to sit back and cheer for every score, but there has been only one Super Bowl in which 69½ was exceeded (75 for 49ers-Chargers in SB XXIX). And at only +400, this isn’t close to being worth the mental cheering anguish. In fact, in Patriots games over the past three seasons, the total has reached 70 only once.

WORTH CONSIDERING

Most/least penalty yards (team): The Patriots -110, would be the selection. They’ve cleaned up their act the past nine games with only 29 infractions marched off against them vs. 61 for their foes. The Giants, meanwhile, had a season-high nine penalties against them in the NFC title game.

Shortest Mesko punt (gross): UNDER 36½ is offered at +130, which seems puzzling considering the numbers for the Giants’ punter are -110 with a 34½. Mesko pinned foes inside the 20 on 24 of his 57 punts, so he’s adept at pooch kicking

Montreal goals vs. total FGs: The choice is Montreal at -110. When the Winnipeg Jets last visited, they were 7-3 losers. Winnipeg’s main goalie, Ondrej Pavelec, has the 33rd-worst goals-against-average in the league.

Wales/Ireland vs. first made FG: Take the rugby guys at +½ (-100). Wales, as you all know, is in super condition and has been known to run up the score on rivals, scoring 66 and 86 points in the fall.

Brady vs. Garnett: Brady at +½ (-110) first half completions against Garnett points. Tom has been known to come out flinging from the start with a pass on every down, especially since his run game is mediocre. Garnett has hovered in the low- to mid-teens in scoring of late for a Celtics team that’s been stressing defense. Plus, Memphis ain’t bad.

Jacobs vs. D. Williams: At -2½ (-110), go with Jacobs rushing yards. Williams will be playing his fourth game in five days for the Nets and not only might see his game slack off, but his playing time could well be scaled back.

GOOD VALUE

First score FG or safety: At +180 this seems to be a colossal bargain. In the 45 Super games to date, the scoring has opened with a field goal 22 times and a safety once for a 51.1 percent success rate. In eight of the past 13 title games, a field goal was the first score.

First touchdown: At 40-1, WR/DB/punt returner Julian Edelman of New England. Even though he’s had only one TD this year, he’s always on the field. And don’t forget, Patriots coach Bill Belichick has made many offensive linemen and linebackers heroes on scoring passes, so this one isn’t that farfetched.

4th quarter highest scoring: At about +200, another strong value considering the fourth has had the greatest outbursts in 20 of the 45 games, including nine of the past 13.

Pats -17½ vs. Giants: At +750, why not? Playoff games have a tendency to get out of hand in the second half, sort of the way the Super Tampa Bay Bucs ran away from Oakland 48-21 in large part because of three INT returns for scores. And, yes, Eli Manning already has had one of those-type games in his career. And, any team that lost twice to the 5-11 Redskins could well get wiped out against a much better team.

BEST OF BEST

Ochocinco will have catch: At +130, this looks like a steal. The ex-Bengals veteran and master of the River Dance made a name for himself during a distinguished career in Cincinnati, but had only 15 catches and TDs this season in his Patriots debut. But Brady and Belichick like him and surely will strive to feed him a pity reception in the big game. After all, Ochocinco has been a good soldier – and he just suffered the death of his father, which was why he was inactive for the AFC title game.