Super Bowl Prop Bets

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Off-field Super Bowl props

There will be plenty of props of the standard variety to consider, as well as a bunch which factor in the off-field aspects of the game. Props of this nature are based around random events that one wouldn’t be too worried about for the average game, but they’re a great way to get even casual fans involved. Here are a couple of popular off-field props:

• What color Gatorade will be used to celebrate — yellow/red/orange/blue?
• The result of the opening coin flip will be — heads/tails?

Just like the regular props, there will be odds attached to each possible selection. For a multi-choice prop like the color of the Gatorade, the Super Bowl prop bet odds might look something like this.

• Yellow +115
• Red +105
• Orange +120
• Blue +125

So let’s say you have a thing for underdogs and decide that blue is the right call. If you wagered $100 and that came to pass, you’d get a return of $125. When you see positive odds, the number equals what the return would be for a $100 winning bet.

If the odds are negative, you can translate that into how much you’d have to wager to get back $100, such as $110 for odds of -110. While the potential return shouldn’t be all that you consider when wagering, it’s helpful to have a handle on what to expect.

Super Bowl player props vs. Super Bowl team props

Player and team props will make up the majority of choices for the Super Bowl. On the player side, it’s about individual performances. Those who have some experience with projecting out fantasy sports performance can find success here.

For team props, it’s mainly about the matchup. If you’ve already broken down the game while looking for edges, any knowledge you acquired along the way can be really helpful here. Let’s take a look at examples for both categories, starting with the players:

• How many total receptions for Tyreek Hill — over/under 7.5?
• Which player will win Super Bowl MVP?
• Who will have more rushing yards — Leonard Fournette or Clyde Edwards-Helaire?

When it’s a specific benchmark, such as receptions for Hill, you can spend some time looking at his recent performance and how the opponent has been defending the passing game. Projections from various daily fantasy sports sites can be helpful as well.

Super Bowl MVP is one of the most popular prop bets on the board. You’ll find odds for all players with a reasonable chance of winning it listed. For additional rooting interest, you can spread out the risk by making multiple selections.

Point of Note: Quarterbacks have won Super Bowl MVP eight times in the last 11 Super Bowls. WR Julian Edelman was the last non-QB to win the award.

For team props, the goal is to figure out what each side will accomplish during the game. As mentioned, if you’ve found a clear advantage while breaking down the game, you may have a good spot to focus on.

As an example, if one team is really strong on the ground while the other struggles against the run, team rushing props could be a spot to zero in on. Here are a few examples of the props that fall into the team category:

• Which side will force more turnovers — Chiefs or Bucs?
• Total TDs scored before halftime will be — over/under 4.5?
• Will there be an INT returned for a TD — yes/no?

The overall prop betting menu for the Super Bowl is really deep, but the good news is that you can focus your efforts. Take a glance at the available offerings and make note of the ones you are most interested in. Afterwards, focus your research efforts on the props that made the cut and take a pass on the rest.

Offense vs. defense props

As you break down the game, there’s a good chance you’ll find specific advantages for the two teams on either offense or defense. This can be valuable intel to use as you consider various prop betting scenarios.

Offensive props will revolve around things like yardage and scoring. Some defensive props may be about the same, but there will also be ones that are based on things like turnovers and sacks. Here’s a look at some of the choices on both sides:

• Which team will have more passing yards — Bucs or Chiefs?
• How many total turnovers will there be in the game — over/under 1.5?
• What will be the total amount of TDs scored — over/under 7.5?
• Will there be a safety in the game — yes/no?

The time you spend researching and uncovering little gems of insight can prove to be quite valuable. After all, with hundreds of props on the board, there are bound to be some in which the oddsmakers have missed the mark at least a little bit.

Once again, we have to stress not pulling your hair out while trying to break down every single prop on the board. As with straight wagers, the idea is to find the bets in which you can find an edge. If you don’t have a good feel, take a pass and move on.

What’s a good or bad Super Bowl prop bet?

Naturally, the best Super Bowl prop bets are the ones for which you ultimately cash a ticket. That can be easier said than done, but you can improve your chances by taking a targeted approach with your wagering strategy.

If we take this tact, the “good” Super Bowl prop bets are the ones for which we can make a reasonable prediction on what will happen. A “bad” Super Bowl prop bet is a wager that we view as a complete toss-up or simply can’t get a read on at all.

Also, keep in mind the overall nature of the bets offered. The standard prop bets can be approached with an eye towards researching to make the best choice, while the entertainment-style offerings can involve lots of guesswork.

That doesn’t mean you need to completely shy away from those that fall in the latter category. Once again, take a measured approach. If you can at least make a reasonable guess, go for it. If not, save your wagering dollars for the bets you have a better feel for.

Super Bowl and NBA crossover props

On Super Bowl Sunday, we know where the eyes of the world will be. However, that doesn’t mean that the other sports take the day off. There will be some other games going on, and oddsmakers will offer up some interesting crossover props as a result.

For example, the NBA and the NHL might have games scheduled for that day. That’ll lead to crossover props such as this being posted:

• Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Lakers both to win — yes/no?
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tampa Bay Lightning both to win — yes/no?

There could also be some tie-ins that revolve around the performance of star players. Examples in this category include:

• Patrick Mahomes to throw for 3+ TDs and LeBron James to score over 30 Points — yes/no?
• Tom Brady to pass for 300+ yards and Steven Stamkos to score a goal — yes/no?

Crossover props can help you spread out the enjoyment leading into the Big Game. If you nail the first half of the prop earlier in the day, you’ll have even more rooting interest as the game plays out.

Notable SB prop bets in CO history

Super Bowl prop bets continue to grow in popularity. It seems like the range of choices available grows with each passing year. There are times when magic is struck and a prop from the Big Game ties in nicely with one of the biggest moments of the day.

If we think back to Super Bowl XXXII, the Denver Broncos were 11.5-point underdogs to the Green Bay Packers. The Broncos — and especially John Elway — had different ideas about how things would play out. Late in the game, Elway made a play for the ages. Check it out.

Now let’s just say that you happened to have a prop bet on Elway rushing yards for the game. How cool would it have been to hit paydirt on one of the most iconic plays in Super Bowl history?

On the opposite end of the coin, the Broncos have also had some rather forgettable performances in the Big Game, including in Super Bowl XLVIII versus the Seattle Seahawks. The opening score of the game set the stage for a 43-8 blowout win by Seattle.

While this is a painful memory for Broncos fans, those who picked a safety as the first score of the game at least made themselves quite the score. The first score of the game is always heavily bet, so we can imagine that several bettors have quite the memory to share.

For a dramatic prop not tied to the Broncos, we don’t have to go back too far. The Philadelphia Eagles flipped the script on the New England Patriots in dramatic fashion during Super Bowl LII. As opposed to going for a layup field goal at the end of the second quarter, the term “Philly Special” became ingrained in the football lexicon.

While Nick Foles was on a memorable run during the playoffs, who would’ve figured he’d be crossing the goal line like this? Let’s just say that bettors who made the call were quite happy as this unbelievable play happened.

It’s awesome to cash in on a prop in such dramatic fashion, but scoring some wins in under-the-radar fashion works too. Super Bowl prop betting can be lots of fun and potentially profitable, so be sure to take your fair share of shots on this year’s edition of the Big Game.