Prop Bets Offer Fans Non-Stop Action
Las Vegas sportsbooks have posted a profit in 23 of the last 25 Super Bowls largely due to prop betting, according to the Nevada Gaming Commission.
The two games they lost money on were in 1995 when the San Francisco 49ers trounced the San Diego Chargers and in 2008 when the New York Giants stunned the New England Patriots.
What’s not to love? The list of propositions continues to grow every year where bettors can predict such outcomes as the coin toss, which team will score first, complete stats on the starting quarterbacks … and so on. MGM Resorts offers 11 pages of prop bets at their sportsbooks on the Las Vegas Strip — like the Bellagio and MGM Grand. CG Technologies has nine pages of detailed bets at their venues — like the Cosmopolitan and Tropicana.
Let’s take a look at some prop bets and try to pick a few winners as the New England Patriots take on the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII on Sunday, Feb. 4 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis (odds provided by bovada.lv).
The veteran sportscaster for NBC will call the play-by-play in Super Bowl LII on Sunday in Minneapolis. It will be his 10th NFL championship, one shy of Pat Summerall’s record. The 73-year-old knows all the details of the game. And he understands the high betting interest of the fans around the world. No doubt the betting line of the most popular game will be acknowledged.
VGB’s pick — Yes (+110)
It’s expected to be about 10 degrees Fahrenheit in Minneapolis on Sunday — probably the coldest league final for a host city in Super Bowl history. But it will be about 60 degrees warmer inside U.S. Bank Stadium. With perfect weather conditions inside the dome, it seems obvious that NBC’s crew will mention the drastic outside conditions a few times. The last time the NFL championship was in the state of Minnesota was in 1992.
VGB’s pick — Over (-200)
Rob Gronkowski is the favorite to score the Patriots’ first touchdown, but it’s difficult to know how healthy Gronk will be coming out of concussion protocol. Tom Brady loves to hit Dion Lewis coming out of the backfield, but he has connected on more passes to Danny Amendola than anyone else in the playoffs. Amendola had 11 catches in the divisional round and seven catches and two touchdowns in the conference championship. He seems to be the go-to guy in the postseason.
VGB’s pick — Danny Amendola (+700)
A tight end is the favorite to score the Eagles’ first touchdown as well in Zach Ertz. He was the leading receiver in Philadelphia’s conference championship win, but he didn’t score any touchdowns. Jay Ajayi will get the bulk of the carries for the NFC champs, but LeGarrette Blount is the man when only a yard or two is needed at the goal line. The former Patriot has scored in both postseason games for the Eagles.
VGB’s pick — LeGarrette Blount (+500)
Stephen Gostkowski made 37-of-40 (92.5%) field goals this season for the Patriots, while Jake Elliott made 26-of-31 (83.9%) field goals for the Eagles, and many of them at long range. It’s not a question of whether these kickers can be successful from 48 yards or more, it’s will they get the chance? The elements will be perfect within the dome, but a 48-yard field goal or more has not been kicked in 14 years since 2004.
VGB’s pick — Under (+120)
Tom Brady threw for more than 285.5 passing yards this season in seven of 16 regular season games, but he has passed that mark in both postseason victories. The Patriots will not win this game by running the ball, not against the Eagles’ front seven. And Brady is not afraid to pass the ball 50-plus times. Even though Philadelphia has the fourth-best defense in the NFL, they are better against the run than the pass.
VGB’s pick — Over (-130)
This is the fifth start of the season where Foles is expected to go the distance for the Eagles. His longest pass of the season was 35 yards before he connected in the conference final for 53 yards and a touchdown to Alshon Jeffery. The Eagles will try and play a more ball control game in the Super Bowl and keep Foles out of harm’s way. It keeps his quarterback rating high and his turnover ratio low. Don’t expect Foles to be looking for the long ball.
VGB’s pick — Under (-115)
The Patriots’ versatile running back had 30 receiving yards or more in two of 16 regular season games this year. But Lewis has passed that mark in both playoff games, including nine catches for 79 yards against Tennessee in the divisional round. The Patriots like to use these short passing routes in the postseason, and Lewis is the perfect man for the job. He had seven receptions for 32 yards against Jacksonville.
VGB’s pick — Over (-130)
The Patriots and Eagles were tied for second with the most points scored per game in the regular season. They both averaged 28.6 points per game, which will likely threaten the over/under line of 48 and total touchdown line of 5.5. With the elements in the dome having little effect on the playing conditions, both offenses should be able to put up some yardage and score touchdowns.
VGB’s pick — Over (+115)
The Patriots averaged 118 yards per game during the regular season. They gained more than 93 yards on the ground in 11-of-16 regular season games, but just once in two playoff games. The Eagles gave up 93 yards rushing in 7-of-16 regular season games, but not once in the postseason. Atlanta and Minnesota run the ball effectively and yet both failed to hit that mark.
VGB’s pick — Under (-115)
