Super Bowl 48 Player Proposition Bets
By Loot, NFL Handicapper, Lootmeister.com
Super Bowl time is a feeding frenzy for proposition bets. This season has seen prop wagers kicked up even another notch. Anything you can possibly fathom is covered in prop bets. They even offer bets on what color gloves will be worn by the girl who sings the National Anthem or if members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers will perform shirtless. Taking a stab with a quirky bet like that is fun, but we should mostly focus on the prop bets that are somewhat handicap-able. And here are some that jumped out at us for Super Bowl XLVIII. Below, you will see prop bets, followed by commentary and perhaps a recommendation or two. Good luck!
Find all of these prop bets and more at one of the web's best sportsbooks: Bovada.
Player to score the first TD in the game?
Marshawn Lynch (SEA) RB 5/1
Knowshon Moreno (DEN) RB 17/2
Demaryius Thomas (DEN) WR 9/1
Wes Welker (DEN) WR 9/1
Eric Decker (DEN) WR 9/1
Percy Harvin (SEA) WR 10/1
Golden Tate (SEA) WR 12/1
Julius Thomas (DEN) TE 12/1
Russell Wilson (SEA) QB 14/1
Doug Baldwin (SEA) WR 14/1
Montee Ball (DEN) RB 16/1
Zach Miller (SEA) TE 20/1
Jacob Tamme (DEN) TE 22/1
Robert Turbin (SEA) RB 33/1
Peyton Manning (DEN) QB 40/1
Field 6/1
No TD scored in the game 66/1
Comments and Picks: The top suspects are well-represented, with 8 players going off at 12/1 or better, with the top running backs for each team the top favorites in Marshawn Lynch and Knowshon Moreno. This bet always seems to beg for more of a long-shot. Among the more interesting choices are Denver’s TE Julius Thomas at 12/1 and Doug Baldwin at 14/1. How about a little Max McGee action on Denver TE Jacob Tamme at 22/1?
Total TD Passes - Russell Wilson (SEA)
Over 1½ (+135)
Under 1½ (-165)
Comments and Pick: Against the Denver secondary, is it asking that much for Wilson to throw two touchdowns? When getting a +135 price, it seems like a decent enough bet. Seattle may need to get a bit creative when deep in the red zone, with Denver keying in on Lynch, making small passes more of a factor when in-close.
Total Rushing Yards - Russell Wilson (SEA)
Over 30½ (-115)
Under 30½ (-115)
Comments and Pick: It might be no more than a good ol’ hunch, but something seems to indicate that Wilson will break off a decent run at some point in this game. If he does, he will need just a few other decent scampers to make 30.5 yards doable. I’m thinking over and he could go for more than 50.
Total Rushing Yards on 1st Attempt - Marshawn Lynch (SEA)
Over 3½ (-115)
Under 3½ (-115)
Comments and Pick: Lynch is a guy who needs time to warm up to the task. Denver has been shutting the run down pretty well. Lynch will get his, but it’s not hard to envision him getting stuffed up on his first few runs. I’m going under.
Total Receiving Yards - Doug Baldwin (SEA)
Over 39½ (-115)
Under 39½ (-115)
Comments and Pick: Of all Seattle’s pass-catchers, Baldwin’s legs seem more alive than any of them. He could top this in one reception. Wilson’s top target in the NFC title game should have at least a decent game, making over an attractive option.
Peyton Manning (DEN) - What will he do first?
Throw a TD Pass -250
Throw an Interception +195
Comments and Pick: Against a top defense, Manning is not interception-proof. And nerves have gotten the best of him before. Against this secondary, anything is possible, but I’m gonna say Manning gets a touchdown before a pick. After all, he had over 5 times more touchdowns than interceptions this season.
Total Receptions - Knowshon Moreno (DEN)
Over 3 (-115)
Under 3 (-115)
Comments and Pick: In this game, there may be some upside with Denver’s less-premier aerial targets with Seattle likely to do a good job against the top Denver threats. Moreno might get a bunch of looks underneath, especially if he is getting swallowed up at the line of scrimmage by the fearsome Seattle front.
Total Receiving Yards - Julius Thomas (DEN)
Over 55½ (-115)
Under 55½ (-115)
Comments and Pick: With Decker, Thomas, and Welker attracting the best of Seattle’s secondary, Thomas will not exactly be running free, but should benefit from some favorable match-ups. When healthy this season, Thomas often surpassed this number in the first half.
Total Receiving Yards - Andre Caldwell (DEN)
Over 9½ (-115)
Under 9½ (-115)
Comments and Pick: Caldwell has quietly emerged as a darkhorse, a final aerial option for Manning when nothing else looks good downfield. All he needs to make the “over” work here is ten lousy yards, something he’s managed to get in both of Denver’s postseason games this season.
Who will have more Receiving Yards in the game?
Marshawn Lynch (SEA) RB +9½ (-115)
Knowshon Moreno (DEN) RB -9½ (-115)
Comments and Pick: Lynch had 36 catches during the regular season, but has only 1 catch in 2 postseason games. While Moreno has only caught 3 balls for 36 yards in two postseason games, Denver may have to get more creative in how they use him against this defense. Moreno might be worth a look at -9.5
