Feb 4, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts speaks with the media during a press conference at Hilton New Orleans Riverside. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Super Bowl LIX: Betting Report

Wagers have been pouring in at sportsbooks since the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles clinched their spots in Super Bowl LIX, to be played Sunday in New Orleans. If you decide to move past the Super Bowl squares this year and wager in a different fashion, there’s still time to put at least a few dollars on the Big Game.

But what has changed in terms of betting since the Chiefs and Eagles booked their tickets? A lot actually. And it continues to change.

Super Bowl LIX: The Odds

The opening betting line for Super Bowl:
Point spread: Chiefs -1.5; Eagles +1.5
Moneyline: Chiefs -120; Eagles +100
TOTAL: O/U 49.5

The line briefly moved to +/-2 after the opening odds were posted, but the line settled back down at +/-1.5 by the next morning, where it remained for the next week. But on Monday of this week, after sharp bettors got behind the Eagles, the spread dipped down to +/-1 at a couple of sportsbooks.

Sharps also got behind the under, causing it to dip down to 48.5 at some sportsbooks.

As of Wednesday morning, the moneyline stood at Chiefs -115, Eagles +110.

John Murray, executive director at the Westgate SuperBook in Las Vegas, told ESPN the Eagles could end up being the betting favorite by kickoff.

“The consensus opinion in our risk room is that Philly will go off favored. Call it an educated guess,” he said. “We have been wrong about that before and could be wrong this time, but we think the Eagles will get there over the course of this week.”

We’ll see come Sunday if he’s right.

Super Bowl LIX: How’s the Public Betting?

“Fade the public.”

“Follow the money.”

If you bet long enough, you are bound to get advice that both strategies are the way to go. Without advising one strategy over the other, we can say information is key.

Here’s how the public was betting as of Wednesday morning, according to data aggregator Sports Betting Dime:

–Moneyline tickets: Chiefs, 52 percent; Eagles, 48 percent
–Moneyline handle: Chiefs, 32 percent; Eagles, 68 percent
–Spread (percentage of tickets): Chiefs, 31 percent; Eagles, 69 percent
–Spread (handle): Chiefs, 19 percent; Eagles, 81 percent
–Total (tickets): Chiefs, 76 percent; Eagles, 24 percent
–Total (handle): Chiefs, 71 percent; Eagles, 29 percent

At Fanatics, 50 percent of moneyline tickets and 67 percent of the money are on the Chiefs at -125. As for the spread, 54 percent of the tickets and money is on the Chiefs at -1.5.

Caesars has seen 52 percent of spread and 53 percent of moneyline tickets on the Eagles, but more money has come in on the Chiefs (51 percent and 54 percent, respectively).

DraftKings has experienced similar splits, with 54 percent of the money and 57 percent of the spread bets on the Chiefs. Bettors have hammered the over (83 percent of the money and 80 percent of bets). As for the moneyline split, the Eagles have seen more support, with 53 percent of the money and 54 percent of the bets.

Super Bowl LIX: The Player Props

Suppose you feel a little overwhelmed looking at the vast menu of player props. In that case, this may help: the players people are betting the most on are Philadelphia’s Saquon Barkley, Jalen Hurts and Dallas Goedert, as well as Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce.

The most popular same-game parlay legs include the anytime TD props for Barkley, Hurts, Kelce and Kansas City’s Kareem Hunt. Barkley’s Anytime TD Scorer prop is the most popular TD prop at ESPN Bet (bets and money).

Super Bowl LIX: Notable Bets

As we get closer to kickoff and the volume of wagers continues to grow, we are bound to hear about some pretty big bets. Betting at legal sportsbooks is expected to top $1.7 billion.

Here are some of the bigger bets that have come in so far:

–$800K on the Eagles moneyline at +110 (BetMGM)
–$750K on the Eagles moneyline at +110 (BetMGM)
–$150K on the Eagles moneyline (DraftKings)
–$50K on the Eagles moneyline at +110 (Caesars)
–$30K on Eagles +3 at -141 (BetRivers)
–$300K on Eagles +0.5 at -120 (BetMGM)
–$326K on the Chiefs moneyline at -130 (BetMGM)
–$63,370 on the Chiefs moneyline at -135 (BetRivers)
–$55K on the Chiefs moneyline at -132 (BetRivers)
–$150K and $138.6K on under 49.5 (BetMGM)
–$110K on under 49.5 (Caesars)

Big money has come in on a few prop bets as well:

–$51K that an octopus would not be scored at -3335 (to win $1,530; BetRivers). An octopus occurs when the player who scored the touchdown also scores the 2-point conversion.
–$83.5K on “No player to score a rushing and receiving touchdown” at -835 (BetRivers)
–$25K on Kelce to win MVP at +1500 (BetMGM)
–$20K on Mahomes to win MVP at +110 (Caesars)

–Field Level Media

Feb 12, 2024; Las Vegas, NV, USA; The Super Bowl LIX logo at the Super Bowl Host Committee Handoff press conference at the Super Bowl LVIII media center at the Mandalay Bay North Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Super Bowl: Early line, MVP odds and general betting primer

We have a sequel, football fans! Either that or a remake/reboot, take your pick. The two teams playing in Super Bowl LIX should look familiar because they are the same two that played in Super Bowl LVII: the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles.

Now that the Feb. 9 Big Game is set, it is time to get in on the action. Sportsbooks didn’t make us wait, posting odds quickly once the Chiefs officially won the AFC once again. Let’s take a look at the opening line, along with the odds for other Super Bowl betting markets.

–Super Bowl opening line:

Super Bowl LIX is the second for Philadelphia in three years, both vs. Kansas City, and the fifth in six years for the Chiefs. The Eagles were slight favorites when they played the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII (with Kansas City winning 38-35), but it appears that they are opening as slight underdogs this time:

Super Bowl LIX opening line (odds via FanDuel):
• Point spread: Eagles +1.5 (-105); Chiefs -1.5 (-115)
• Moneyline: Eagles +110; Chiefs -130
• Point total: O/U 49.5 (-110/-110)

Each conference has won the Super Bowl 29 times, but history has been much kinder to the AFC in recent years. Not only have the Chiefs won the last two, but a team from the AFC has won seven of the last 10. The AFC was the betting favorite in three and covered in each one.

The NFC was the underdog in two of its wins and failed to cover in the third. As for the point total, the OVER is 1-5 in the last six Super Bowls and 4-6 in the last 10.

As for our two competitors, the Eagles were the better team ATS this season, going 13-7, while the Chiefs were just 10-10 (postseason included). The OVER lost more than it won for both teams, going 9-11 for the Chiefs and the Eagles.

–Super Bowl MVP odds:

Super Bowl MVP odds have been available since the regular season ended and prior to the playoffs getting underway. But now that we are down to two teams, you no longer have to worry about betting on someone who may not even make the game.

The latest odds make it clear who the favorites are. Here’s a partial list of the players listed at the top of FanDuel’s Super Bowl MVP betting board:
• Patrick Mahomes +105
• Saquon Barkley +290
• Jalen Hurts +380
• Travis Kelce +1700
• Xavier Worthy +3000
• A.J. Brown +3200
• DeVonta Smith +5000
• Marquise Brown +6500
• Kareem Hunt +6000
• Chris Jones +6000

Quarterbacks have, of course, won the most (33). They are followed by wide receivers (eight), running backs (seven), linebackers (four), defensive ends (two) and safeties (two), plus one cornerback, one defensive tackle and one kick/punt returner.

Patrick Mahomes won MVP in his three previous wins. A quarterback has won in seven of the last 10, with a wide receiver winning twice and a linebacker once.

The Chiefs offense is not the same explosive beast it was in its previous wins. But that will just make it more apparent when Mahomes saves the day. So, if you are thinking about putting money down on him, do it soon. His odds will not remain plus money for long.

–Additional Super Bowl LIX markets (odds via FanDuel):

If you’ve ever thought, “Wow, there sure are a lot of betting options on regular-season games,” then you haven’t seen anything yet. Sportsbooks give bettors a chance to bet on just about anything and everything related to the Super Bowl.

BetMGM has coin-toss odds available (-105 for heads or tails), but you’ll have to wait for the other, more popular exotic markets like those associated with Gatorade color, length of the national anthem, halftime props, etc.

But you can already bet on several common, popular prop bets like:
• Saquon Barkley, Anytime Touchdown -190
• Saquon Barkley, O/U 114.5 Rushing Yards (-114/-114)
• Jalen Hurts, O/U 1.5 Passing Touchdowns (+178/-240)
• Travis Kelce, O/U 6.5 Receptions (-110/-110)

The markets mentioned above are just a small sample of the hundreds of betting markets already available to bettors at their favorite sportsbook — and the fun is just getting started!

–Field Level Media

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) celebrates a touchdown against Minnesota Vikings during the second half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025.

Lions listed as betting favorites to dethrone Chiefs in playoffs

With the 14-team field for the NFL playoffs set, sportsbooks are tabbing the Detroit Lions as the favorites to go all the way.

Detroit wrapped up a 15-2 regular season by beating the Minnesota Vikings 31-9 on Sunday night, securing the No. 1 seed in the NFC in the process. FanDuel has the Lions winning the Super Bowl at +300, while DraftKings offers the wager at even shorter odds, (+275).

FanDuel and DraftKings have Detroit over the two-time defending champion Chiefs, who are at +350 at both books. Kansas City is looking to become the first team ever to win three straight Super Bowls.

The Baltimore Ravens (+600 on FanDuel, +600 on DraftKings), Buffalo Bills (+600, +650) and Philadelphia Eagles (+700, +750) round out the top five Super Bowl favorites.

Over on FanDuel, the Denver Broncos, Pittsburgh Steelers and Houston Texans are viewed as the biggest longshots to take home a title. They all sit at +6500.

Pittsburgh is alone at +9000 on DraftKings.

Wild-card weekend will come well before the Super Bowl, though, and Baltimore is the heaviest favorite in the first wave of games. The Ravens will host the Steelers on Saturday, and FanDuel and DraftKings both have the spread at 9.5 points in favor of Baltimore.

The Vikings and Los Angeles Rams are expected to play the closest wild-card game. Minnesota is favored by only 2.5 points on both books.

–Field Level Media

Dec 29, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) drops back to pass against the Carolina Panthers in the first quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Top 10 Player Props For NFL Week 18

With most NFL playoff teams sitting key personnel, Week 18 may not be a great week for putting money down on the traditional betting line. However, with many players looking to make statements, it is a great week to bet on NFL player props.

Of course, with hundreds to choose from, it can be a bit of a chore figuring out which ones to bet on. Here are our top 10 NFL player props (in no particular order) for the weekend’s slate.

Saints vs. Buccaneers

Baker Mayfield, OVER 251.5 Passing Yards at -113 (via BetRivers)

OVER 1.5 Passing Touchdowns at -114 (via BetRivers)

To throw for 300+ yards +260 (via DraftKings)

Mayfield has been in the zone, completing no less than 72.1 percent of his passes in any of the past three games, throwing for more than 251.5 yards in five of his last six games (and in 10 of 16 this season), and recording 2+ passing touchdowns in each of the past four.

Earlier this season, against the Saints, he completed 24 of 36 passes for 325 yards and four touchdowns, but he also had three interceptions.

The Saints are in complete disarray. Spence Rattler has been awful, as has been the Saints’ run game. So even if the New Orleans defense gets off to a strong start, it eventually will get tired. Tampa Bay is playing to secure the division title and its spot in the playoffs.

Mayfield is going for blood in this game. He’ll clear 300+ passing yards and throw at least two touchdown passes. Take the OVER on both.

Mike Evans, OVER 100.5 at -135 (via BetMGM)

Anytime First Half TD Scorer at +160 (via bet365)

Evans needs 85 yards to crack 1,000 receiving yards for the 11th straight season. Winning will come first, but it’s hard to envision a world where Mayfield doesn’t try to help him get there. Evans was held to two receptions (six targets) for 34 yards vs. the Saints in the first matchup. That will not happen again.

If Mayfield targets Evans as often as I expected, Evans will score at least once in the first half.

Vikings vs. Lions

Jared Goff, OVER 280.5 Passing Yards at -115 (via BetRivers)

Sam Darnold, OVER 281.5 Passing Yards at -115 (via bet365)

There is so much on the line in this game — division title, best record in the conference, No. 1 seed, bye in the first round, pride — to say these guys will lay it all on the line would be an understatement.

But that doesn’t mean we can expect the Lions’ secondary to suddenly become good again. No, this game will be a track meet with one team leading the way and the other playing catch-up. Either way, fans can expect both quarterbacks to throw for more than 280.5 yards.

Goff had 280 and Darnold 259 in the first matchup, but the Lions’ secondary has been hit hard by injuries, and with David Montgomery sidelined, Detroit probably will not focus as much on the run game.

Jordan Addison, OVER 63.5 Receiving Yards at -110 (via bet365)

OVER 4.5 Receptions at -150 (via bet365)

6+ Receptions at +140 (via bet365)

Yes, I know Justin Jefferson is the man in Minnesota. So, why am I going with Addison’s props? Sam Darnold has been loving him some Jordan Addison the past six games, targeting him no fewer than six times and for a total of 52. Addison has done his part, catching six or more in four of those games, though he topped 63.5 yards in just three.

Still, his chances of going over that number against the injury-riddled Vikings secondary are solid.

Jahymr Gibbs, OVER 87.5 Rushing Yards at -114 (via BetRivers)

OVER 17.5 Rushing Attempts at -122 (via BetRivers)

The Lions have leaned on Gibbs since Montgomery’s injury, and he responded with 100-plus yards in each of the past two games. He had 23 carries against the Bears when Detroit was interested in controlling the ball and running the clock and 18 last week in a track meet vs. the 49ers.

With the Vikings’ defense more concerned about the passing game, Gibbs should find enough running lanes to clear 87.5 yards. It may take until late in the fourth to get the 18th carry, but he’ll get it.

–Field Level Media

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (28) rushes for a touchdown Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, during a game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Top 10 Player Props For NFL Week 17

With NFL games on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday this week, Week 17’s Sunday slate only features nine games. With several games like Raiders vs. Saints where both teams are bad, putting money on the traditional betting line is challenging. But it is a great week for NFL player props.

The following are our top 10 player prop picks for Sunday’s NFL games. (Odds are from FanDuel unless otherwise indicated.)

Jets vs. Bills

–Breece Hall, O/U 49.5 Rushing Yards at -113/-113

Hall has gone over this number in six of his last seven games. With rain in the forecast for Buffalo on Sunday, there is a good chance the Jets will focus more on the run. Plus, the more they run, the longer they can keep Josh Allen on the sideline.

Hall ran for a season-high 113 yards on the Bills earlier this year. The Bills have been an average run defense this season, which makes me think Hall will easily surpass 49.5 yards.

Take the OVER.

–James Cook, O/U 77.5 Rushing + Receiving Yards at -114/-114

The Bills have leaned into the run the last couple of weeks, with Cook going for 100-plus in two straight games and three of four. With inclement conditions expected, it would be surprising if they didn’t hand off to Cook early and often this week as well.

He could go over the total just running the ball. But in case he doesn’t break off a long run like he did the last two weeks, he’ll make up the difference with a couple of screen passes.

Take the OVER.

Falcons vs. Commanders

–Bijan Robinson, O/U 83.5 Rushing Yards at -113/-113
–Robinson, O/U 18.5 Rushing Attempts at -132/+102

The best thing Atlanta can do to help Michael Penix Jr. is establish the run, which the Falcons should do anyway with a running back like Robinson. He’s gone for 86 or more yards in six of his last seven games (four in a row). He carried the ball 19-plus times in each of them; in the outlier, he only had 12 carries.

Atlanta will make sure Robinson eats against Washington’s lackluster run defense (29th in the NFL).

Take the OVER on both.

–Michael Penix Jr., O/U 207.5 Passing Yards at -114/-114
–Penix, O/U 29.5 Pass Attempts

The Falcons will try to protect their rookie this week, much like they did last week vs. the Giants. Establishing the run will be the focus of the offense, with enough passing to keep the Commanders’ defense (which happens to be one of the best pass defenses in the league) honest.

Penix had 27 pass attempts last week. Teams have been attempting 28.5 per game on the Commanders this season and 32.3 in the last three. If Cousins was still at QB, I’d expect Atlanta to be closer to 32 attempts than 28 — but not Penix.

They’ll play it safe with Penix again. Take the UNDER for both.

Dolphins vs. Browns

–Tyreek Hill, O/U 49.5 Receiving Yards at -114/-114

It hasn’t been the kind of year we’ve come to expect from Hill, but with all the injury issues Miami has dealt with, it’s not surprising. He’s averaging 55.6 yards per game this season and has exceeded 49.5 yards in three of his last six games.

But the Dolphins are still alive for the playoffs and are facing a Browns defense giving up 157.7 yards per game to wide receivers this season. Other pass-happy teams like the Broncos (Week 13) and Bengals (Week 16) saw their wide receivers combine for 200-plus.

Take the OVER.

Giants vs. Colts

–Jonathan Taylor, O/U 102.5 Rushing Yards at -115/-115 (via DraftKings)
–Taylor O/U 22.5 Rushing Attempts at -110/-110 (via DraftKings)

Taylor carried the ball 29 times for 218 yards last week vs. Tennessee, but 135 yards came on two carries. Expecting similar numbers would be unrealistic.

But as long as the Colts decide to abuse the Giants’ 31st-ranked run defense rather than (try to) establish the pass, good things will happen.

Taylor has had at least 21 attempts each time the Colts have won while he was healthy this season. As bad as the Giants’ run defense is, it makes sense to feed Taylor the ball 25 times.

Take the OVER for both.

Cowboys vs. Eagles

–Saquon Barkley, O/U 111.5 Rushing Yards at -113/-113

With Jalen Hurts out this week, the Eagles will likely focus on establishing the run with Barkley to take pressure off Kenny Pickett. It didn’t result in a win last week against the Commanders, but Washington is a better team than the Cowboys this year.

Dallas has held teams to an average of 89.3 yards over their last three games. But the Eagles are playing at home and have a chance to lock up the division with a win. With Barkley and the defense leading the way, they’ll get the job done.

Take the OVER.

–Field Level Media

Dec 8, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier (25) runs the ball against the Minnesota Vikings during the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

Top 10 Player Props For NFL Week 16

With 12 games on the schedule for Sunday featuring many of the NFL’s best teams, fans will have hundreds of player props to choose from for their betting pleasure in Week 16.

Rather than take hours of your day to research and figure out which are the best, see if any of our top ten picks inspire you. (These will be in no specific order. Odds are from FanDuel unless otherwise indicated.)

Eagles vs. Commanders

–Jalen Hurts, O/U 191.5 Passing Yards at -113/-113
–Hurts to throw for 200+ yards at +108

Hurts is averaging right around 200 yards per game this season. While he had 290 his last time out against a good Steelers defense, he had less than 180 in his previous three. His numbers against the Steelers have to be taken with a grain of salt since Saquon Barkley missed time with an injury.

Washington controlled the game for three quarters a few weeks ago in Philly, only to lose after Barkley and the Eagles dominated the fourth quarter. I don’t see the passing game working as well as it did last time, but I doubt it will struggle as it did vs. Carolina, Baltimore and the Rams.

The Washington pass defense has held teams to less than 190 yards per game this season, but 209 ypg over the last three. Hurts will probably have a day similar to the one he had in the previous game vs. Washington (18-28 for 221 yards).

Take the OVER on his passing yards.

Giants vs. Falcons

–Michael Penix Jr., O/U 228.5 Passing Yards at -115/-115 (via DraftKings)

The Falcons will want to see their young quarterback spread his wings, but they’ll also want to protect him as much as they can. To that end, they’ll lean hard on the run in this game to draw the Giants’ defense in and then pass when his receivers are in single coverage.

They will not need to throw much against this Giants team and will probably let Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier carry most of the load.

Take the UNDER.

–Tyler Allgeier, O/U 36.5 Rushing Yards at -110/-110 (via bet365)
–Allgeier to rush for 50+ yards +165 (via BetMGM)

The Falcons may let Penix air it out in the first quarter but will otherwise have him throw just enough to keep the Giants’ defense honest. Robinson, of course, will carry the bulk of the load. But Allgeier will see the ball more than he usually does.

He had fewer than 10 carries in 10 of 14 games; look for him to get closer to 15 Sunday. With the Giants’ defense allowing 4.9 yards per carry, Allgeier should easily go over this total.

Take the OVER.

Lions vs. Bears

–Sam LaPorta, O/U 41.5 Receiving Yards at -115/-115 (via BetMGM)

Losing David Montgomery for the immediate future stings, but the Lions do still have Jahmyr Gibbs. But they’ll likely try to find other ways to move the ball to keep from overworking Gibbs. LaPorta has had a quiet season but has seen his target share go up in the last two weeks.

Big, pass-catching tight ends like LaPorta are great for moving the chains, and the Lions will probably use LaPorta more in that capacity going forward.

Take the OVER.

Browns vs. Bengals

–Chase Brown, O/U 74.5 Rushing Yards at -110/-110 (via bet365)
–Brown, O/U 17.5 Rushing Attempts at -130/+100 (via DraftKings)

Cincinnati has been all over the place with Brown’s touches this season. He had 25 last week vs. Tennessee but 12 to 14 in three of the previous four games. But teams have averaged 32 rushing attempts and 119.3 yards against the Browns in the last three weeks.

With the Browns starting Dorian Thompson-Robinson at quarterback, the Bengals will probably want to run a little more often to keep the clock moving. It will be the Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase show in the first half, but Brown will take over in the second.

Take the OVER for both.

–Jerry Jeudy, O/U 62.5 Receiving Yards at -110/-110 (via bet365)
–Jeudy, O/U 5.5 Receptions at +125/-165

Jeudy has gone over this yardage total in his last seven games, but bettors may want to mute expectations with Thompson-Robinson at quarterback. While DTR is a tremendous athlete, he struggles to connect with his receivers. He has completed just 44.1 percent of his passes this season (15-for-34) and 51.4 percent in his career (75-for-146).

As for his receptions total, Jeudy is one of Cleveland’s better playmakers. They’ll eventually settle for short throws to the flats that DTR can complete just to get the ball in Jeudy’s hands. Since those throws will be relatively easy to complete, Jeudy will see the ball enough to go over this total.

Take the UNDER for his yardage but the OVER for his receptions.

–Field Level Media

Oct 27, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Jake Haener (3) throws against the Los Angeles Chargers during the second half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Top 10 Player Props For NFL Week 15

It’s not a full Sunday slate of NFL action with two Monday night matchups, but it is going to be a busy day with plenty of player props to choose from among the games scheduled.

In an effort to make betting on them easier, we’ve done a deep dive into each game, looking for the best ones.

What is “best” is in the eye of the bettor, of course. But here are 10 of our favorite NFL player props from the Week 15 slate. (The following are in no particular order. Odds are from FanDuel unless otherwise indicated).

Commanders vs. Saints

Jake Haener, QB, New Orleans Saints O/U 188.5 Passing Yards -113/-113

The Saints’ passing game was mediocre on its best days, especially since Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed went on injured reserve. And now a former fourth-round pick, Haener, is set to get his first NFL start on Sunday vs. a decent Washington defense.

The Commanders’ defense will smell blood in the water against an inexperienced quarterback. Haener got his most significant action to date on Oct. 27 against the Chargers, against whom he went 9 of 17 for 122 yards.

Take the UNDER.

Alvin Kamara, O/U 16.5 Rushing Attempts +100/-130 (BetMGM)

Kamara has logged 17-plus rushing attempts in four of his past five games. Since Washington ranks toward the bottom in rushing yards allowed per game, there is a good chance the Saints give him the ball a few more times.

Take the OVER.

Patriots vs. Cardinals

Drake Maye, O/U 20.5 Pass Completions -128/-102

Maye has completed at least 22 passes in five of his past seven games. Of the two times he was under in that span, he left one game early due to a concussion, and in the other (vs. Chicago), the New England defense took center stage and he didn’t need to throw much. Opposing quarterbacks have completed 21-plus passes vs. the Cardinals in eight straight games.

Take the OVER.

Kyler Murray, O/U 223.5 Passing Yards -120/-110 (DraftKings)

Murray has had some ups and downs this season, but he has been “up” for his past four games, throwing for 266, 285, 260 and 259 yards. With the run game not doing well in recent weeks, he attempted 24, 37, 45 and 38 passes in those games, respectively.

However, the Cardinals lost the past three games and they were trying to come from behind. That may not be the case this week. Still, since their run game is struggling and the Patriots’ defense has been mediocre against the pass, he will throw enough to go OVER this total.

Take the OVER.

Ravens vs. Giants

Justice Hill, O/U 15.5 Rushing Yards at -113/-113

If you look at his stat lines for this season, the UNDER looks like a terrific play. He has gone UNDER that total in seven of his past eight games. With Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson carrying the bulk of the load, that makes sense.

However, if this game becomes the blowout it is expected to be, the Ravens will pull Henry early enough in the second half. With three games in 11 days this late in the season, the Ravens will want to give their star running back a break to preserve him for future games.

Don’t be shocked if Hill plays the entire fourth quarter, if not most of the second half.

Take the OVER.

Dolphins vs. Texans

Tua Tagovailoa, O/U 264.5 Passing Yards at -113/-113

O/U 1.5 Passing Touchdowns at -128/-102

The Texans possess one of those defenses where the stats do not paint an accurate picture of just how good they are. Overall, they rank seventh in pass defense this season, allowing 198.8 yards per game.

Even so, Jacksonville’s Mac Jones threw for 235 yards and almost completed an incredible second-half comeback in Houston’s most recent game. Before that, Tennessee’s Will Levis threw for 278 yards against the Texans, Cooper Rush threw for 354 yards and Detroit’s Jared Goff threw for 240 yards despite throwing five interceptions.

Tagovailoa has thrown for 300-plus yards in each of his past three games and had 288 in the one before that span. He has found his rhythm, and with the run game struggling, he is throwing a lot. Even if it looks sketchy for him in the first half, he will go OVER this total in the second half.

Take the OVER.

As for his touchdown total, Houston has given up 26 passing touchdowns this season, tied for the most in the NFL. Tagovailoa has thrown for two or more in each of his past four games. It would be a surprise if he did not throw at least two TD passes in this game.

Take the OVER.

Tyreek Hill, O/U 71.5 Receiving Yards at -113/-113

It has not been an excellent year for Hill, but he and Tagovailoa have formed a top connection the past two games. Hill was targeted 23 times in that stretch and caught 16 for 198 yards. The Texans may try to take him away, but they don’t have the personnel to do that. He may not do it until the fourth quarter, but Hill will go OVER 71.5 yards.

Take the OVER.

De’Von Achane, O/U 47.5 Rushing Yards at -113/-113

Houston has a decent run defense, and Achane has struggled to get the run game on track for the Dolphins no matter what team they face. He has gone over 47.5 yards just once in his past five games.

He will probably not go over it in this game because Miami will be too busy throwing the ball against the Texans’ defense.

Take the UNDER.

Nico Collins, O/U 88.5 Receiving Yards at -113/-113

Collins has improved with each game since returning from a five-game injury absence, culminating in an eight-reception, 119-yard day against the Jaguars. C.J. Stroud likely will try to target him 10 to 15 times in this game. As long as Collins catches half, he will go OVER 71.5 yards.

Take the OVER.

–Field Level Media

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) runs for a touchdown to score the first points of the game, Sunday, October 13, 2024, in East Rutherford.

Week 14 MNF: Cowboys-Bengals Preview, Prop and Prediction

A Week 14 matchup between the Bengals and Cowboys looked intriguing when the league released the schedule.

Not many expected these teams to be near the bottom of the pecking order in the playoff picture.

Cincinnati (4-8) and Dallas (5-7) have a 2% chance of reaching the postseason according to NFL.com’s playoff predictor.

With such a grim outlook, these defenses could be particularly vulnerable.

As a result, this is a matchup where offenses are in line for big numbers, so it’s no surprise that we have a total of 49.5.

The Bengals have the more fluid offense and would be in a better spot in the standings if not for quite a few bad breaks. We’ll explain why bettors should expect the Bengals to jump out to a fast start on Monday night.

–Joe Burrow has been elite

Per TeamRankings, the Jets (-2.7) are the only team with a worse luck factor than the Bengals (-2.4).

That metric suggests that, with a little better luck, the Bengals could have had an additional 2.4 wins on the year.

They’ve gotten excellent play at the quarterback position from Joe Burrow, who leads the league with 30 touchdowns while only throwing five interceptions.

Burrow’s play has been so good that he even ranks second in Total QBR with a 74.2 value. Given the importance of the position, it’s rare that you see a quarterback with such a high Total QBR on a team that’s four games under .500.

It’s worth noting that Burrow still managed to put up these prodigious numbers despite not having one of his best wide receivers, Tee Higgins, for five games.

Higgins is now back with the team, which should help Cincinnati’s all-gas and no-brakes offense.

-Prop Play
It’s a night for the receivers in Dallas, a duel that spotlights No. 1 targets CeeDee Lamb and Ja’Marr Chase.

Lamb was slow to return to the practice field midweek but is ready to go and will be active against a Bengals’ defense with no true No. 1 cornerback. He’ll be targeted early and is a bargain for two-plus catches on the opening drive (+350).

We are resisting that early wager based on the number of variables at play and Cooper Rush’s wild inconsistency working from the pocket.

But both offenses will get plenty of yards and air it out, making the two-player prop for these wide receivers an easy decision.

Prop pick: CeeDee Lamb alternate receiving yards, 70-plus; Ja’Marr Chase alternate receiving yards, 90-plus (+285, FanDuel)

–Bengals’ offense is their best defense
Given Burrow’s performances, the Bengals have no choice but to lean on him to get the offense going. Cincinnati has the fourth-highest pass-play rate (64.3%) in the league, mainly because its defense can barely stop a nosebleed at this point.

Moreover, the Bengals have the fourth-worst defense by DVOA standards. They particularly struggle against the pass, which the Cowboys offense will look to take advantage of after posting back-to-back wins to snap a five-game losing streak.

Considering that Dallas also has the third-highest pass-play rate (64.9%), it’s no secret what these offenses will try to do once they get on the field.

While Cowboys backup quarterback Cooper Rush has looked better in his last few games, there’s no comparison between him and Burrow.

The Bengals are in a position where they can’t relax on offense because of their leaky defense. They should have plenty of success against a Dallas team that struggles to get stops inside the red zone, allowing opponents to score touchdowns on a league-worst 76.9% of their trips.

When you combine that with Cincinnati having the second-best red zone offense (71%), it could be a long night for the Cowboys’ defense.

However, the number that stands out the most is that the Cowboys’ defense gives up an average of 20.7 first-half points per game to visiting teams.

That stat is simply too good to pass up, making the Bengals’ first-half team total of 13.5 points a play worth targeting on Monday night.

Best Bet: Bengals 1H team total over 13.5 (-118 at DraftKings)

–Michael Nwaneri, Field Level Media

Oregon Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) throws a pass Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, during the Big Ten Championship game between the Oregon Ducks and the Penn State Nittany Lions at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The Ducks defeated the Nittany Lions, 45-37.

College Football Playoff betting guide: First-round odds, title favorites

Sunday’s inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff bracket reveal officially set the stage for the most anticipated postseason the sport has ever seen.

Eight more spots in the playoff field have created two extra rounds to determine a national champion, which could come from the Big Ten, the Southeastern Conference or even the Mountain West!

Now that the initial matchups are set, it’s time to examine the FanDuel odds for the first-round games and, of course, the latest national championship odds.

CFP Bracket: Odds for First-Round Games

Oregon’s win over Penn State in the Big Ten championship locked the Ducks into the No. 1 seed, while Georgia’s overtime triumph over Texas for the SEC crown moved the Bulldogs up to No. 2.

Boise State slotted in at No. 9 in the final CFP rankings but is the No. 3 seed thanks to its win over UNLV in the Mountain West championship.

With SMU losing to Clemson in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game, No. 12-ranked Arizona State is the four seed after it throttled Iowa State to win the Big 12.

The top four teams get a bye, with the 5-12 seeds meeting in the first round.

12-seed Clemson (+330) vs. 5-seed Texas (-11.5)

Texas was favored to win the SEC and lock down a top-four seed, but Clemson was not expected to beat SMU for the ACC title. The Longhorns will therefore hunt redemption, while Dabo Swinney’s team is essentially playing with house money.

The winner will face Arizona State in the Peach Bowl.

9-seed Tennessee (+215) vs. 8-seed Ohio State (-7.5)

The third-highest-ranked team from the SEC (No. 7 Tennessee) will face off with the third-highest-ranked squad from the Big Ten (No. 6 Ohio State). This game brings the Buckeyes a chance at redemption for their embarrassing loss to Michigan to end the regular season.

The winner will travel to the Rose Bowl to play Oregon.

11-seed SMU (+240) vs. 6-seed Penn State (-7.5)

Concerns over strength of schedule dog both teams. Both have 11-2 records and were runners-up in their respective conferences. Penn State’s only win over a ranked opponent was against then-No. 19 Illinois in Week 4, while SMU has knocked off then-No. 22 Louisville and then-No. 18 Pittsburgh.

The winner will meet Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl.

10-seed Indiana (+230) vs. 7-seed Notre Dame (-7.5)

The Hoosiers may be the biggest surprise in college football this season, although their inclusion came with a few concerns over the strength of their schedule. After falling flat in a potential statement game against then-No. 2 Ohio State on Nov. 23, Indiana can prove its might against a Fighting Irish squad that won its last 10 games.

The winner will take on Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.

National Championship Odds and Picks

Oregon was the betting favorite (odds via FanDuel) prior to the final rankings reveal at +230. Post-reveal, Texas and Georgia are co-favorites at +360, followed by Oregon at +380, Ohio State at +500 and Penn State at +600.

Boise State is the biggest long shot at +7500 despite having a first-round bye. Like Boise State, Arizona State saw its odds go from +3500 to +6000 even though it doesn’t play until the quarterfinals.

The Picks are In…

First-Round Best Bet: Indiana-Notre Dame UNDER 51.5-both teams have solid offenses but will find it difficult to move the ball against the other’s defense.

Upset Special: Clemson (+340) over Texas-Cade Klubnik will have his hands full against the Texas secondary, but the Clemson defense could be up for the challenge against Quinn Ewers and the Longhorns offense.

National Championship Winner: Favorite-Oregon +380; Dark Horse-Notre Dame +1200; Long Shot-Arizona State +6000

–Field Level Media

Dec 1, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis (8) passes the ball against the Washington Commanders during the fourth quarter at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Top 10 Player Props For NFL Week 14

With six NFL teams on a bye and a shortage of competitive matchups this week, the risk may not be worth the reward betting on the traditional moneyline. However, with hundreds of NFL player props to choose from, bettors have options other than the spread, moneyline and total.

There is nothing wrong with putting money down on the traditional betting line for a game this week. But if these questionable matchups make you nervous, check out our list of the top 10 player props for the Sunday NFL slate.

Odds are from FanDuel unless otherwise stated.

Jaguars vs. Titans

Will Levis, O/U 211.5 Passing Yards at -113/-113

O/U 0.5 Interceptions at -130/+100 (odds via DraftKings)

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, O/U 36.5 Receiving Yards at -110/-120 (odds via BetMGM)

Anytime Touchdown Scorer at +230

Since getting back into the lineup for the Titans, Will Levis has been … not bad. His first game back (vs. the Chargers) was not spectacular: He was 18 of 23 for 175 yards and two touchdowns. But his past three passing-yardage totals have been 295, 278 and 212.

Against the league’s worst pass defense (talking about you, Jags), it would be surprising if he did not clear 211.5 yards this week. Take the OVER.

As for his interception total, yes, he has nine this season in nine games. He has been picked off twice in the four games since his return. But the Jaguars are one of the worst teams when it comes to forcing turnovers (eight, next to last in the league, three of them courtesy of Sam Darnold in one game).

Since the UNDER has even-money odds, take the UNDER.

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine has not had a great season, but he has become one of Levis’ favorite targets of late. In the four games with Levis under center again, Westbrook-Ikhine has been targeted 22 times (over half of his season total).

He has only caught two or three in each game, but in the past three, he went over 36.5 yards (117, 48, 61). As for scoring, he has recorded four touchdowns in his past three games.

Take the OVER on his yardage total and YES on Anytime Touchdown Scorer.

Falcons vs. Vikings

Sam Darnold, O/U 249.5 Passing Yards at -113/-113

Atlanta’s defense held opponents to 231.7 passing yards per game over the past three games. However, that number benefited quite a bit from last week’s game vs. the Chargers. Los Angeles had only 131 passing yards, but that number is definitely the exception and not the rule for the Falcons’ defense.

Darnold has gone over 249.5 yards just twice in his past five games. However, we like his chances of having a solid day in the passing game against a questionable Atlanta defense.

Take the OVER.

Panthers vs. Eagles

Jalen Hurts, O/U 25.5 Pass Attempts at -108/-120

The Eagles’ offense has been all about Saquon Barkley running the ball with the occasional run by Hurts and enough passing to force defenses to respect the threat the passing game could have. Consequently, Hurts has attempted more than 25.5 passes in a game once in his past eight contests.

Take the UNDER.

Jets vs. Dolphins

De’Von Achane, O/U 89.5 Rushing and Receiving Yards at -113/-115

Achane is one of the more explosive backs in the NFL, but without Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback, he struggled. Tagovailoa has been back for a few weeks, and Achane’s production has improved, but the running back has gone over 93.5 total yards only once in his past three games and three times in six games since Tagovailoa’s return on Oct. 27.

The Jets are having all kinds of issues this season, but their defense has kept games from getting ugly. However, a running back has cleared 89.5 total yards against the Jets’ defense in two of the past four games.

Take the OVER.

Jonnu Smith, O/U 49.5 Receiving Yards at -113/-113

O/U 4.5 Receptions at +100/-135 (odds via BetMGM)

The Jets’ defense has been stingy, with tight ends averaging 4.5 receptions and 42.7 receiving yards, but Smith has been on fire the past three weeks. Tagovailoa targeted him 30 times across all three and he caught 25 (with a low of six while averaging a hair over 100 yards.

Take the OVER for both.

Browns vs. Steelers

Jameis Winston, O/U 8.5 Rushing Yards at -120/-110 (odds via BetMGM)

Winston does not take off running often, nor does he go far. He has had 19 rushes this season for 57 yards. However, he did have one game where he carried the ball five times for 27 yards (vs. the Chargers), and last week, vs. the Broncos, he had three carries for 11 yards.

However, the Steelers’ defense has been stingy against mobile quarterbacks, giving up 123 yards on 27 attempts. If Winston does run, he will not get far.

Take the UNDER.

–Field Level Media