When it comes to betting on the Super Bowl, props (propositions bets) have taken on a world of their own over the past several years. There is no other single-game betting event that also has an extensive list of game, team and player prop bet odds posted in conjunction with the action both on and off the field.
The great thing about the Super Bowl is that when it comes to any possible aspect of this game there is probably a sportsbook that has already set some kind of prop bet odds for it. The following are my top picks for some of the most popular game props that have been released for Super Bowl LI between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons.
New England vs. Atlanta First Scoring Play
The betting odds that the first score of Super Bowl LI is a touchdown have been set at -185 and the moneyline odds that it is a field goal or a safety have been set at +160.
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In past Super Bowls, I have traditionally leaned towards the more favorable betting odds on a field goal or safety, but given just how potent each of these team’s offenses have proven to be this season, especially when it comes to the playoffs, I am going with the risk/reward on the -185 odds for a touchdown.
The total line for this game has been set at 59 points and I believe that both head coaches will come into this matchup with the mentality that their team is going to have to score touchdowns in order to win this game. Getting a quick seven points up on the board will give the scoring team an immediate mental edge. Settling for three points on an early drive will be perceived as a victory for the opposing team’s defense.
New England at Atlanta Total Touchdowns
There are multiple betting options for this prop depending on how many total touchdowns you use. In an effort to extend the value in the betting odds for this prop, I have settled in on the OVER 7.5 touchdowns at +145 as my top pick. The moneyline odds for the UNDER on 7.5 total touchdowns has been set at -175.
We know that both of these teams know how to put points on the board; however New England and Atlanta also got strong efforts from their defense as well during this Super Bowl run. In light of this, it is going to take quite a bit of offense to generate eight total touchdowns in this matchup, but to me this is the kind of game where you have to go big or go home.
Tom Brady and the Patriots’ offense has scored an average of 36.5 points over their last four games including 34 against Houston and 36 against Pittsburgh in two playoff games. The Falcons’ offense behind Matt Ryan has not posted fewer than 33 points in each of its last six games. I have both of these teams once again producing these kind of scoring totals in Super Bowl LI and it is going to take at least eight combined touchdowns to determine which one actually wins.
New England at Atlanta Highest Scoring Half
The betting odds for this game prop slightly favors the first half having the most total points at -115. The betting odds that more total points will be scored in the second half plus overtime if necessary have been set at -105.
Much like any heavyweight bout between two evenly matched contenders, it could take some time for both of these teams to feel one another out. The pace of play is likely to pick up in the second half with a higher sense of urgency for both offenses to keep putting points on the board.
I am going with the slightly better value in the second half odds in this prop. There will still be a fair amount of points scored in the first two quarters, but the real fireworks show on the NRG Stadium scoreboard will not start until the second half of Super Bowl LI.