As if you didn't have enough ways to bet on Super Bowl 59, sportsbooks find a way of reminding you that there are, in fact, other sporting events going on this weekend.
They do this by offering wagers on Super Bowl 59 results against said events. And guess what? We've got picks for you.
Between the NBA, college basketball, soccer and beyond, there are myriad ways to find value in the cross-sport market, and our experts dive in below.
Super Bowl 59 Cross-Sport Props
Brandon Anderson: One of the first bets I looked for the night Super Bowl lines posted was Patrick Mahomes rushing props. Mahomes has increasingly used his legs as a weapon, even more in the biggest games. He's run for 29, 33, 44, and 66 yards in his four Super Bowls, averaging 43 YPG, and his scramble rate has more than doubled in the playoffs from the regular season.
Mahomes has also run specifically against Vic Fangio defenses. He's run for 54, 24, and 41 yards his last three against Fangio, with eight runs of 10+ yards in his last five against Fangio. He's also had nine 10+ runs in the four Super Bowls, with at least two in each.
I'm betting Mahomes over 11.5 longest rush (-115 at bet365) as one of my favorite props, and I played 20+ longest rush (+300) and longest rush of the game too at +1100 (ESPN Bet). I didn't play the traditional yards over because the line got bet too high, but this cross-sport bet is a nice way to play it.
Kyrie Irving is averaging 24.4 PPG this season, and that only increases to 25.1 since Christmas Day, when Luka Doncic last played with the Mavs. Only five of those 14 games went over 25 points, and only once did he top 36.
It would be easy to think Irving puts up big numbers by default with Doncic gone, but he'll get all of Houston's attention and the Rockets have a slew of nasty defenders to throw at Irving. There's a pretty good chance he tops around around 20 to 25, which might even be low enough for us to not sweat out a couple Mahomes kneels at the end of a win.
Matt Moore: An elite defensive line and elite defense vs. a running back plucked off the street or … LeBron James vs. a Pacers defense that is an absolute sieve always?
As you've no doubt heard or remembered, the Chiefs have trailed at half and by double-digits in each of their three Super Bowls. The Eagles will lead in this game at some points and probably by 10 or more. That's going to require more Mahomes magic and fewer Hunt rushes.
Meanwhile, James has been on a tear since the Luka Doncic trade and is playing his best ball of the season.
This is not a hard one, especially at a plus number.
Brandon Anderson: I continue to be baffled at how low Jalen Hurts is priced as any anytime touchdown scorer. For my money, he's the most likely TD scorer in the Super Bowl — and I'm on the Chiefs!
Hurts had at least one rushing score in 12 of 17 full games played this season (71%), including 10 of his last 12. He was top three in the NFL in carries inside the five, and he led the league in expected touchdowns at 14.5. He also had three rushing TDs in the NFC Championship and three against the Chiefs in the last Super Bowl, and Kansas City has allowed a QB rushing TD in four straight.
The one thing we know for certain with the Eagles is the Tush Push. I project Hurts with at least a 70% chance of scoring, and a real shot of getting multiple TDs.
Ollie Watkins is staying with Aston Villa — I'm not convinced the transfer rumors were ever particularly real — and he's been terrific. But goals are much rarer than touchdowns. Watkins has scored in 12 of 38 appearances this season (32%). That's a little better in just Premier League matches at 9-of-24 (38%) but it's still more likely than not to see no goals, and he only scored multiple goals once all season.
Spurs are not exactly playing well defensively, but even factoring in the matchups, Watkins is still under 50% to find the back of the net.
So why not just play a Hurts Anytime TD at -115 at most books? Well, the extra few drops of juice here give us a refund possibility, since we get our bet back if both guys are held off the scoresheet.
Joe Dellera: The Chiefs and the Eagles both typically want to defer if they win the coin toss so there’s no real edge there. The key is that it’s fairly unlikely for the Chiefs to get more than even two complete possessions in the first quarter, which caps their ceiling realistically at 14 here with more downside given the Eagles’ defense. If they are unable to score a TD, this is definitely going toward Cade Cunningham.
Cunningham averages 5.5 points in the first quarter this season, but this matchup against the Hornets is elite. He’s scored 12, 8, and 4 points in the first quarter against them this season and has generally found success there. Now, he will get them in just their second game after the trade deadline where they cleaned house with their roster.
This is a great spot for Cunningham, and I’m much happier with his floor than the Chiefs.
Brandon Anderson: DeVonta Smith is my favorite receiver in the Super Bowl. He was my sleeper MVP pick in the last Super Bowl matchup at 33-1 and I like him again at 66-1, which you can find at BetMGM.
Smith has been excellent against Steve Spagnuolo defenses, posting 6/99, 7/100, and 7/122 in his three games against the Chiefs. Kansas City typically plays heavier man and Smith is usually best against zone, but Jalen Hurts is far worse against zone and I expect Spags to mix in plenty of zone for that reason. I'm also expecting the Chiefs to limit Philly's running game to a degree, which should mean more passing and more opportunity for Smith.
One of my favorite SGP legs in the Super Bowl is Smith to record at least four receptions at -235 (FanDuel), something he's done in eight straight games and 13 of 16 on the season. Smith averaged 12.3 YPC, so four catches puts him at a projected 49 yards — with obvious potential to go way over if he gets a couple extra catches or a long one. I have his median significantly higher than 50.
Giannis Antetokounmpo typically posts PRA lines around 50, but that's more of a median outcome when it's closer to Smith's floor in this game. This is also a tougher matchup for Antetokounmpo if Joel Embiid plays. Antetokounmpo has the lower dead floor — there's always the chance Smith just doesn't even hit 30 yards and we know Antetokounmpo's PRA will clear that — but I trust Smith to get over the line in most scenarios.
Travis Kelce 100+ Receiving Yards OR Giannis Antetokounmpo 40+ Points — YES (+150)
Matt Moore: It's very possible this is the last game of Travis Kelce's football career. If the Greatest Tight End Of All Time is going out, Patrick Mahomes is going to make sure he goes out with a monster game.
He's also Mahomes' relief valve when things get terrifying under pressure. Whenever Mahomes is about to be dragged down, he looks for Kelce. But also, Kelce's speed is all but gone and yet he seems every few games to still have a few breakaway-and-get-caught catches for big chunks.
Meanwhile, the Sixers have been more competitive as of late, suggesting this could be a game where Giannis Antetokounmpo has to play the full game. Philly doesn't really have anyone to defend Antetokounmpo and he can get downhill.
I'll grab the +150 for Antetokounmpo to have a monster game or Kelce to finish the season (and maybe his career) in style.
Travis Kelce Receptions OVER Giannis Antetokounmpo Points (-110)
DeadPresPicks:The Chiefs' superstar tight end will enjoy a huge game in the Super Bowl.
The Eagles have struggled against tight ends this season, especially since the injury of linebacker Nakobe Dean.
Philly has allowed 18 receptions to tight ends over the past two weeks. Kelce will rack up eight or more receptions.
Giannis has averaged 5.9 assists per game this season.
Patrick Mahomes Passing Attempts OVER Giannis Antetokounmp Points (-200)
Joe Dellera: Patrick Mahomes hasn't really thrown the ball much during this postseason with 25 and 26 pass attempts in two games. However, this is about as low of a number as he can have. His floor is significantly higher here and he has upside given he averaged 35.1 PA per game and his prop line is even set at 36.5.
Giannis Antetokounmpo's points line mostly tops out around 32.5. This becomes a much tougher matchup for him if Joel Embiid plays as well. Over the last two seasons, Antetokounmpo's highest-scoring game is 34 points and he averages just 28.8 ppg.
I’ll grab Mahomes for the extremely high floor and even though Antetokounmpo could always drop 50+ points, it’s far off of his typical production.
Patrick Mahomes Rushing Yards OVER Giannis Antetokounmpo Points (+125)
DeadPresPicks:We will ride with the Chiefs' signal caller in this market.
Patrick Mahomes was quiet rushing the football during the regular season, but he has come to life in the playoffs.
The two-time MVP rushed for 43 yards this week and will use his legs effectively against this Eagles elite pass rush.
Tyrese Maxey Made 3-Pointers OVER Dallas Goedert Receptions (+150)
Matt Moore: I think Dallas Goedert has a big day. The Chiefs' linebackers struggle with coverage over the middle while they try and contain downfield and Steve Spagnuolo blitzes his mind out.
That said, the Bucks play drop coverage in pick and roll, meaning Brook Lopez won't be at the level of the screen. Milwaukee allows the fifth-most 3-point attempts off pick and roll actions per game via Synergy Sports, and allow 40% shooting on those attempts.
Tyrese Maxey is a high-volume pick and roll player. Given that Spags has two weeks to make a gameplan to address their weaknesses and NBA teams never adjust game plans for regular season matchups, I'll go with Maxey.
Dallas Goedert Receptions OVER Tyrese Maxey Made 3-Pointers (-125)
Joe Dellera: Dallas Goedert’s receiving yards prop was one of the most popular when the lines dropped. He’s recorded at least four receptions in each playoff game and in six of his last seven games. He’s averaged 4.4 receptions per game on the season with 4+ in 69% of games.
Tyrese Maxey is averaging 3.3 3s per game this season and only had 4+ in 40% of games.
While Maxey’s matchup against the Bucks has been exploitable, over the last two seasons he has averaged 3.8 3s against the Bucks; however, it’s buoyed by one game where he made six.
While Maxey might have a higher ceiling here in that he could make 7 or 8 3s in a game, Goedert has a great matchup and has had a much more consistent floor.
DeadPresPicks: Dallas Goedert has been the top receiving option for the Eagles in the postseason. Plus, the game script will bode well for Philly to throw often in a close, back-and-forth contest.
Tyrese Maxey has averaged 3.3 three-pointers made per game, so I'm backing Goedert here as he will collect four or more receptions on Sunday.
Brandon Anderson: I really think books got the rushing props all wrong in this game, in part because I'm just not expecting Barkley to have a big game. It's his birthday and he's had an incredible season and playoff run, but much of his production has come on explosive runs, often against bad defenses. That's not the Chiefs.
Kansas City's defense ranked top eight this season in yards per carry, yards per game, and yards before contact, along with top three in yards after contact and explosive run rate allowed. The Chiefs were the best tackling team in the league by PFF metrics, and Kansas City only allowed six runs over 25 yards all season, three on QB scrambles.
Barkley's under 25.5 longest rush is one of my favorite Super Bowl props, and there's a very real chance he finishes with fewer than 100 yards. That's a number we rarely hit in the Super Bowl, and the Chiefs didn't allow a 100-yard RB rusher all season and haven't allowed 100 yards to a playoff runner in their last 18 games. Defensive coordinator Steve Spanguolo will not let the Eagles run all over his defense.
But the Chiefs aren't the only dynasty playing on Sunday. Dawn Staley and South Carolina reloaded and are humming yet again at 22-1 on the season, just two losses now across the last three seasons. Texas will be a steep test and could be in line for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament right now, but SC handled Texas 67-50 in the first meeting. The total closed at 145.5, but Texas shot under 28% in a rock fight.
Expect the Longhorns to find a bit more success scoring this time around, by nature of both shooting regression and playing in front of the home crowd. I asked the great Calvin Wetzel over at Bet She Wins podcast for a projected total and he's got the fair line at 134.5. That's about where I expect this, and that 117 from last game is close to a dead floor here.
Even in that scenario, a Barkley rushing game under 100 yards gives us a great chance of hitting since Barkley isn't used much in the passing game. Wetzel points out that Texas has trended under and ranks dead last in 3-point rate, so we're fading "explosives" in both games. I'll lay the 6.5.
