Why settle for football-only Super Bowl wagers on Sunday when you could be the Vegas version of Bo Jackson and bet on a handful of cross-sports props? We’ve collected a bunch of the best available options on the board, pitting props from this weekend’s NBA, PGA, NHL, Premier League and NCAA hoops action against ones from Super Bowl 52. Lace up your Nike cross trainers and let’s get to work.
Who will have more?
James Harden points at Cavaliers (-110) OR
Distance of first made field goal of Super Bowl -5.5 (-110) (via Westgate)
Oh, that 5.5 bump makes this a pretty easy choice. Harden all day. Saturday showcase vs. the worst defense in the NBA? Chance to put on a major MVP show? In a March showcase game last year, Harden put 38 on the Cavs. Given the variance of potential outcomes for that first field goal, I like the Beard.
The pick: Harden points at Cavaliers (-110)— Matt Moore
Who will have more?
Jon Rahm fourth-round strokes at Waste Management Open -26.5 (-110) OR
Patriots-Eagles longest touchdown (-110) (via Westgate)
In the past two years, Rahm’s scoring average is 69.5 over 26 events. So, to bet the longest touchdown as the winner you probably need a score of 44 yards or longer. In the past 20 Super Bowls, there have been 115 touchdowns scored, and only 22 (19.1%) of them were 44 yards or longer. And in seven Patriots Super Bowls only three (7.3%) of 41 touchdowns scored were 44 yards or longer.
The pick: Rahm -26.5— John Ewing
Who will have more?
Liverpool/Tottenham yellow cards (-120) OR
Tom Brady rushing attempts (+100) (via William Hill US)
This season, Brady has only had more than two rushes in three different games. Overall, he's averaged just 1.7 rushes per game. Even if he goes above his average and gets two rushing attempts in the Super Bowl, I feel great about Liverpool and Tottenham combining for at least two yellow cards (which would push).
Their last meeting only featured one yellow card between the teams, but that was an anomaly, as it came in a 4-1 blowout. I'd expect Sunday's match to be much more intense and physical, mirroring their previous matchups that had 8, 5, and 8 yellow cards.
The pick: Liverpool/Tottenham yellow cards (-120) — Dan McGuire
Who will have more?
Washington Capitals shots on goal vs. Knights -8.5 (-110) OR
Philadelphia Eagles points (-110) (via Westgate)
The Capitals average a league-worst 29 shots on goal per game, while the Vegas Golden Knights are one of the best in preventing them. Vegas ranks sixth in the NHL in shots on goal against at only 30.3 per game. Moreover, the Capitals have only exceeded 30 SOG seven times in their past 25 games. Washington victimized some of the worst SOG against teams in the league during that stretch, including the Panthers, Islanders and Rangers. (Vegas was not so accommodating in the teams' Dec. 23 matchup; Washington mustered only 26 shots on goal in that contest.)
The Eagles' team total is listed at 21.5, so even if the Capitals meet their average of 29, there is value in pegging Philadelphia to score more than 20.5.
The pick: Eagles points +8.5 (-110)— Collin Wilson
Who will have more?
Kyrie Irving points vs. Blazers (-110) OR
Patriots points -½ (-110) (via Westgate)
A sneaky-great bet. So the Blazers have the No. 2 defense in the NBA, and it’s predicated (among a few other things) on how they defend pick and roll. They drop the big and leave the ball-handler free while the guard goes over. That lets them stay home on shooters and limit spot-up shots.
You know who’s awesome in those situations (97th percentile)? Kyrie Irving. I love grabbing the points with however much the Blazers will be dogs by here, but Kyrie’s going to go off. The Celtics’ offense is pedestrian, so Irving has to step up. Unless you think the Patriots are going to beat the ever-loving snot out of Philly, I would trust the flat-earther here.
The pick: Kyrie Irving points +½ (-110)— Matt Moore
Who will have more?
Seton Hall-Villanova margin of victory -2.5 (-110) OR
Jay Ajayi rushing attempts (-110)
Rugged frontcourts figure to give Villanova some trouble this year, and that's Seton Hall's strong suit. The Pirates' 55-53 Big East tournament loss to the Cats last year offers a window into how Kevin Willard will try to limit Nova by uglying up the game. Perhaps the Eagles will copy the same example and hit Jay Ajayi early and often to establish a run game and limit Tom Brady's touches.
The pick: Jay Ajayi rushing attempts—Jordan Majewski
Who will have more?
Vegas Golden Knights penalties at Capitals (+130) OR
Patriots penalties (-150) (via William Hill US)
Vegas has averaged 3.3 penalties per game this season, compared to 5.6 for New England. But to nobody's surprise, Bill Belichick always has his team laser-focused and playing disciplined this time of the year. The Patriots are averaging a mere 2.6 penalties in their past five games. It feels like this could be closer than the odds are implying, so I’ll take my chances on a plus-money payout.
The pick: Vegas Golden Knights penalties (+130)— Mike Marsh
Who will have more?
LeBron James rebounds + assists vs. Rockets -½ (-110) OR
Patriots + Eagles second-quarter points (-110) (via Westgate)
In LeBron’s last game vs. Houston, he had four boards and seven assists, pretty low output for him, but he’s averaging 7-7 in January while the Cavs have been in free-fall. LeBron has finished with fewer than 10 rebounds + assists 18 times this season.
I’m going to lean Pats-Eagles here. Not just because of where the Cavs are and Isaiah Thomas' impact on James’ assist opportunities, but because of that dreaded end-of-the-half touchdown drive from New England we all know is coming.
The pick: Patriots + Eagles second-quarter points +½ (-110) — Matt Moore
Who will have more?
Nelson Agholor receptions -½ (-110) OR
Phil Mickelson fourth-round bogeys or worse (-110) (via Westgate)
It's well documented the Patriots have issues with crossing routes and slot receivers. New England generally takes away the opponent's best options, but less-heralded receivers have thrived against the Pats defense, including Jacksonville's Allen Hurns, Tennessee's Eric Decker and Buffalo's Deonte Thompson. Since the Patriots safeties will have their attention on Zach Ertz and Alshon Jeffery, Philadelphia wideout Nelson Agholor should have plenty of space to operate — and plenty of opportunities to haul in passes from Nick Foles.
Meanwhile, the Waste Management Phoenix Open takes place at TPC Scottsdale, where Phil Mickelson is a three-time winner. Mickelson has finished -10 and -8 in his past two Phoenix Open tournaments. While his fourth-round performance in 2017 was troublesome (he shot bogey or worse on five holes), Mickelson has only tallied 18 bogeys or worse in his past 144 holes at the event. That's an average of only 2.25 bogeys or worse per round.
The pick: Agholor receptions -½ (-110)— Collin Wilson
Who will have more?
Victor Oladipo points + assists + rebounds (PAR) vs. 76ers (-110) OR
Eagles + Patriots points -14.5 (-110)
The Pacers will be on a back-to-back, but that hasn’t phased Oladipo, who is averaging 36.8 PAR/game this season (49.1 PAR/48) in that spot. In his first game against the Sixers this year, Oladipo scored 31 points, including an extremely efficient second half (23 points on 8-of-13 field goals). On average, 52.8 total points have been scored in the past five Super Bowls. Expand the sample to the past 20 Super Bowls, and that shrinks to 48 ppg on average. If the Pats and Eagles stay around the listed total of 48, Oladipo has a good chance to find the backdoor.
The pick: Oladipo points + assists + rebounds (+14.5)— Evan Abrams
Who will have more?
Montreal Canadiens shots on goal vs. Senators -6.5 (-110) OR
Tom Brady completions (-110)
As of Sunday, Canadiens had averaged the fourth-most shots on goal (34.4) in January. They host a spiraling Senators team that has allowed the most shots against (40.0) over their past 10 games. Since 2012, Brady has averaged 28.1 completions in 14 postseason games and has thrown 30 or more only 35.7 percent of the time. The Eagles allowed the seventh-most completions per game to opposing quarterbacks this season (22.7), but Brady would still likely have to perform well above his median projection to keep pace with the Canadiens -6.5.
The pick: Canadiens shots on goal -6.5 (-110)— Joe Holka
Who will have more?
Lakers + Thunder points (-110) OR
Tom Brady gross passing yards -79.5 (-110) (via Westgate)
OK, this is going to be a slugfest. Defense is both OKC and LA's strong suit. Even with the Thunder improving on offense and stud defender Andre Roberson out for the season, I don't think the total will be posted higher than 215. So you’re looking at needing 300+ yards from Brady. The Eagles surrendered more than 300 yards just three times this season … two of which were to the Giants (sure, OK, why not).
Brady, on the other hand, has passed for 300+ yards in just three of his past 13 games. 79.5 is just too much to lay.
The Pick: Lakers + Thunder points +79.5 (-110)— Matt Moore
Who will have more?
Lionel Messi goals at Espanyol (-110) OR
Tom Brady rushing attempts -½ (-110) (via Westgate)
Little Leo Messi has only failed to score in one of Barca’s games so far in 2018, so it’s a fair bet he’ll find the net against Espanyol this weekend, especially considering he scored against the same side only last week in the Copa Del Rey.
But despite Messi’s form in front of goal, I like the Tom Brady side of this prop. I fancy Fletcher Cox & Co. on the Eagles’ defensive line to pressure up the middle and flush Brady out of the pocket and into an unscheduled scramble on a few occasions. There’s always the possibility of the occasional QB sneak, too.
The pick: Tom Brady rushing attempts – ½ (-110)— Simon Head
Who will have more?
Tim Hardaway Jr. points at Hawks (-110) OR
Nick Foles completions -3.5 (-110) (via Westgate)
First off: rude. Just rude to all parties involved here. I don’t know who to be more insulted on behalf of.
This one may come off the board, given Hardaway’s spotty injury status this year. But until then, I like Foles, who's averaging 24.5 completions in the playoffs. Mariota had 22 completions vs. New England, and Bortles 23. Is Foles better than either of those guys?
OK, bad question, I don’t want to give you an aneurysm. But if you believe like I do that the Eagles will be playing catch-up much of the game, you have to like the odds of Foles surpassing his average. Additionally, THJ is playing his former team in Atlanta, which has long perimeter defenders and the scouting report on him from practice.
The Pick: Sadness, mixed with Foles -3.5 (-110)— Matt Moore
Photos via USA-TODAY Sports
