No sporting event does prop bets like the Super Bowl, and this year’s edition of the big game is no exception. The Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers may be battling for the Lombardi Trophy on Sunday, but NFL bettors everywhere will have action on nearly every facet of the Super Bowl LV event. The extensive lists of proposition wagers available at sportsbooks everywhere are always a fan favorite. When shopping around for prop bets to play this year, be sure to visit Bovada Sportsbook. They have everything from game props to MVP odds and even halftime show wagers!
Not sure where to start when it comes to finding viable prop bets to play? I’ve got you covered! Here are five of my best Super Bowl LV prop bet selections, complete with reasoning and analysis for each.
All betting odds courtesy of Bovada Sportsbook
Best Super Bowl LV Prop Bets | Total Yards
Clyde Edwards-Helaire Rushing Yards – Under 30.5 (-115)
After missing the Chiefs’ Divisional Round win, rookie running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire returned to the lineup in the AFC Championship Game. The first-round pick mustered just seven rushing yards on six carries. If not for finding the end zone, his stat line would’ve been completely irrelevant in what was a dominant Kansas City victory. If Edwards-Helaire couldn’t get much going against a porous Buffalo Bills run defense, it’s hard to get excited about his Super Bowl prop bets chances against a formidable Buccaneers’ front seven. Edwards-Helaire only managed 37 yards against Tampa Bay in the teams’ regular season matchup. Furthermore, he isn’t guaranteed to see the majority of RB touches in this Super Bowl rematch.
Kansas City was without Le’Veon Bell in the AFC title game, but his likely return for Super Bowl LV will result in the Chiefs having three RBs available. Edwards-Helaire has been the lead back all season, but that was not the case in his return last week. Darrel Williams led the way with 13 carries. His 52 rushing yards and touchdown marked the continuation of his strong recent form and were far more productive than what Edwards-Helaire managed on his six totes. I expect Williams to once again lead the backfield in what is a brutal Super Bowl prop bets matchup for all K.C. running backs. It’s hard to bet any Chiefs rushing props over when going up against a Bucs defense that allowed an NFL-low 81.4 rushing yards per game this season. Hammer the Under on this Edwards-Helaire rushing yardage prop.
Sammy Watkins Receiving Yards — Over 35.5 (-115)
Health has once again been an issue for Sammy Watkins this season. Various injuries limited the 27-year-old wideout to just ten games this season. His most recent appearance came in Week 16 with a calf injury sidelining him for both the Chiefs’ Divisional Round and AFC Championship games. Watkins has vocalized optimism that he will be ready to play in Super Bowl LV and all reports seem to align with this positive sentiment. This makes him an intriguing option on the Super Bowl prop bets front.
Looking at Watkins’ play over the course of the season, he only failed to top the Super Bowl prop bets yardage line of 35.5 four times. In one of those games, he fell just short with 35 receiving yards exactly. Clearly, he has a role in the Chiefs’ dominant passing attack when healthy. Another reason why I am bullish on Watkins stems from his strong performance in Super Bowl LIV last year. He had five receptions for 98 yards in that game, putting him only behind Tyreek Hill for yardage among all Kansas City pass-catchers. Watkins will be a wild card if he does indeed suit up for Super Bowl LV on Sunday, and the Over is worth a play on this receiving yards prop.
Best Super Bowl LV Prop Bets | Total Interceptions
Tom Brady Interceptions — Over 0.5 (-190)
NFL bettors looking to wager on at least one Tom Brady interception in the Super Bowl will have to lay some hefty juice. I’m confident that the risk will be worth the reward. Brady has thrown 12 interceptions on the season coming into Super Bowl LV. This includes a trio in the NFC Championship Game and another pair in the regular season game against the Chiefs. At age 43, it’s just not reasonable to expect Brady to be the same quarterback he’s been throughout his career. If the Chiefs are able to generate a pass rush, this will only increase the likelihood of hitting on this Super Bowl prop bets offering.
Kansas City’s defense, anchored by versatile safety Tyrann Mathieu, made Josh Allen look lost in a dominant AFC Championship win. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is no stranger to game-planning against Brady either, having beaten him in Super Bowls XLII and XLVI while serving in the same role with the New York Giants. I like the Chiefs’ deceptive coverages to force Brady into at least one mistake on Sunday.
As an added bonus, I also like +130 on Patrick Mahomes to throw an interception as well. This may seem like a tall ask, but he threw two against in the Super Bowl last season. Plus-money value on the Over 0.5 for Mahomes INT’s is certainly enticing.
What would it take for Brady or Mahomes to live in Super Bowl infamy? Check out some of the worst quarterback performances in Super Bowl history!
Best Super Bowl LV Prop Bets | Matchup Props
More Receiving Yards — Rob Gronkowski (-105)
This receiving yardage matchup pits Buccaneers tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Cameron Brate up against one another. I’m high on the position in general for Tampa Bay in the Super Bowl, given the Chiefs’ struggles defending tight ends all season. Gronkowski was the perfect example of this when the teams played back in Week 12. He led all Bucs receivers with 106 yards on six receptions. Brate also had a decent game in his backup role, catching four passes for 34 yards.
I have to believe that Brate being the Super Bowl prop bets favorite in this yardage matchup is based on recency bias. Gronkowski has struggled in the postseason and contributed very little in each of the Bucs’ three playoff games. His one reception in the NFC Championship was trumped by three for Brate, but it was Gronkowski who finished with a 29-19 receiving yards advantage between the two. Is the betting market overreacting to the fact that Brate caught a TD pass? Perhaps. I won’t be joining them. After all, the legendary Tom Brady-Rob Gronkowski connection is bound to make an appearance on the Super Bowl LV stage.
Best Super Bowl LV Prop Bets | Game Props
First Quarter Total Points — Under 10 (-105)
The Chiefs have made a habit of falling behind early in playoff games, evidenced by their early 9-0 deficit in the AFC Championship Game. They did the same thing in last year’s Super Bowl against the San Francisco 49ers as well. Neither team has been other-worldly in the first quarter of games this season. Kansas City averaged 5.6 first quarter points while Tampa Bay was just behind at 5.5. I also believe that both defenses in this matchup deserve far more respect than they are getting.
As for a trend to support this Super Bowl prop bets pick, consider that Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady has played in nine Super Bowls prior to this one. In those nine games combined, Brady-led offenses scored a grand total of THREE first quarter points. How’s that for mind-blowing? Add it all up and I like the first quarter total to stay Under, or at worst, push on the even line of 10.
