Betting nuggets for the 2019 Pro Bowl
The Pro Bowl serves as a nice little fix for bettors, right in the heart of the two-week break between the conference championships and Super Bowl. If you're planning to get yours, here's what you need to know before getting down on the AFC-NFC clash.
Opening odds: NFC -1.5 / 59
Current odds: PK / 55.5
Where: Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Fla.
When: Sunday, 3:00 p.m. ET
Points coming at a premium
Bettors hoping for defense-optional Pro Bowls over recent memory have been hit with a reality check. After a four-year stretch from 2009-12 in which the average combined game score clocked in at 92 points, the previous four showcases have produced just 51.8. It hasn't been as lax on the field recently, forcing the hands of oddsmakers to adjust to more ordinary numbers. In fact, the Pro Bowl total is currently lower than that of the Super Bowl.
Potential weather looms
Not only are Pro Bowl unders becoming a market trend, the weather might also play a factor in the drop from 59 all the way down to 55.5. Orlando is expected to be in the mid-50s with a 75 percent chance of rain and 12-mph winds around game time.
Public jumps on the dog early
The AFC at +1.5 didn't last very long, as books quickly shifted the game to a pick 'em shortly after the odds were released Thursday afternoon. The underdog has been terrific in the Pro Bowl as of late, covering 12 of the previous 15 contests by roughly a touchdown. Taking the underdog outright has also been a profitable move for bettors, as nine of the previous 14 teams getting points have won the showcase outright.
Moving parts
Capping the Pro Bowl isn't as simple as designating player value and comparing both sides. As if one-game pools of data weren't already crapshoots for important players such as quarterbacks, players on both sides are only getting a limited number of reps with all the snaps that need to go around. Don't fall into the starting quarterback-versus-defense or player-matchup traps with the carousel of personnel changes both sides are expected to go through on Sunday.
Shop around
Line shopping is a simple yet oft-forgotten tactic when it comes to the Pro Bowl. Whether dialing in on a side or total or making a last-minute call on a player prop, you can save yourself some value by shopping around. You can find the best numbers on the current spread or total here:
AFC: +1 (Wynn; CG Technology)
NFC: PK -107 (Pinnacle Sports)
Over: 55 -110 (Bookmaker)
Under: 56 -110 (Sportsbook.ag)
Alex Kolodziej is theScore's betting writer. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 11 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AlexKoIodziej.