Sadly for football bettors, Super Bowl LII between the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles represents the last great wagering opportunity for seven months.
There are, thankfully, plenty of ways to wager on the big game, with prop bets among the most entertaining. Whether it's gambling on a specific player or situation, a sheet of prop bets can make even the most lopsided blowout worth watching.
Here are five prop bets that stand out for Sunday's action:
Will Tom Brady throw a first-quarter touchdown?
| Yes | No |
|---|---|
| 2.4 | 1.5 |
Brady hasn't thrown a touchdown in the first quarter of his last seven games, but it's unlikely the Patriots will be able to run the ball much on the league's top-ranked rushing defense. That will put the ball in the legendary quarterback's hands, and the Patriots will want to get off to a hot start to set the tone. The value on betting Brady connecting on an opening-quarter touchdown is too good to pass up.
Will Nick Foles throw an interception?
| Yes | No |
|---|---|
| 2.1 | 1.66 |
During the playoffs, the Eagles have done a great job of limiting the risky throws for which Foles is known. The veteran backup has yet to throw a postseason interception after throwing one in each of his last two regular-season games. If you believe the Patriots will hold a lead in this game, then it's likely the Eagles will have to take risks and throw the ball a great deal. There's good value in betting Foles will be picked off at least once.
New England penalty yards
| Over 50.5 | Under 50.5 |
|---|---|
| 1.85 | 1.85 |
Bill Belichick's Patriots teams are known for their discipline. New England was whistled for just one penalty in its AFC championship victory over the Jaguars, and hasn't had more than 50 penalty yard since a loss to the Dolphins in Week 15. Grab the under here.
Opening kickoff will be a touchback
| Yes | No |
|---|---|
| 1.85 | 1.8 |
The first player to touch the ball in the Super Bowl is the kicker, and it's a safe bet either Stephen Gostkowski or Jake Elliott will be fired up with adrenaline. Both have plenty of leg to find the end zone on the opening kickoff, so bet on a touchback being the result.
Total New England sacks
| Over 2 | Under 2 |
|---|---|
| 1.7 | 1.9 |
While the Patriots lack a star pass-rusher, they have at least three sacks in four straight games. With two weeks to prepare for this contest, it's a safe bet New England will have a scheme to take down the slow-footed Foles at least three times.
Summary
| Prop | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Will Tom Brady throw first-quarter TD? | Yes |
| Will Nick Foles throw an interception? | Yes |
| Over/Under 50.5 penalty yards for Patriots | Under |
| Will opening kickoff be a touchback? | Yes |
| Over/Under 2 total Patriots sacks | Over |
(All props courtesy: PlayNow.com; Odds as of Jan. 31, 2018)
