Super Bowl Prop Bets 2018: Odds, Box Score, Point Spread Betting Advice

You don't have to be a hard-core football fan to get involved in Super Bowl wagering.

While point spread betting and figuring out over/under totals may be a bit much for those who watch the Super Bowl simply for the spectacle, there are a number of proposition bets—known as props—that casual viewers might feel comfortable considering.

Non-sports fans can make prop bets on the national anthem, the halftime show, the color of the Gatorade that will be splashed on the winning coach and winning players' postgame speeches.

Of course, hard-core fans can wager on these props as well as many game-related bets that require knowledge and study. 

The Patriots remain 4.5-point favorites in Super Bowl LII, and the total is 48 points according to OddsShark. The Pats opened as 6.5-point favorites after the conference championship games, the Philadelphia Eagles supporters quickly bet the game down to the current level, and it has remained steady for about 10 days.

In addition to the point spread, bettors can also make a money-line bet. The Pats are minus-175 favorites, while the Eagles are plus-155 underdogs. Patriots backers must risk $175 to win $100, while Eagles bettors put up $100 to win $155.

Handicappers can also concentrate on the game-related prop bets. One of those bets is whether any team score three consecutive times. While this may seem like the game will turn into a blowout, that's not necessarily the case. Teams often rally in games, and one team scoring three times in a row is fairly common.

The "yes" side on that prop is offered at minus-180, while the "no" side is offered at plus-150. We see this game as a back-and-forth game, and it may be difficult for either team to get that third consecutive score. We are going with the "no" on this prop.

Picking an MVP is always a popular prop, and while the quarterbacks usually have the advantage, bets on Tom Brady and Nick Foles will not provide big payoffs. Brady is the minus-110 favorite while Foles is the plus-325 second choice.

Tight end Rob Gronkowski follows at plus-900, while Dion Lewis, Danny Amendola and Jay Ajayi are all plus-1800.

We will go with a huge longshot in wideout Chris Hogan at plus-6600. Hogan's season has been damaged by injuries, but Hogan should be in good shape for this game and the Eagles may pay minimal attention to him.

Eric Gay/Associated Press

Selecting the first touchdown scorer is a popular prop in the Super Bowl, and ex-Patriot LeGarrette Blount could be an excellent choice if the Eagles drive the ball inside the New England five-yard-line. Look for Blount to open the scoring with a one- or two-yard run and pay off at plus-1000.

This should be a high-scoring game featuring a lot of big plays. One of the props centers on the longest scoring play. Oddsmakers have determined that the over-under for the longest scoring play is 43.5 yards.

If there is a special-teams return or a long defensive touchdown, the scoring play will exceed 43.5 yards. Also, if Brady or Foles throws a deep TD pass, that will take it over as well. 

We favor the over at minus-115.

There are a number of prop bets that can be made relating to the box score. Handicappers can bet on yardage totals of key players and get paid off for overs and unders. We like the over on two of those props.

One of those involves the number of completions Brady will throw. Look for Brady to throw short passes from start to finish, and that means he will exceed 26.5 completions. That bet is offered at minus-140, and and the belief here is that Brady will complete at least 30 passes. Take the yes and lay $140 to win $100.

We also expect Eagle wideout Torrey Smith to easily exceed 29.5 receiving yards. That prop is offered at minus-115, and we expect Smith to exceed that total before the end of the first half.

Prediction

We like these two teams to play a tight, high-scoring, back-and-forth type of game. Both offenses should be able to move the ball and score.

The Eagles will stay with the Pats for three quarters, but the fourth quarter will belong to Brady. The Patriots will score the final touchdown of the game and come away with the 37-30 victory.

The Patriots will come away with their sixth Super Bowl title, they will cover the spread and the over will come through.