2011 NFL Draft: When Will Blaine Gabbert Be Drafted and Other Draft Prop Bets
The NFL is one of the world’s most popular sports. Fans around the world love to watch and wager on it. The 2011 NFL Draft is no different as online sportsbooks are offering plenty of prop bets.
In gambling, a proposition bet (also called a side bet, prop bet, prop, or exotic) is made on an outcome or a proposition. These can be anything from the traditional statistical predictions in a regular game to personal, one-of-a-kind bets.
Here are a few of the prop bets available for the 2011 NFL draft.
What will Cam Newton’s draft position be?
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Prop Bet: Cam Newton’s draft position-Over/Under 1.5
This bet is pretty simple. If you believe that Newton will be the No. 1 pick on the board then the under 1.5 is the play. However, play the under if you think the Panthers will pass.
It seems that every mock draft on the Internet today has the Panthers selecting Cam Newton with the No. 1 pick. This would be a curious move from a team that loaded up on quarterbacks in last year’s draft and needs more than one hole filled on the team.
Number of Offensive Linemen Drafted in Round One
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Prop Bet: How many offensive linemen will be drafted in the first round? Over/Under 6.5
The 2011 NFL Draft is loaded with talented offensive linemen and there are plenty of teams in need of better quarterback protection. However, six seems like too high a number at this point. Since some of the teams may actually trade their picks, this draft position is difficult to predict.
For example, the Dallas Cowboys have the No. 9 overall pick. They are linked to Tyron Smith out of USC, but may not want to reach for an offensive tackle if they can trade this pick.
The Cowboys join the New England Patriots, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers and Indianapolis Colts as teams that have the potential to draft a lineman in round one.
There are six offensive linemen that can easily go in the first round, including Nate Solder, Gabe Carimi, Anthony Castonzo and Mike Pouncey.
The posted number of 6.5 seems a bit high in the draft with the possibility of trades and teams going with the best player available on the board.
What will Blaine Gabbert’s draft position be?
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Prop Bet: Blaine Gabbert’s draft position-Over/Under 4.5
Newton is getting all the hype, but many of the big boards claim that Gabbert is the best quarterback in the draft.
If Gabbert is going to go under four he will have to be picked by the Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills or the Cincinnati Bengals. All of these teams (yes, even Denver) could be in the market for a quarterback and Blaine would be the way to go.
The latest rumor out of Cincinnati is that Bengals ownership realizes that Carson Palmer is not coming back. Don’t be surprised if they take Gabbert with the No. 4 pick. Under the 4.5 will be the way to go with this prop bet.
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Number of Defensive Linemen Drafted in Round One
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This draft is absolutely stocked with defensive lineman and I see no reason why this can’t go over the total. Marcel Dareus, J.J. Watt, Nick Fairley, Cameron Jordan, Robert Quinn and Da’Quan Bowers are all locks to go in the first round.
This still leaves a steady core of solid defenders up front that could improve a team. Aldon Smith, Ryan Kerrigan, Adrian Clayborn and Muhammad Wilkerson are just a few of the others that are predicted to go in round one. The over is the way to go with this prop bet.
What will Julio Jones' draft position be?
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Prop Bet: Julio Jones draft position-Over/Under 9.5
Julio Jones is one of the fastest risers in the NFL draft. After a great workout at the combine and impressive visits to NFL teams, Jones is a sure-fire first rounder. Certain teams are putting him ahead of Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green on some of the big boards.
The under 9.5 would seem like the way to go. Jones has been rumored to be coveted by the Cleveland Browns at No. 6. If they pass on the wide receiver, the St. Louis Rams may be willing to trade up with the Cowboys at No. 9 to draft him. After the arrest of wide receiver Kenny Britt, the Tennessee Titans are also involved in the Julio Jones sweepstakes.
Those three teams have a chance of taking Jones before the No. 10 pick and making this prop bet of under the 9.5 a winner.
How many SEC players will be drafted in the first round?
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Prop Bet: How many SEC players will be drafted in the first round? Over/Under 8
The SEC is one of the most talented college football conferences in the country. It is quite possible that five of the first 10 players drafted could come from the SEC.
Cam Newton, Marcell Dareus, A.J. Green, Patrick Peterson and Julio Jones will be plucked early in the first round, leaving just four more SEC players to go over the total of 8. This is where it could get tricky.
Mark Ingram and Nick Fairley should be drafted. Mike Pouncey and Justin Howard have made a few of the mock drafts, but this bet could be won or lost with the last pick in the first round.
These are just a few of the prop bets that will be listed for the NFL draft. It will be interesting to see how the prop bets come into play as the draft unfolds.
Matt Regaw is a B/R Featured Columnist and the founder of BookieBlitz.com, your one-stop shop for sports articles, previews and predictions. Feel free to contact Matt at mregaw@gmail.com.
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