Super Bowl King of Props: Premier punting
As two recent Super Bowl champions prepare to compete for another title, the cores of the teams are notably different. Head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes lead the Chiefs to their third Super Bowl appearance in the last four years, having captured the crown in February 2020. On the other side, the Eagles are five years removed from their title, and both the coach (Nick Sirianni) and QB (Jalen Hurts) are newcomers.
The betting options for the Super Bowl likewise reflect familiar and foreign elements. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer volume of props, especially since many are unique to this event. In the run-up to kickoff, all of the KOP’s favorite investment opportunities will be posted here at Yardbarker.
The bet: Over 46½ gross yards for the game’s first punt (DraftKings)
When maximum distance is the objective, most punters can easily clear this number. The primary risk on such a bet comes when there’s limited yardage between the line of scrimmage and the opposing end zone. If a coach isn’t comfortable with attempting a long field goal, he may have his punter execute a “pooch punt.”
That was the case for Kansas City’s Tommy Townsend in the AFC Championship Game. His initial punt happened late in the first half with his team at the Bengals’ 39-yard line, and it traveled just 34 yards by design. But his opposite number, Drue Chrisman, had already delivered a 53-yard punt on the game’s opening drive.
A similar scenario may be seen in the Super Bowl, which tends to feature an early feeling-out process. In their two previous appearances under Reid, the Chiefs concluded their first possession with a punt — a 49-yard effort from Dustin Colquitt and a 51-yarder from Townsend.
Increasing our chances is the likely return of Eagles punter Arryn Siposs, who exceeded this distance in every game he played this season. He has been on IR with an ankle injury, but the Aussie is impressing in practice and has declared himself “ready to go.”
Regardless of who punts first, we like the 1,070-foot elevation and pristine conditions of State Farm Stadium to help carry us to a win.
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