Super Bowl prop bets, from serious to silly

WASHINGTON • The Westgate Superbook released its massive list of Super Bowl prop bets on Thursday night, Christmas in January for sports gamblers. Some are straightforward, such as the always- popular bet on whether there will be a safety in this year’s game between the Chiefs and 49ers ( yes is + 600; no is - 900, meaning you’d have to bet $900 to win $100).

Here are some fine Super Bowl prop bets worth throwing down a few bucks:

For the uninitiated, negative odds denote the favourite (-110 means you’d wager $ 110 to win $ 100), while positive odds denote the underdog (+110 means you’d wager $100 to win $110).

❚ Will there be a two- point conversion attempt?

Yes (+140)

No (-160) It’s the last game of the season, so there’s desperation in the air. And while neither Kansas City nor San Francisco went for two a whole lot this season — the Chiefs twice ( both in the same game on Dec. 15) and the 49ers five times — this prop has hit in eight of the last 10 Super Bowls.

❚ Will Patrick Mahomes throw an interception?

Yes +110 No -130

Mahomes is one of the most accurate passers in the game. Almost 71 per cent of his passes were classified as “on target” by Sports Info Solutions and his rate of interceptions ( five over 526 dropbacks) was tied for the second- lowest in the NFL this season behind Aaron Rodgers.

❚ Who will have more?

Alex Ovechkin shots on goal (-1 ½ ) -170

Patrick Mahomes touchdown passes +145

Ovechkin is averaging more than 4.5 shots per game this season and will face the Pittsburgh Penguins on Super Bowl Sunday, against whom he averages more than five shots per game. But this year’s Penguins are among the better shot suppressers in the NHL at both even strength ( third best) and on the penalty kill ( 10th best), perhaps limiting Ovechkin’s offence in the afternoon matinee. Remember, he needs to top Mahomes’s TD passes by more than 1 ½ . Mahomes, meanwhile, has multiple touchdown throws in nine of his 16 games played this season, including the playoffs, and in 24 of 35 games since the Chiefs drafted him in 2017.

❚ Will either team score in the first 6 ½ minutes of the game?

Yes -110

No -110

According to data from TruMedia, the 49ers and Chiefs scored 16 times ( 11 touchdowns and five field goals) in the first 6 ½ minutes of games during the regular season and playoffs combined, a span encompassing 48 drives. That rate implies a money line of + 200 for the affirmative, so “no” looks like a bargain.

❚ Will either team score in the final 3 ½ minutes of the game?

Yes (-190)

No (+ 280)

There’s a reason this is so juicy: This prop has hit in five- straight Super Bowls and in 21 of the past 26. The last time this prop bet didn’t come through was Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014, the last NFL championship game that truly could be considered a blowout ( Seahawks 43, Broncos 8). With the point spread this year hovering close to pick ‘ em, a close game with a late score is a distinct possibility.

❚ Total yardage of all touchdowns in game

Over 102 ½ -110 Under 102 ½ -110

The 49ers and Chiefs have scored a total of 116 touchdowns over 35 games in the regular season and playoffs combined, covering a total of 2,327 yards, per data from Trumedia. That averages out to 132.6 total yards per game on plays ending in a touchdown. Kansas City by itself has averaged 82.5 yards per game on touchdown plays in its two playoff wins.