Super Bowl LIV: How many receiving yards will Travis Kelce have?

Looking at prop bets centered around Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce’s receptions and receiving yards in Super Bowl LIV.

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Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce is expected to be one of the stars of Super Bowl LIV against the San Francisco 49ers Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Below, we’ll look at BetMGM‘s prop betting odds and lines for Kelce’s reception and yardage projections in the big game, and make our best bets for Super Bowl LIV.

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 11:50 a.m. ET.

Travis Kelce’s Super Bowl LIV receptions: 5.5

After catching 10 of 12 targets for 134 yards and three touchdowns in the Chiefs’ 51-31 comeback victory over the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round, Kelce was held to three catches and 30 yards on four targets in the AFC Championship against the Tennessee Titans.

The five-time Pro Bowler totaled 97 receptions, 1,229 yards and five touchdowns in the regular season. He recorded more than five receptions on 10 occasions.

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Only four teams allowed fewer receptions per game to tight ends than the 49ers’ 4.1. Kelce will be heavily targeted by QB Patrick Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid as the Chiefs’ No. 1 option in the passing game, but the Niners do a great job of limiting yards after the catch.

I’d expect a drop in his efficiency after averaging 12.8 yards per reception in the regular season, but I’m taking the OVER 5.5 (-147) as Reid and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy scheme to keep him involved, especially on third downs and near the goal line.

Travis Kelce’s Super Bowl LIV receiving yards: 76.5

Photo Credit: Denny Medley – USA TODAY Sports

No team allowed fewer receiving yards per game to tight ends in the regular season than the 49ers. They surrendered just 34.5 yards per game to the position. Kelce topped this projection in each of his first four games of the regular season, but he did so just thrice more through the final 12 games and in only one of the Chiefs’ two playoff games.

As mentioned above, I like Kelce to stay involved on key possessions and stay closer to the line of scrimmage. The Niners will wrap him up down the field and limit his yards after the catch. Take the UNDER 76.5 (-111) as Mahomes and his go-to target are forced more into more of a possession-based passing attack.

Also see:

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Super Bowl LIV: Which players will score a touchdown in the game?

Looking at the best prop bet picks to score the a touchdown in Super Bowl LIV between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs.

One of the most popular prop bets every year for the Super Bowl is picking which players will score a touchdown in the game. Over the years, there have been some surprising touchdown scorers, such as Malik Jackson, Gary Russell, Brandon LaFell, and, of course, L.J. Smith.

With Super Bowl LIV just a few days away, here are some of our favorite picks to score a touchdown on Sunday night:

Chiefs TE Travis Kelce (+105)

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. (Photo credit: Jay Biggerstaff – USA TODAY Sports)

The best bet to score a touchdown on Sunday has to be Chiefs’ tight end Travis Kelce, who has now scored five touchdowns in his last five playoff games. When the Chiefs get close to the end zone, they often will target their big tight end. Andy Reid will also draw up plays for Kelce as a wildcat runner, making him even more dangerous in the red zone. Consider him basically a lock to reach the end zone at least once against the 49ers.

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Chiefs WR Tyreek Hill (+110)

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill. (Photo credit Denny Medley – USA TODAY Sports)

While Tyreek Hill has yet to have a monster playoff game during his NFL career (no games with at least 90 yards receiving), Super Bowl LIV seems like the perfect opportunity for him to shine. In the last two seasons with Patrick Mahomes, Hill has scored 20 touchdowns in 28 contests. When Mahomes is looking to throw the ball deep, you can bet he is searching for Hill.

Given that 49ers have an older secondary, look for the Chiefs to attack them down the field and for Hill to have multiple chances at scoring a touchdown in the Super Bowl.

49ers TE George Kittle (+120)

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle. (Photo credit: Stan Szeto – USA TODAY Sports)

Arguably the best non-quarterback in this game on Sunday is 49ers tight end George Kittle, who was named first-team All-Pro this season. While Kittle has never scored more than five touchdowns in a season, the team may need to rely on him to do some of the heavy lifting on offense in this game. Look for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to target his superstar tight end early and often during the Super Bowl.

49ers WR Deebo Samuel (+200)

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel. (Photo credit: Kyle Terada – USA TODAY Sports)

Much like the Chiefs with Hill, the 49ers do everything in their power to make sure rookie receiver Deebo Samuel touches the ball plenty. He’s a dynamic player who is explosive with the ball in his hands. During the 2019 season, Samuel scored six touchdowns on just 71 offensive touches. If this game turns into a shootout like many people expect, look for Samuel to get quite a few looks inside the red zone.

Chiefs WR Mecole Hardman (+390)

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman. (Photo credit: Isaiah J. Downing – USA TODAY Sports)

If you are searching for better odds on a touchdown bet, look no further than the Chiefs’ Mecole Hardman, like Samuel a rookie tight end. His role in the offense continues to grow and he has already proven himself as a return threat. In the team’s two playoff games, he racked up 228 kickoff return yards. He has outstanding speed, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if the rookie took a jet sweep for a touchdown or caught a bomb from Mahomes at some point in the game. At nearly 4-1 odds, Hardman is a fun long-shot prop bet.

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Super Bowl LIV prop bet: Who will win MVP of Super Bowl LIV?

Forecasting the odds on who will win Super Bowl LIV MVP, with NFL betting odds, picks and best bets.

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The Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers will square off on Sunday night in Super Bowl LIV. It’s a game that’s chock full of prop bets for viewers to wager on. One of the more common prop bets is the winner of Super Bowl MVP, which can be difficult to predict.

Just like the regular-season MVP award, it’s a quarterback-favored honor. However, there have been more than a few instances where a non-quarterback has won it.

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Will this year be one of those cases? First, let’s look at the odds and who’s favored to win it.

Patrick Mahomes +110
Jimmy Garoppolo +250
Raheem Mostert +750
George Kittle +1400
Travis Kelce +1400
Tyreek Hill +1600
Damien Williams +1600
Nick Bosa +2000
Deebo Samuel +2500
Emmanuel Sanders +3300
Sammy Watkins +3300
Tevin Coleman +5000
Frank Clark +8000
Mecole Hardman +8000
Richard Sherman +8000
Chris Jones +8000
Arik Armstead +10000
Tyrann Mathieu +10000
DeForest Buckner +10000
Dante Pettis +10000
Kendrick Bourne +10000
Matt Breida +10000

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 12:30 p.m. ET.

Obviously, Patrick Mahomes is the favorite to win the award. He has carried the Chiefs offense that ranked fifth in passing and 23rd in rushing, throwing for 26 touchdowns and five interceptions with 4,031 yards in only 14 games.

But when it comes to betting on the Super Bowl MVP, you first have to start with who you believe will win the game. Only one player in the history of the game has won Super Bowl MVP on the losing team (Chuck Howley, Super Bowl V).

So if you feel strongly about the Chiefs knocking off the 49ers on Sunday, Mahomes is a good bet. He’s going to get a ton of opportunities to throw the ball, attempting at least 25 passes in every game he started and finished this season; he averaged 34.6 pass attempts per game in 2019.

Mahomes is most likely going to score at least one touchdown, too. There have only been three games in his career where he didn’t throw at least one touchdown pass, and in one of those games, he scored a rushing touchdown.

The problem with betting Mahomes is that he’s only +110 to win it. That doesn’t provide much upside, because you’ll have to bet $10 just to win $11.

The quarterback on the other side, Jimmy Garoppolo, provides much greater value at +250. But he has only thrown 27 passes in the 49ers’ two wins this postseason with one touchdown and 208 yards. There have been eight games this season where he threw for 200 yards or less.

And as much as quarterbacks are favored for Super Bowl MVP, a non-QB has won it in three of the last six years – most recently with Julian Edelman taking home the award last year. If you’re going to bet on Garoppolo to win, I wouldn’t wager much because there’s a chance the 49ers will run the ball 30 times and only attempt 15 or so passes.

Instead, I’d rather go with someone like Raheem Mostert, who’s +750 to win MVP. He became the favorite option in the 49ers’ crowded backfield after Tevin Coleman injured his shoulder in the NFC Championship Game. Coleman would’ve been listed as questionable if the game were played yesterday, and it’s unclear what his status will be for the Super Bowl.

Watch Coleman’s status closely as the week progresses, because if he’s available, Mostert’s odds decrease – which will be reflected in the betting line.

Other good values for Super Bowl MVP include Nick Bosa (+2000) because of his pass-rushing ability against a team that throws the ball often, Coleman (+5000) if he’s healthy and plays, and even Richard Sherman (+8000) because of how often Mahomes is going to throw the ball. If Sherman has an interception or two, or a pick-six in a low-scoring game, he could win it.

A real long shot who might be worth putting a small wager on is Chiefs receiver/return specialist Mecole Hardman (+8000) because of his ability to make an impact as a returner. If he takes a kickoff or punt back for a touchdown and there aren’t many other scores, he could sneak in and win the award.

It’s not worth betting on a Chiefs defender because unless he forces a fumble on a running back, there isn’t a great chance of one making enough impact plays against the 49ers’ run-first offense.

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Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Super Bowl prop bets: Who will score the last TD of Super Bowl LIV?

Looking at the best prop bet picks to score the last touchdown of Super Bowl LIV between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs.

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The Super Bowl brings with it huge betting action, with traditional game bets and props. One such bet is on which player will score the last touchdown of the game.

Here are the odds for each possible player:

San Francisco 49ers

RB Raheem Mostert +650
TE George Kittle +850
RB Matt Breida +1200
RB Tevin Coleman +1200
WR Deebo Samuel +1300
WR Emmanuel Sanders +1300
WR Kendrick Bourne +1600
49ers defense/special teams +2100
RB Jeff Wilson +2100
FB Kyle Juszczyk +3900
QB Jimmy Garoppolo +5000
WR Rickie James +6500
RE Ross Dwelley +8000
TE Levine Toilolo +10000
WR Dante Pettis +10000
WR Jordan Matthews +10000

Kansas City Chiefs

RB Damien Williams +650
WR Tyreek Hill +750
TE Travis Kelce +800
WR Sammy Watkins +1500
QB Patrick Mahomes +2000
WR Mecole Hardman +2300
Chiefs defense/special teams +2400
WR Demarcus Robinson +3100
RB Darwin Thompson +2800
RB LeSean McCoy +4500
TE Blake Bell +7000
WR Byron Pringle +6500
TE Deon Yelder +7000
FB Anthony Sherman +10000
There are also +10000 odds for no touchdown in the game at all.

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Sunday, Jan. 26, at 6:00 p.m. ET.

Which player should get your bet? That will depend on the type of game you think the Super Bowl will be.

Special sports betting line for the big game

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First of all, don’t even worry about the no-touchdown prop. Both teams will score touchdowns.

I anticipate a close game with both teams making plays in the final quarter, meaning the biggest playmakers will be the ones making plays.

For the 49ers, that means Mostert, Kittle or Samuel. For the Chiefs, that would be Williams, Kelce or Hill.

As all players will provide a big payout — even the shortest odds of +650 will win $65 in profit for every $10 wagered. As such, hedging becomes very easy.

Two sleeper picks would be the 49ers’ Kendrick Bourne and the Chiefs’ defense. Bourne has had a postseason score. Jimmy Garoppolo can be prone to turn the ball over, and if the 49ers are behind late in the game, it is highly possible someone like safety Tyrann Mathieu could pick off a pass and return it for a score to put the game away. There could also be a strip-sack and fumble returned for a touchdown.

If you have $100 to bet on this prop, here is how I would go:

$20 each on Mostert, Kittle, Williams and Kelce
$10 on the KC defense
$10 on Samuel

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Super Bowl LIV Prop Bets: Which player will score first TD?

Looking at the best prop bet picks to score the first touchdown of Super Bowl LIV between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs.

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Super Bowl LIV is at the doorstep as the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs prepare to do battle at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET. All week here at SportsbookWire we’ll be breaking down the most enticing prop bets for the big game at BetMGM. Below, we’re looking at which players from the 49ers and Chiefs are the best bets to score the first touchdown of Super Bowl LIV.

(Photo Credit: Steve Mitchell – USA TODAY Sports)

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Sunday, Jan. 26, at 5:45 p.m. ET.

Kendrick Bourne, WR, 49ers (+1800)

Six 49ers have lower odds than Bourne to score the game’s opening touchdown, including WRs Deebo Samuel (+1300) and Emmanuel Sanders (+1300), and TE George Kittle (+850). Kittle (19) and Samuel (8) each have more red-zone targets than Bourne, but he leads the team with five red-zone touchdowns off of just six targets.

Bourne scored the game’s opening touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings in the Divisional Round. If the Chiefs can stop the Niners near the goal line on their opening drive, Bourne will very much come into play.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on Kendrick Bourne to score the first touchdown of Super Bowl LIV will return a profit of $180.

Mecole Hardman, WR, Chiefs (+2200)

Hardman has nearly a 50-50 chance of being the first player to get his hands on the football in Super Bowl LIV as the primary kick returner of the Chiefs. He has a postseason long of a 58-yard kickoff return against the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round, and he had a 104-yard touchdown return in the regular season.

If he doesn’t get to the end zone on a return, he also had six receiving touchdowns this season and a long reception of 83 yards as a rookie. Only two Chiefs receivers had more receptions of 20-plus yards than his nine in the regular season.

Special sports betting line for the big game

Bet $1, WIN $200 (in free bets) if either team scores a touchdown during the big game February 2, 2020. Regardless of the outcome, you win with a touchdown! Bet now.

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Jeff Wilson, RB, 49ers (+2500)

49ers RB Tevin Coleman (+1100) led the team with five red-zone rushing scores this season, but Wilson was right behind with four. Coleman is expected to play in Super Bowl LIV, but he’s battling through a dislocated shoulder suffered in the NFC Championship. Raheem Mostert is coming off a big four-touchdown game and Matt Breida should also get some more work behind Coleman, but Wilson is worth a small play in hopes of a goal-line plunge.

LeSean McCoy, RB, Chiefs (+4000)

McCoy hasn’t played since Week 15, but it’s hard to see head coach Andy Reid keeping his long-time running back out of the Super Bowl. Should he draw into the lineup, he’ll be fresh and motivated, and he led the Chiefs in both red-zone carries (18) and touchdowns (four) this season. He’s a nice hedge against the big-play threat of Hardman and a $10 bet fetches $400 in profit.

Want action on this game? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @EstenMcLaren and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Super Bowl LIV: San Francisco 49ers vs. Kansas City Chiefs odds, picks and best bets

Previewing the Super Bowl LIV matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs, with NFL betting odds, picks and best bets.

The matchup is set for Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, as the San Francisco 49ers (15-3) will do battle with the Kansas City Chiefs (14-4) for the Lombardi Trophy. The big game takes place Sunday, Feb. 2, with kickoff set for 6:30 p.m. ET. We analyze the 49ers-Chiefs odds and sports betting lines, while providing NFL betting tips and advice on the Super Bowl LIV matchup.

49ers vs. Chiefs: Super Bowl LIV preview, betting trends and notes

Both teams have cruised through the playoffs. The 49ers beat the Minnesota Vikings 27-10 in the Divisional Round before taking down the Green Bay Packers 37-20 in the NFC Championship. The Chiefs beat the Houston Texans 51-31 and Tennessee Titans 35-24 in the second and third rounds, respectively.
The Chiefs are riding a seven-game winning streak dating back to Week 11. The Niners have won four straight games.
Kansas City played one neutral site game this season, beating the Los Angeles Chargers 24-17 in Mexico City in Week 11.
Niners QB Jimmy Garoppolo threw for a season-low 77 yards while completing six of just eight pass attempts against the Packers in the NFC Championship. The 49ers didn’t need more out of him, as RB Raheem Mostert rushed 29 times for 220 yards and four touchdowns.

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Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes played the hero in the AFC Championship to get Kansas City to its first Super Bowl since 1969 (SB IV). The 2018 MVP completed 23 of 35 pass attempts for 294 yards and three touchdowns, while rushing for a team-high 53 yards and another score.
San Francisco’s last Super Bowl appearance was Super Bowl XLVII, which it lost 34-31 to the Baltimore Ravens. The Niners last Super Bowl win was Super Bowl XXIX. They beat the San Diego Chargers 49-26, with QB Steve Young being named MVP.
The two teams last met in Week 3 of the 2018 season. The Chiefs won 38-27. Garoppolo passed for 251 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. Mahomes went 314-3-0.
The Niners ranked second in the NFL with 29.9 points per game in the regular season. The Chiefs were fifth with 28.2 PPG.
The Chiefs (19.3) and 49ers (19.4) ranked seventh and eighth, respectively, in points per game allowed.

49ers vs. Chiefs: Super Bowl LIV odds, betting lines and prediction

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Monday, Jan. 20, at 8:20 a.m. ET.

Prediction

49ers 32, Chiefs 29

Moneyline (?)

The Chiefs (-118) are favorites for a sixth consecutive game as the official home team in Super Bowl LIV. The 49ERS (+100) are even-money as slight dogs, despite their two 17-point wins in the playoffs. Both teams were 3-1 straight up against cross-conference opponents this season. San Francisco won those games by an average of 13.2 points per game, while Kansas City won by 5.8 PPG against four NFC opponents.

I like the Niners as the slight underdogs. While the Chiefs were able to contain the NFL’s leading rusher in Titans RB Derrick Henry (69 yards, one TD) in the AFC Championship, the 49ers have a multi-headed attack with Mostert, Tevin Coleman (shoulder) and Matt Breida. San Francisco also led the NFL with just 169.2 passing yards allowed per game in the regular season and will force the Chiefs to turn to their little-used rushing game.

Back the underdog in Super Bowl LIV.

Against the Spread (?)

The NINERS (+1.5, -111) offer less value on the spread while being spotted just 1.5 points. The moneyline is the more profitable play with a $10 bet returning $10 in profit, while the same wager here fetches a return of just $9. If you need the extra insurance in case of a 1-point Chiefs’ win, back San Francisco on the spread as a safer play.

San Francisco was 3-1 against the spread in games against AFC opponents this year. Kansas City was just 2-2 ATS in those games. The two-week layoff favors a Chiefs side that went 6-4-1 ATS against teams with equal rest this year, while the Niners were a league-worst 2-5 ATS when playing on equal rest, but the 49ers were 5-0 ATS as underdogs this season.

Over/Under (?)

Those who didn’t enjoy Super Bowl LIII and the 13-3 win for the New England Patriots over the Los Angeles Rams should get their redemption this year. Back the OVER 52.5 (-118) with both teams happy to try their luck in a shootout. The two teams have scored at least 26 points in each of their last four games.

Both teams have hit the Under just eight times through 18 games. KC has topped the projected totals in each of its two playoff games. San Francisco went 1-1.

Want action on this game? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Esten’s 2019 NFL betting record: 58-51

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Should you bet on the Kansas City Chiefs to win Super Bowl LIV?

Previewing the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIV chances, with NFL betting odds, picks, futures and best bets.

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Throughout the 2019 season, it appeared the Kansas City Chiefs just didn’t have “it” this season after losing 37-31 in overtime to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship last season; however, they finished the 2019 season strong, winning six straight games to become the No. 2 seed in the conference.

With a first-round bye in hand, the Chiefs have an excellent chance at advancing to the Super Bowl. Below are their odds to win Super Bowl LIV and reasons why you should and shouldn’t bet on Kansas City to take home the Lombardi Trophy this postseason.

NFL futures odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Friday at 5:15 p.m. ET.

Why you should bet on the Chiefs to win Super Bowl LIV

Odds To Win Super Bowl LIV: +450

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As we have seen over the last decade, quarterback play is a significant factor in who wins the Super Bowl. Luckily for Kansas City, reigning-MVP Patrick Mahomes is healthy, and he is starting to get back to his form of last season. It also helps that he will have his full assortment of weapons on the field in the playoffs, which might just be the best supporting cast in the AFC.

It also doesn’t hurt that the Chiefs’ defense is starting to play better, allowing just 11.5 points per game over the last six weeks. They are beginning to create sacks and turnovers, which will be needed to advance deep in the playoffs.

Given that Kansas City will host a playoff game in Round 2, it certainly doesn’t seem impossible the Chiefs can get hot and make a three-game run with Mahomes under center. At +200, the Chiefs are a great bet to win the AFC Championship. They’re also a strong play at +450 to win Super Bowl LIV.

Why you shouldn’t bet on the Chiefs to win Super Bowl LIV

(Photo Credit: Jay Biggerstaff – USA TODAY Sports)

New to sports betting? A $10 wager on the Chiefs to win Super Bowl LIV would return a profit of $45 should Kansas City win the Super Bowl.

Despite being the No. 2 seed, the road to the Super Bowl could be awfully tough for the Chiefs. They will likely host the New England Patriots in Round 2, and the Pats have shown no fear playing in Arrowhead Stadium lately. If the Chiefs can survive that contest, they will then likely travel to Baltimore to take on the No. 1-seeded Ravens. It’s a brutal draw for the Chiefs and one which could keep them out of the Super Bowl for a second-straight season.

There is also some lingering doubt about head coach Andy Reid in the playoffs. While no one can argue about his regular-season success, too often, his teams come up short relative to expectations. For Kansas City to advance to the Super Bowl, Reid will need to outcoach the likes of Bill Belichick and John Harbaugh to make it to the Super Bowl. While that’s certainly possible, there are some reasons to be concerned.

Ultimately, the Chiefs are still a great bet to win the Super Bowl due to their overwhelming amount of talent on both sides of the ball. Don’t be afraid to put down a few units on the Chiefs to make a run this postseason.

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Should you bet on the Seattle Seahawks to win Super Bowl LIV?

Previewing the Seattle Seahawks’ Super Bowl LIV chances, with NFL betting odds, picks, futures and best bets.

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The NFL playoffs begin this weekend and the Seattle Seahawks open on the road as the No. 5 seed in the NFC, taking on the NFC East champion Philadelphia Eagles on the road Sunday at 4:35 p.m. ET.

They had a chance to be as high as the No. 1 seed in the conference but ended up one play short of winning the NFC West and getting the coveted first-round bye.

Seattle is a perennial contender and is built to win playoff games. They have been to two Super Bowls in the last decade and won one. The question is whether you should bet on the Seahawks to win Super Bowl LIV.

Seattle Seahawks playoff futures

(Photo Credit: Joe Nicholson – USA TODAY Sports)

NFL futures odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Friday at 4:45 pm. ET.

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They have, along with the Eagles, the second-longest odds to make it to the Super Bowl out of the NFC at +1200. To win the Super Bowl, only five teams have higher odds than Seattle’s +2500.

They can provide one of the biggest paydays of all the teams in the postseason. A $10 bet on them to get to the Super Bowl will return $120 in profit and a $10 bet on them to win it all will win $250.

It is a big payday. The question is whether it is worth betting on them.

Why you shouldn’t bet on the Seahawks to win Super Bowl LIV

Dec 29, 2019; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) puts on his helmet during the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at CenturyLink Field. (Photo Credit: Joe Nicholson – USA TODAY Sports)

They will have to win three games on the road to get to the Super Bowl, having to play in Philadephia and then potentially Green Bay, New Orleans or San Francisco. However, they shared the league’s best road record at 7-1 and were 10-2 in one-score games.

It is hard to bet against QB Russell Wilson, but the Seahawks are without their top three running backs in Chris Carson, Rashaad Penny and C.J. Prosise. All are on injured reserve and Seattle recently had to sign Marshawn Lynch to back up rookie Travis Homer.

The defense is not what it used to be, as the Seahawks were 22nd in the league in scoring defense, and they allowed an average of 25.7 points per game over their last three games. You can’t ever count out Wilson, but the Seahawks faltered down the stretch, losing three of four to end the regular season.

The potential payout is huge, but they aren’t worth the risk of a big wager. If you are going to bet on Seattle, keep it in the casual range.

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Should you bet on the New Orleans Saints to win Super Bowl LIV?

Previewing the New Orleans Saints’ Super Bowl LIV chances, with NFL betting odds, picks, futures and best bets.

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Since September, the New Orleans Saints have looked like Super Bowl LIV contenders, but do they warrant an NFL futures bet?

With a 13-3 record, the Saints were dominant during the regular season. Their only slip-up games were when Brees injured his thumb in Week 2 against the Los Angeles Rams, a stunning Week 10 loss to the NFC South-rival Atlanta Falcons and a thrilling 48-46 shootout loss to the San Francisco 49ers – arguably the best game of the 2019 season.

They won six games by double-digits and enter the playoffs on a three-game winning streak – two of which came by at least 27 points and the other by 10 points.

Yet, despite rolling to a stellar regular-season record, the Saints still didn’t earn a first-round bye. Those two free passes went to the 49ers and Green Bay Packers.

Why you should bet on the Saints to win Super Bowl LIV

NFL futures odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Friday at 4 pm. ET.

Get some action on the games by betting at BetMGM. New customer offer: RISK-FREE First Bet (up to $500!) paid in free bets.

Sitting out the Wild Card Round is a huge advantage, with more than 79% of Super Bowl representatives in NFL history being No. 1 or 2 seeds in the postseason. After all, teams with top-two seeds have to win one fewer game than teams seeded third or lower, making the path to a championship much easier.

The Saints are a rare team that can buck that trend with a four-game winning streak to claim Super Bowl LIV. And that’s exactly why you should bet on them to win it all.

According to BetMGM, the Saints are +600 to win Super Bowl LIV – the fourth-best odds of the 12 playoff teams. That’s better than even the Packers, who have a first-round bye and would host the Saints in the Divisional Round, should New Orleans advance past the Minnesota Vikings.

New to sports betting? A $10 wager on the Saints to win Super Bowl LIV would return a profit of $60 should New Orleans win the Super Bowl.

That just goes to show how the oddsmakers view the Saints and their chances of being the last team standing.

New Orleans should make easy work of Minnesota (+3300 to win Super Bowl LIV), especially with the game being played at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Saints are favored by 7.5 points, the largest spread of the four games this weekend. Brees, WR Michael Thomas and RB Alvin Kamara are all healthy entering the postseason and will help carry the offense.

Why you should bet on the Saints to win the NFC Championship (+260)

(Photo Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel – USA TODAY Sports)

Defensively, the Saints are no slouches, either. They finished 13th in points allowed and 11th in yards allowed, performing especially well against the run with the fourth-fewest rushing yards allowed per game. The Vikings prefer to lean on RB Dalvin Cook and the running game.

The Saints were good on the road this season, too, going 7-1 away from home. Should they beat the Vikings, visiting Lambeau Field shouldn’t strike any fear in the Saints.

(Photo Credit: Jim Brown – USA TODAY Sports)

As a team without a bye, the Saints got the better end of the playoff bracket, having to play the Packers in the divisional round instead of the 49ers. Granted, they’d visit the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game if both teams make it that far, but at least that won’t come in the second round.

Betting the house on New Orleans wouldn’t be a wise move because of the absence of a first-round bye, but you should feel good about laying down some money on the Saints to be the last team standing.

Want action on this bet? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Should you bet on the Buffalo Bills to win Super Bowl LIV?

Previewing the Buffalo Bills’ Super Bowl LIV chances, with NFL betting odds, picks, futures and best bets.

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AFC East teams besides the New England Patriots don’t typically make the playoffs. They certainly don’t usually go 10-6 or challenge New England for the division crown very often. Yet, that’s exactly what the Buffalo Bills did this season, giving the Patriots a run for their money in the AFC East and becoming just the third wild-card team from the division since 2011.

But do the Bills have a legitimate chance to win the Super Bowl? According to the oddsmakers, not really.

Buffalo Bills playoff futures

NFL futures odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Friday at 12:30 pm. ET.

Get some action on the games by betting at BetMGM. New customer offer: RISK-FREE First Bet (up to $500!) paid in free bets.

BetMGM has the Bills at +6000 to hoist the Lombardi Trophy in February, the longest odds of any team in the playoffs. That’s the result of them having a young, inconsistent sophomore quarterback under center in Josh Allen, a tough matchup in the first round against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium, and a second-round date with either the Baltimore Ravens or Kansas City Chiefs if they were to advance to the Divisional Round.

New to sports betting? A $10 wager on the Bills to win Super Bowl LIV would return a profit of $600 should Buffalo win the Super Bowl.

Allen had a solid season. He threw 20 touchdown passes with only nine interceptions, rushing for another 510 yards and nine touchdowns, as well. However, he only completed 58.8% of his passes and his 5.71 adjusted net yards per attempt – a good measuring stick of a quarterback’s aggressiveness and success – ranked 23rd among qualified quarterbacks.

(Photo Credit: Rich Barnes – USA TODAY Sports)

The Bills defense is what helped carry them to the postseason, ranking second in points and third in yards allowed, but how many top offenses did they truly face? The Dallas Cowboys and Ravens were the only teams that really stand out offensively from Buffalo’s schedule, though it was impressive that they were held to a combined 39 points in consecutive weeks.

The Bills aren’t exactly coming into the postseason riding high, either. They lost three of their last four games, one of which was the season finale with Matt Barkley at quarterback. There isn’t much momentum behind the Bills heading into this wild-card matchup with the Texans, especially on offense. In the last three games that Allen completed, the Bills had fewer than 300 yards of offense in each, including fewer than 200 yards passing.

Why You Shouldn’t Bet On the Bills to win Super Bowl LIV

(Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire – USA TODAY Sports)

So that begs the question again: Should you bet on the Bills to win Super Bowl LIV? In short, no. Unless the Tennessee Titans go on a deep run, Buffalo will be on the road for the entire postseason run. Winning four straight games away from home is no easy task for any team, let alone one that faced only three playoff teams in the regular season – including a Philadelphia Eagles squad that barely got in.

Save your money and put it on a team like the Ravens, San Francisco 49ers or New Orleans Saints. The Seahawks at +2500 or the Patriots at +1200 are better bets than the Bills and still come with financial upside on a small wager.

So unless you just want to lay $10 down on a Bills Cinderella story, it’d be wise to pass on this wager.

Want action on this bet? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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