6 Most Pulse-Pounding NFL Prop Bets in Week 12

The NFL is all about glitz, glamour, big plays, and…props? That’s right. Prop betting is the most exciting thing going on the league these days.

The NFL brings out the best bettor in all of us. Whether it’s crunching the numbers to find weak lines or hunting for an underdog for that Super Bowl outright winner futures bet, we’re in it to win it.

But without a doubt the best thing about the NFL during the internet and mobile betting era are all of the great prop bets. Sportsbooks like Bet365, BetVictor and Bodog update their props all the time, so there’s always great action. Here are the best bets available as we enter Week 12:

Who will win the 2014 NFL MVP?

Going into the season Peyton Manning was expected to run away with his second-consecutive
MVP award. And his play has been great and he’s led the Broncos to a spot atop the AFC West.

But Aaron Rodgers has rained on his parade in a massive way. To be fair this wasn’t entirely unexpected, as the Green Bay gunslinger previously won the award in 2011. But this season he has been unbelievable, almost single-handedly putting the Packers in the discussion of serious Super Bowl Contenders.

Other candidates are the ageless Tom Brady and J.J. Watt, the league’s consensus best defensive player.
The odds: Rodgers 2.1/1, Manning 5.5/1, Watt 6/1, Brady 7/1.

Who will be the offensive rookie of the year?

The 2014 season has ushered in an impressive rookie class on both sides of that ball. On offense, the top play makers have been Sammy Watkins of the Buffalo Bills, Kelvin Benjamin of the Carolina Panthers, Mike Evans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Odell Beckham of the New York Giants.

What is unique about this group? All four are wide receivers. Only two receivers have won the award in the past decade, and conventional wisdom says that wideouts take 2-3 years to develop. Well, 2014 is certainly bucking that trend.

Right the race looks to be down to Evans and Benjamin, but either Watkins or Beckham have enough time left to steal the award: Benjamin 2.5/1, Evans 3/1, Watkins 6/1, Beckham 7/1.

Will Adrian Peterson open the 2015 season with the Vikings?

Emperor Goodell has issued his dictate, and it is thus: Adrian Peterson is suspended from all NFL activities until April, 2015. The question, then, is whether the Vikings will cut ties or bring the fallen star back for a ninth season.

Bodog, the leading online sportsbook in Canada, has released odds predicting that AP will NOT be with the Vikings next season: 2.5/1 for yes, 1.5/1 for no.

Those odds aren’t far from even, but we’ll be surprised if the Vikings bring him back. He’s on the books for $12 million and is past his prime, while the team recently signed Ben Tate to compliment promising rookie Jerick McKinnon. It would be serious gambling news if this line moves in AP’s favor.

Will Robert Griffin III start at quarterback for the Redskins Week 1 2015?

RGIII is almost as big of a storyline as Peterson. The freakishly athletic quarterback is one of the league’s most electrifying players, but he’s also yet to stay healthy for a full season or lead the R-words to a playoff birth.

• Online sportsbooks like Bodog, Bet365 and BetVictor have a countless number of prop bets




• Bet on Aaron Rodgers to win the 2014 MVP award




• Chances look slim that Adrian Peterson returns to the Vikings for another season

Rumors coming out of Washington are that the Skins are considering trading him for a package of draft picks they can use to restock the roster. The odds: 1.67/1 yes, 2.1/1 no.

While oddsmakers see a decent chance that the Redskins move Griffin, we don’t see it happening. He’s the only marquee talent that the organization has, and owner Dan Snyder is a personal fan. He’ll stay put for at least one more year.

Will the Seahawks and 49ers both make the playoffs?

Entering the 2014 season the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks were predicted by most oddsmakers to repeat, and the 49ers were supposed to clinch a Wild Card berth behind the strong arm of quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

As it stands, both teams sit behind the surprising Arizona Cardinals in the division, and the Seahawks look close to falling apart. It now looks like one of these teams may seize a Wild Card, but no better. The odds of both teams making the playoffs look unfavorable: 3/1 yes, 1.33/1 no.

Will the winner of the NFC South win a playoff game?

Touted as a powerhouse during the preseason, the NFC South has been the football version of a kiddy table. Currently a three-way race between the Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers, it’s entirely plausible that the division winner ends the season with a losing record.

How would this “best of the worst” team fare against a juggernaut like the Cardinals, Packers or Cowboys in the playoff? Not well, bookmakers think. The odds of an NFC South team winning a playoff game currently sit at 3/1, compared to 1.33/1 for no. It’s really not going to happen.