Perry Perspective: Jan 13
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Divisional Playoffs: Peculiar props
It?s an annual tradition. Once the NFL playoffs have started and the number of games has been whittled down, sportsbooks begin offering a plethora of props.
At WWTS, we are offering a whole whack of props for the four games this weekend. Let?s take a look at a few that might tempt you.
In the Carolina-Chicago game on Sunday (4:30 p.m. ET, FOX), we have a prop on Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith. The prop asks whether Smith will record a touchdown.
Smith had the most receiving yards in the league this season (1,563) and was tied with the Colts? Marvin Harrison for the most TDs in the league (12). Yet, Smith is favored at -180 not to score against the Bears in Chicago. Conversely, he is an underdog at +140 to score. Why is that?
Well, the Bears have allowed only 10 receiving touchdowns this season, the fewest in the NFL. That?s actually five less than the teams that are tied with the second-fewest. The Bears also have the second-most interceptions in the league this season with 24.
In the first meeting of the season between these two teams back in November, the Bears did not allow a TD beating the Panthers 13-3 at home.
Nevertheless, Smith did have season-high 14 receptions for 169 yards in that game. Last weekend against the Giants, he had 10 snags for 84 yards and one TD. He also rushed for 12 yards and a score.
Sticking with the same game, here?s a prop that Bears fans won?t like. The prop asks what Chicago quarterback Rex Grossman will throw first, a touchdown or an interception. Grossman is actually favored at -130 to throw an interception, and at even odds to throw a touchdown.
The injury-plagued quarterback, who will be appearing in his first playoff game, appeared in only two games this season after breaking his ankle in a preseason game. In those two games, Grossman completed 20 of 39 passes for 259 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
Last year, Grossman appeared in just three games after tearing a ligament in his knee against Green Bay in Week 3. In those games, the former first-round pick out of Florida threw for 607 yards had only one TD and three INTs.
In his three-year career, Grossman has played in just eight NFL games and has six picks versus four scores.
We have the same QB prop directed towards Redskins pivot Mark Brunell, who?ll be starting on Saturday in Seattle (Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET, FOX).
Unlike Grossman, Brunell is favored to toss a TD but only slightly at -140. On the flipside, he is listed at +110 to throw an INT. The 12-year veteran has an impressive 23 touchdowns this year, eighth-most in the league. In terms of interceptions, he has just 10.
Against the visiting Seahawks in early October, the 36-year-old QB completed 20 of 36 passes for 226 yards, two TDs and one interception. In last weekend?s Wild Card game, Brunell was awful completing only seven passes on 15 attempts for a miniscule 41 yards with no touchdowns and one INT.
In the same game, we have Seahawks RB Shaun Alexander favored at -140 to record a touchdown in the first half, and at +110 to be kept off the scoresheet. Alexander set a new single season record this year for touchdowns with 28. In the first game against the Skins he was kept off the scoresheet in the first half but had one TD in the second.
In the Steelers-Colts game (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS), WR Marvin Harrison is favored to record a touchdown. He is listed at -140 to score and +110 not to. Although Harrison is tied for the most receiving TDs this season, he will be facing a secondary that has allowed just 15 touchdowns through the air, tied for the second-fewest in the league.
This will be the second time the Colts have hosted the Steelers this season. In the first game back in November, Harrison had four receptions for 128 yards and one touchdown.
And finally, in the Pats-Broncos game (Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, CBS), New England RB Corey Dillon is favored slightly at -125 to be kept off the scoresheet in the first half and an underdog at -105 to find the end zone.
Dillon had only 733 yards rushing this season, but he rumbled in for 12 TDs, tied for fifth among running backs.
However, piercing the Broncos? defensive line will be no easy task for Dillon. Denver has allowed only 10 rushing touchdowns this year, fifth-fewest in the NFL.
BetWWTS.com
BetWWTS.com
Divisional Playoffs: Peculiar props
It?s an annual tradition. Once the NFL playoffs have started and the number of games has been whittled down, sportsbooks begin offering a plethora of props.
At WWTS, we are offering a whole whack of props for the four games this weekend. Let?s take a look at a few that might tempt you.
In the Carolina-Chicago game on Sunday (4:30 p.m. ET, FOX), we have a prop on Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith. The prop asks whether Smith will record a touchdown.
Smith had the most receiving yards in the league this season (1,563) and was tied with the Colts? Marvin Harrison for the most TDs in the league (12). Yet, Smith is favored at -180 not to score against the Bears in Chicago. Conversely, he is an underdog at +140 to score. Why is that?
Well, the Bears have allowed only 10 receiving touchdowns this season, the fewest in the NFL. That?s actually five less than the teams that are tied with the second-fewest. The Bears also have the second-most interceptions in the league this season with 24.
In the first meeting of the season between these two teams back in November, the Bears did not allow a TD beating the Panthers 13-3 at home.
Nevertheless, Smith did have season-high 14 receptions for 169 yards in that game. Last weekend against the Giants, he had 10 snags for 84 yards and one TD. He also rushed for 12 yards and a score.
Sticking with the same game, here?s a prop that Bears fans won?t like. The prop asks what Chicago quarterback Rex Grossman will throw first, a touchdown or an interception. Grossman is actually favored at -130 to throw an interception, and at even odds to throw a touchdown.
The injury-plagued quarterback, who will be appearing in his first playoff game, appeared in only two games this season after breaking his ankle in a preseason game. In those two games, Grossman completed 20 of 39 passes for 259 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
Last year, Grossman appeared in just three games after tearing a ligament in his knee against Green Bay in Week 3. In those games, the former first-round pick out of Florida threw for 607 yards had only one TD and three INTs.
In his three-year career, Grossman has played in just eight NFL games and has six picks versus four scores.
We have the same QB prop directed towards Redskins pivot Mark Brunell, who?ll be starting on Saturday in Seattle (Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET, FOX).
Unlike Grossman, Brunell is favored to toss a TD but only slightly at -140. On the flipside, he is listed at +110 to throw an INT. The 12-year veteran has an impressive 23 touchdowns this year, eighth-most in the league. In terms of interceptions, he has just 10.
Against the visiting Seahawks in early October, the 36-year-old QB completed 20 of 36 passes for 226 yards, two TDs and one interception. In last weekend?s Wild Card game, Brunell was awful completing only seven passes on 15 attempts for a miniscule 41 yards with no touchdowns and one INT.
In the same game, we have Seahawks RB Shaun Alexander favored at -140 to record a touchdown in the first half, and at +110 to be kept off the scoresheet. Alexander set a new single season record this year for touchdowns with 28. In the first game against the Skins he was kept off the scoresheet in the first half but had one TD in the second.
In the Steelers-Colts game (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS), WR Marvin Harrison is favored to record a touchdown. He is listed at -140 to score and +110 not to. Although Harrison is tied for the most receiving TDs this season, he will be facing a secondary that has allowed just 15 touchdowns through the air, tied for the second-fewest in the league.
This will be the second time the Colts have hosted the Steelers this season. In the first game back in November, Harrison had four receptions for 128 yards and one touchdown.
And finally, in the Pats-Broncos game (Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, CBS), New England RB Corey Dillon is favored slightly at -125 to be kept off the scoresheet in the first half and an underdog at -105 to find the end zone.
Dillon had only 733 yards rushing this season, but he rumbled in for 12 TDs, tied for fifth among running backs.
However, piercing the Broncos? defensive line will be no easy task for Dillon. Denver has allowed only 10 rushing touchdowns this year, fifth-fewest in the NFL.
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