Visit the Betway online sportsbook for the latest NFL odds and lines, and Betway’s NFL picks page for picks and predictions throughout the season.
Against the spread
Philadelphia Eagles -1.5
The top seeds meet in the Super Bowl for just the 14th time on Sunday, and that means we have an extremely tight spread for this one.
The Philadelphia Eagles, who have been the most dominant team in the NFL this season and have enjoyed a straightforward route into the Super Bowl, enter as -1.5 favourites.
It’s not hard to see why the line falls in favour of the Eagles. They possess a red-hot dual-threat quarterback in Jalen Hurts, a vastly superior defense, a deeper, more well-rounded roster, and have romped into the big game with ease.
The Kansas City Chiefs, meanwhile, have scraped past the Jacksonville Jaguars and Cincinnati Bengals, and have seen star quarterback Patrick Mahomes hobbled by a high ankle sprain.
The good news for Kansas City is that Mahomes has had two weeks to rehab his ankle and has been a full participant in practise this week. Even a less-than-perfect Mahomes can singlehandedly win you any game.
Not only do they have the edge at quarterback, but the Chiefs also have Andy Reid, one of the great coaches of the modern era, and someone who you know will be cooking something special up to counter the threat of the Eagles.
Unfortunately for the Chiefs, Mahomes can’t do it all himself. He will probably do enough to keep the game close, but this Eagles juggernaut is unlikely to be denied by his heroics.
Look for Philly to capitalise on some big plays on defense on their way to covering the spread and winning their second Super Bowl.
Over/under
Under 50.5 points
The offensive talent in this game, particularly with regards to the two quarterbacks on show, means this could end up being a shootout.
However, there is also plenty of talent on the defensive side of the ball, particularly on the Eagles roster.
The Philly pass rush has been operating at near-historic levels this season, registering 78 sacks in the regular season, good for third all-time. They are the first team ever to have four players with 10 sacks or more in a season, with all four of those players going on to rack up 12 or more.
Their secondary can also lay claim to being the best in the league, with the Eagles allowing just 179.8 passing yards per game during the regular season, an NFL-best mark, while there 17 interceptions put them joint-third.
Kansas City’s defensive unit ranked in the middle of the pack in most categories during the regular season, but they still possess difference-makers like Chris Jones and L’Jarius Sneed, who has cleared concussion protocol in time for the Super Bowl.
With so much defensive talent on the field, it feels unlikely that either team will ship 30 points on Sunday, making the under – which has landed in the last four Super Bowls – the play here.
Player props
Marquez Valdes-Scantling over 36.5 receiving yards
Valdes-Scantling had his best game as a Chief in the AFC Championship game, hauling in six of eight targets for 116 yards and a touchdown.
The former Green Bay Packer has had an inconsistent season, but looks poised for a big performance in the Super Bowl with Kansas City looking thin at wide receiver.
Mecole Hardman is out, while Kadarius Toney and JuJu Smith-Schuster are nursing knee and ankle injuries, respectively, so Mahomes will likely lean on Valdes-Scantling once again.
Kenneth Gainwell over 20.5 rushing yards
Gainwell has seen his role in the Eagles’ offense increase during the playoffs, with 26 rushing attempts across the last two games. In the last three contests, he’s recorded 35, 112 and 48 rushing yards.
This line looks comfortably within reach for the second-year running back, who should again see plenty of action as the Eagles look to control the clock by running the ball.
Jerrick McKinnon under 19.5 rushing yards
McKinnon has been effective receiving out of the backfield for Kansas City this season, but he’s seen his role as a rusher diminish over the past few weeks.
Aside from an 11-carry, 25-yard game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Divisional round, he’s gained just 18 total rushing yards from 13 rushes since Week 15.
Super Bowl MVP
Jalen Hurts
Super Bowl MVP is almost always awarded to the quarterback of the winning team, so it’s very likely that Hurts or Mahomes end Sunday night with their hands on the Pete Rozelle Trophy.
Hurts looks the better value of the two, given that the Eagles are slight odds-on favourites.
After an MVP-calibre regular season, Hurts has put up modest numbers in the postseason, with a shoulder injury he suffered in Week 15 possibly limiting him as a passer. He hasn’t really needed to excel with his arm, though, as the Eagles have dominated the last few games with their rushing attack, led by Hurts and running back Miles Sanders.
Hurts rushed for 760 yards and 13 touchdowns in the regular season, and has added 73 yards and two more scores in the playoffs. He now faces a Kansas City defence that allowed the fifth-most rushing yards to opposing quarterbacks in the regular season.
This is a great matchup for Hurts, which should provide him the platform he needs to put up numbers worthy of being named Super Bowl MVP.
Haason Reddick
With both quarterbacks banged up, there’s a chance Sunday that Sunday night becomes a defensive battle.
If it does, Reddick looks a great outside bet to win Super Bowl MVP.
The Philadelphia edge rusher earned 16 total sacks during the regular season and has been on fire in the playoffs, with 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble and a recovery across two games.
The Chiefs’ offensive tackles – Orlando Brown and Andrew Wylie – have both had difficult seasons, so the stage is set for Reddick to have a big night.
Malcolm Butler and Von Miller have both been named Super Bowl MVP in the past decade, and Reddick could firmly be in the frame come Sunday.
