Ricky Dimon
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In what could be a low-scoring Super Bowl LVI between the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals (we have a 3-star play on Under 48.5), scoring first could be extremely important. We already know that scoring first will impact a lot of money changing hands. The Super Bowl always inspires as incredible amount of wagering, and touchdown scorers are without question one of the most popular prop bets.
We have already discussed some of the best anytime TD scorer bets to be made, so now let’s take a look at two players who have good value on finding the endzone first on Sunday.
Be sure to check out our full game preview for Los Angeles Rams vs Cincinnati Bengals
Best bet: Odell Beckham Jr., WR, Los Angeles Rams (+800)
I’m not a big fan of favorites in this market, because the first touchdown scorer is generally a crapshoot (there are some exceptions like Tennessee running back Derrick Henry). You can almost always find better value with longer odds. In this case I am going in between the two extremes, as Cooper Kupp is a +490 favorite – well ahead of Beckham Jr. Of course, at +800 OBJ is certainly among the favorites – just not at the top. He obviously has a realistic chance of scoring first.
And why not? The former Giant and Brown has been a different player since joining a contending team in Los Angeles. In 8 regular-season games with the Rams, he scored 5 times (1 TD each in 5 different contests). It’s no secret that Beckham Jr. loves the big stage, so it’s hardly surprising that he has excelled in the playoffs. He scored a TD in the wild-card round against Arizona, had 6 receptions for 69 yards against Tampa Bay, and then caught 9 of 11 targets for 113 yards in the NFC Championship win over San Francisco. With Cincinnati undoubtedly doubling Kupp in the red zone (he had 16 regular-season TDs and already has 4 through 3 playoff games), the door could be open for OBJ to get things started with a bang.
The Burning Question: Who will win Super Bowl LVI?
Longshot worth taking: C.J. Uzomah, TE, Cincinnati Bengals (+2400)
Joe Burrow may ooze confidence, but even he probably isn’t eager to go at Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey in the early stages of the game. If the clamps are put down on Ja’Marr Chase, there could be room to maneuver for Uzomah (and also for receivers Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd). Uzomah didn’t do anything in the AFC Championship upset of Kansas City due to injury, but he caught 6 of 6 targets for 64 yards and a touchdown in round one against Las Vegas and then hauled in 7 of 8 targets for 71 yards at Tennessee’s expense. Los Angeles was in the middle of the pack in terms of defending tight ends during the regular season, so there is no reason why Uzomah’s success can’t continue.
Anytime Touchdown Scorer FAQs
What does “anytime touchdown scorer” mean?
Anytime touchdown scorer is a popular player prop bet that NFL bettors can wager on throughout the season. But what is it, and how do you win?
As the name suggests, placing a wager on the anytime touchdown scorer market is when you tip a particular player to score a touchdown during a game. This can be a rushing or receiving touchdown for an offensive player, or you can wager on a team’s defense/special teams to score a touchdown by interception return and fumble return or kickoff and punt returns.
If your player or defense scores a touchdown, you win! The odds will differ from player-to-player depending on the sportsbooks’ calculated probability of that player scoring.
Does anytime touchdown scorer include passing touchdowns?
Not for a quarterback, no. A player must get into the endzone, himself, in order to qualify as an anytime touchdown scorer. If a quarterback throws a touchdown pass, only the player who caught it counts as the scorer. If Aaron Rodgers throws a touchdown pass to Davante Adams, wagers placed on Evans as an anytime touchdown scorer will cash. However, those placed on Rodgers as an anytime touchdown scorer will not (unless he also runs for a TD). See below for more on what the anytime touchdown scorer market means for quarterbacks.
What does anytime touchdown scorer mean for a QB?
For a wager on a QB to be an anytime touchdown scorer to cash, he must follow the same rules as a running back, tight end, or receiver. He must get into the end zone himself, either as a runner or a pass-catcher.
In the age of the mobile quarterback, QBs such as Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Kyler Murray, and Josh Allen are often seen rushing in for a touchdown on any given Sunday. And don’t forget the occasional Philly Special, either. QBs can sometimes catch passes for TDs, too.
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