Ramsey, Higgins Included in Best Super Bowl Long Shot Prop Bets: MVP & 1st TD Scorer

Whether it be the duration of the National Anthem to the color of the Gatorade bath, or the first player to score a touchdown to the game’s MVP, Super Bowl prop bets keep you engaged from pregame to postgame.

Of all the Super Bowl bets, the first touchdown scored and MVP can be a little easier to narrow down than other props. The best odds to score first are reserved for a team’s starting running back or top wide receiver. And a quarterback has won the Super Bowl MVP 11 times in the last 15 years.

But who are some long shots for these prop bet categories?

Best Super Bowl MVP & 1st TD Long Shot Bets

MVP

Rams: Jalen Ramsey (+10000)

The average total in the last ten Super Bowls is 51 points. This year’s Super Bowl odds total is currently 48.5, the lowest since New England versus Atlanta in 2017. If a defensive battle occurs in a game featuring two quarterbacks new to the stage, perhaps a defensive player will earn MVP honors for just the third time in 15 years (Denver’s Von Miller in Super Bowl 50 and Seattle’s Malcolm Smith in XLVIII).

Los Angeles Rams defensive linemen Aaron Donald has the best odds to win MVP for a defensive player at +1600. But how about three-time First-Team All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowl selection cornerback Jalen Ramsey at +10000? Ramsey will see a lot of action as he matches up against Cincinnatti’s terrific wide receivers. 

If this turns into a defensive game, Ramsey is a sneaky good pick with value for MVP. He is going up against a young Joe Burrow playing behind a shaky offensive line. Burrow has thrown 16 interceptions this season (one in each of the last two playoff games), including four multiple-interception games. One tide-turning pick by Ramsey could be the biggest play of a low-scoring affair, resulting in MVP honors.

Bengals: Tee Higgins (+5000)

Tee Higgins has the fourth-best MVP odds for Cincinnati, behind Joe Burrow (+210), Ja’Marr Chase (+1600), and Joe Mixon (+2500). If Higgins has a big day, there is the chance Burrow ends up earning the MVP. That’s typically how it goes for the QB-heavy award. But Higgins at +5000 has good value, especially if Burrow coughs up a big turnover, as described above.

Higgins caught 74 passes for 1,091 yards and six touchdowns in the regular season. In the last two playoff games, he has combined for 13 catches for 199 yards. Ramsey versus Chase is a big-time battle in this game. Keep an eye on a more favorable matchup for Higgins.

1st Touchdown

Rams: Rams D/ST (+3300)

The top five odds to score the first touchdown are Cooper Kupp +550, Joe Mixon +750, Cam Akers +750, Ja’Marr Chase +900, and Odell Beckham Jr. +1000. While those have nice value, one could really cash in on a Rams defensive or special teams touchdown to start the game.

Whether it’s Jalen Ramsey jumping a pass early or Aaron Donald busting through Cincinnati’s struggling offensive line to cause a scoop-and-score, the Rams scoring a touchdown first isn’t the most unrealistic thing that could happen.

Bengals: Joe Burrow (+4000)

Joe Burrow has scored five rushing TDs in his first two seasons in the NFL. In his 2019 Heisman Trophy-winning season at LSU, he scored five touchdowns on the ground. He isn’t asked to do it often, but Burrow can make plays with his legs.

Against a stout and aggressive LA defensive line, don’t be surprised to see some naked bootleg action from the Bengals near the goal line, allowing Burrow to trot in freely for the game’s first score.