Super Bowl 50 Odds: Best bets against the spread

Denver Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (10) dives for but cannot catch a pass in the end zone against the New England Patriots in the second quarter in the AFC Championship football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

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Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (88) is brought down by Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Jarvis Jones (95) during the second quarter of the AFC Divisional round playoff game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

The Super Bowl basically doubles as a convention for degenerate sports handicappers, and that is right up our alley in this space.

Throughout the season, we have brought you picks against the spread in the NFL, and for the most part, it has been a reasonable year. Sadly, things have slowed to a crawl with back-to-back losing weekends in the playoffs (as the public raked money), and we are left with only a record that is marginally above .500. Let’s check in.

Last week: 1-3
Season: 50-46-3

Now, we shift our attention to Super Bowl 50 with five picks in this space. Three of them will come on props (and there are, quite literally, hundreds to choose from), with a pick on the total and the spread to close things out. Fade us or don’t, but this is what we came to do. Let’s roll.

Demaryius Thomas UNDER 67.5 receiving yards

You can find up to 69.5 yards if you look hard enough for a better line, but 67.5 is the consensus and is still too high for Thomas. The 28-year-old Pro Bowl wide receiver has only surpassed that receiving total in one of his last five contests, and if you take that trend further, Thomas has cracked 70 yards receiving only twice in his last nine games.

As is the case with many props, it is more fun to take the over side, and Thomas is a very big name given his fantasy football value and status as something of a star in the NFL. Still, he has ceded top status to Emmanuel Sanders in recent weeks, partly due to Peyton Manning’s inability to deliver the deep ball, and Thomas is averaging only 12 yards per reception on the season.

The best way for Thomas to go over this total will be to break a long run after the catch (if he can avoid a “trademark” drop), but Josh Norman should be blanketed all over Denver’s top receiver all evening long. For good measure, Carolina is a very strong tackling unit, and unless the old Peyton Manning shows up, I feel good about this number.

Next: Emmanuel Sanders

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