Kansas City Chiefs WR Mecole Hardman is one of the most intriguing players from a betting perspective heading into Super Bowl 55 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The second-round pick of the 2019 NFL Draft has flashed his big-play abilities on several primetime occasions in his career, and Super Bowl LV brings with it plenty of interesting betting opportunities for his skillet. Below, we look at Mecole Hardman’s Super Bowl prop bets with NFL picks and predictions.

NFL prop betting is favored by a lot of sports bettors. It gives them an opportunity to place bets without worrying about a game’s outcome. While sports betting is a business for many people, generating the bulk of their income, proposition bets are entirely recreational. They’re fun wagers that rely heavily on luck. Don’t be fooled, though. A prop bet or “proposition” bet is any wager that is not directly related to the final score of a game. For the NFL, these “side bets” can cover anything from game and season statistics, team and player performance, in-game occurrences, and much more.

Mecole Hardman Super Bowl prop bets

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 4:51 a.m. ET.

First reception OVER 8.5 yards: -130

If Hardman is to catch a pass in Super Bowl 55, there’s a very good chance it’ll be longer than 9 yards. The second-year pro had an average depth of target of 10.6 yards in 16 games this season, and he averaged 7.0 yards after catch per reception.

Of his 41 receptions in the regular season, 7 went for 20 or more yards. If he gets a look early, it’ll likely be in an attempt to catch the Bucs defense napping. Expect Hardman to make a big play when called upon.

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Hardman to record 100+ receiving yards: +1200

This is a long shot, but that’s what Super Bowl prop bets should be about. With Hardman’s speed and QB Patrick Mahomes‘ right arm, it could take the wideout just a pair of catches to top this number, even though he hasn’t yet this season.

Hardman had a long catch of 49 yards in the regular season. He also had a long of 83 in his rookie season. He had just one two-yard catch in Super Bowl LIV, but the sophomore is now a bigger piece of the offense after catching 15 more passes in his second season.

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Hardman to have the game’s longest reception: +700

Hardman is fifth by the odds for this prop including players from both teams. His skillset should at least have him above Chiefs TE Travis Kelce (+600) and Bucs WR Mike Evans (+450). From there, it’s a toss-up with fellow speed demons in Chiefs WR Tyreek Hill (+150) and Bucs WR Chris Godwin (+450).

Nfl Prop Bets Week 1

Take the value on a prop that will be decided on just a single play.

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Chiefs Wire:

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The Denver Broncos (5-8) kick off a Saturday NFL doubleheader by hosting the AFC East-leading Buffalo Bills (10-3). Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. ET at Empower Field at Mile High. Below, we highlight five player/team prop bet predictions for the Broncos in Week 15.

Also see:Bills at Broncos odds, picks and prediction

Denver Broncos Week 15 prop bet predictions

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:40 a.m. ET.

Broncos OVER 0.5 points in the 1st quarter (-210)

Even though the Broncos are averaging only 3.4 first-quarter points per game (29th in the league) and the Bills are permitting only 3.3 (second-fewest), it’s hard to pass on this prop.

Not counting the Week 12 quarterback-less fiasco when Denver managed only a season-low three points all game, the Broncos have been shut out only three times in the first quarter of their other 12 contests.

Bank on at least a field goal in the first quarter Saturday.

First half game total UNDER 24.5 points (-118)

In spite of our first prop recommendation, we foresee something far less than a shootout in the opening 30 minutes.

The Broncos are averaging the second-fewest first-half points in the league (8.2) while the Bills allow the fewest on average (9.1).

Nfl Prop Bets 2020

Putting those two together puts the Broncos at 8.7, and doing the same for the Bills’ first-half offensive (14.8 PPG) and the Broncos’ defensive (13.4) averages puts Buffalo at 14.1.

Combined, that’s a total of 22.8 points, and with 1.7 points of leeway on the projected total of 24.5, why not take a shot at the first half Under?

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RB Melvin Gordon OVER 12.5 rushing attempts (-118)

The Broncos seemed to have settled on a more-rushing, less-passing offensive formula over the last four games as they’ve averaged 32.3 rushing attempts per contest over that span. By comparison, Denver averaged an even 25 rushes per game over its first nine contests.

As the Broncos’ lead back, Gordon has accounted for 45.8% of the team’s rushing attempt on the season. He has averaged 13.8 carries per contest during the just-mentioned four-game span of rushing uptick, and he’s looked the best he has all season as well, averaging 78.5 rushing yards per outing and 5.71 yards per carry.

With Denver surely desiring to keep Bills QB Josh Allen and the high-powered Bills’ attack (ninth with 27.6 points per game) on the sideline, look for the Broncos to rely heavily on the surging Gordon Saturday.

TE Noah Fant OVER 36.5 receiving yards (-112)

Fant missed Sunday’s 32-27 win over the Carolina Panthers with a non-COVID-19 illness, and with it, he likely missed a chance to be a featured pass-catcher.

Along with 30 rushing attempts in the win, the Broncos featured a noticeably condensed passing game with 14 of QB Drew Lock‘s 26 targets going to tight ends and running backs. Reserve TEs Nick Vannett and Troy Fumagalli combined for 9 targets, 8 receptions (4 apiece) and 73 yards.

In 11 games this season, Fant has had at least 38 receiving yards eight times.

Then there’s the Buffalo defense, which is allowing an average of 64.1 receiving yards per game to opposing tight ends — the second-highest mark in the league.

All that considered, gotta roll with the Over for Fant.

Nfl Prop Bets Today

Worth a (long) shot: Fant to score a TD (+240) and/or score Broncos’ first TD (+800)

Fant hasn’t found the end zone since Week 2 and is stuck on two TDs for the season.

Given the expected usage just detailed above, we’ll take a shot on Fant ending that drought Saturday with a couple of different TD props to choose from.

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Nfl Proposition Bets

Broncos Wire

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