Sports betting: With upsets aplenty in the NFL, prop bets are another option

Updated Sep. 25, 2024 4:28 p.m. ET

Associated Press

After three weeks of the NFL season, there appears to be more parity across the league than in recent years.

In NFL betting, big underdogs are not only covering but winning outright. Underdogs of 5.5 or more points are 14-2 against the spread, including 10 outright wins. But there are other ways bettors can win.

One prop bet option is anytime touchdown scorer, meaning if that player scores a touchdown at any time, the bet wins.

Here are some players who could find the end zone this week, with odds from the BetMGM online sportsbook:

Running Back

Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys, +150

After losing two straight games, the Dallas Cowboys face the New York Giants on Thursday Night Football. Ezekiel Elliott is the primary Cowboys running back in the red zone, so expect him to get multiple chances to score a touchdown.

Saquon Barkley, Eagles

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have allowed the second-most rushing touchdowns in the league through three weeks, so it could be a great spot for one of the best running backs in the league to find the end zone. Through three games, Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley has 351 yards on the ground, including four touchdowns.

Tony Pollard, Titans

Miami’s run defense hasn’t been the greatest to open the year, allowing the third-most rushing touchdowns in the league. Although it’s hard to expect the Tennessee Titans to score a ton of points on Monday Night Football, if they do find the end zone against the Dolphins, Tony Pollard has as good of a chance of any player on the roster. He’s coming off a tough performance against the Green Bay Packers in Week 3 (six carries for 14 yards), so Tennessee could feed him the ball more to get him going again.

Wide Receiver

CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys, -120

The Dallas Cowboys and CeeDee Lamb have a chance to rebound after a tough loss to the Baltimore Ravens, where Lamb lost a fumble, dropped a pass and also appeared frustrated on the sidelines. Look for Dak Prescott to target him even more than usual, giving him multiple chances to find the end zone.

Marvin Harrison Jr., Cardinals

The Washington Commanders are coming off an upset win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football, but even in the victory, the pass defense was exposed. The Commanders have allowed the most passing touchdowns in the league through three weeks. This is a good matchup for Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray and the Arizona offense, so look for plenty of pass attempts, especially in the red zone. Marvin Harrison Jr. has scored in two straight games, so don’t be surprised if it’s three come Sunday.

Tee Higgins, Bengals

Cincinnati got Ja’Marr Chase going last Monday night with two touchdowns, so it could be Tee Higgins this week against a Carolina Panthers defense tied for allowing the second-most passing touchdowns in the league through three games. Higgins recorded three catches in his season debut last week.

___

This column was provided to The Associated Press by BetMGM online sportsbook.

___

AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports