Sports betting: Cooper Kupp reels in action among Super Bowl prop bets

Cooper Kupp had 62 catches as a rookie in 2017 and 90-plus in 2019 and 2020, so it’s not as if he came out of nowhere to help lead the Rams to the Super Bowl.

Still, it’s remarkable that a third-round pick out of Eastern Washington joined Jerry Rice, Sterling Sharpe, and Steve Smith as the only players to win the wide receiving triple crown (league leader in catches, receiving yards, and TD receptions in a season).

Smith, the longtime Panthers and Ravens receiver, was among the first aboard the Cooper Kupp bandwagon. He was working as an NFL Network analyst when he saw Kupp at the 2017 scouting combine. “This is my top guy,” he gushed. “There isn’t a route he can’t run.”

Anybody think of an NFL team who could use some help evaluating wide receiver prospects? Maybe Smith is available.

Professional bettors also are onboard, if the early reaction to Kupp’s Super Bowl props are any indication. Caesars opened his receiving yardage prop at 102.5. As of Monday, it was 105.5.

“If the sharps haven’t bet him under, then that’s a sign of respect,” said Caesars assistant director of trading Adam Pullen. “At 102.5, that’s a high number for any receiver. Usually they bet those high ones under, but no one has really stopped him yet. He’s going to get his opportunities and he’s been consistently getting over 100 yards pretty much every game. Kupp overs are definitely going to be a very popular selection with the public.”

Kupp was on injured reserve and did not play in the Super Bowl following the 2018 season. This year, he has posted 386 receiving yards in three postseason games, and has racked up 100-yard efforts in 13 of his 20 games played this season. His receiving yardage prop is 25 yards more than the second-highest (Ja’Marr Chase at 79.5).

» READ MORE: The Jaguars could be the perfect remedy for Philly-scarred Doug Pederson

Kupp also has the highest number for total receptions, at 8.5, with the over at -105 and the under at -125. Three others are currently at 5.5: Odell Beckham Jr. (over +120/under -150), Tee Higgins (over +110/under -140), and Chase (over -135/under +105).

One Caesars’ bettor in New Jersey put $10,000 early on Chase under 6 receptions (+115) for potential winnings of $11,500.

DraftKings: Either Joe Burrow or Matthew Stafford to throw a 50-yard touchdown pass. The yes is +200. There isn’t a “no” option. The +200 line is too low; +350 would be more enticing.

Caesars: Getting in on the coin toss should only be considered for the Super Bowl, and only for lunch money. That said, Caesars had -101 on both heads and tails. FanDuel was among the shops at -104. By all means, do not lay -110.

Superbook: Total sacks by the Rams defense opened at 2.5, with over -200, under +175. The line at Parx on Sunday night was 3.5, with over -104, under a rather rude -121. Ugh.

BetMGM: Position of MVP odds — Quarterback is -350, Any other is +260.

DraftKings: Will the offense score on the first drive of the game? Yes is +150, No is -200. Turn the temperature and instead go for whether the offense will kick a field goal on the first drive of the game. Yes is +450. No is -800.

Odds on the various ways the first score will occur, according to BetMGM:

Rushing TD: Rams +700, Bengals +900

Receiving TD: Rams +320, Bengals +375

Defensive/special teams TD: Rams +3,300, Bengals +3,000

Field goal: Rams +350, Bengals +375

Safety: Rams +6,600, Bengals +6,600

Golf: Tom Hoge, winner at Pebble Beach this weekend, was 60-1. A player at DraftKings had two separate tickets on him. One was for $700. The other was for $400. It was Hoge’s first career PGA Tour win. Luke List picked up his first tour win last week at around 83-1.

Men’s basketball: The over has hit in 11 of Bowling Green’s last 12 games. The Falcons’ next game is Tuesday at Kent State, whom they lost to last week, 91-83, when the over/under was 147.

Men’s basketball: On the opposite end is IUPUI, which is 2-19 and has been held under 60 points in 12 of its last 13. The Jaguars play Purdue-Fort Wayne on Thursday. These smaller conferences can often be lucrative.

NBA: Leading MVP odds at FanDuel entering the week: Joel Embiid (+230), Nikola Jokic (+330), Giannis Antetokounmpo (+360), Steph Curry (+450), Ja Morant (+1,000). Morant’s Grizzlies have won and covered five of their last six. The exception was against the Sixers when Embiid did not play. Good luck figuring out this league.

Stepping away from the sports betting window for a second to pass along a wild story from Vegas.

A guy was playing a slot machine at Treasure Island on Jan. 8 and won a massive jackpot without knowing it. Precise details are unclear, but the Nevada Gaming Control Board said that “due to a communications error that occurred, the slot machine experienced a malfunction that prevented [the winner] from realizing a progressive jackpot had been won.”

Treasure Island contacted the Nevada Gaming Control Board, which launched an investigation. After combing through hours of surveillance video, interviewing witnesses, sifting through credit card purchases, and even reviewing rideshare trips, the NGCB found its man.

He was identified as Robert Taylor and finally received his payout of $229,368.52.

Some might find all of that surveillance a little invasive, so let this be a lesson. What happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas.