Super Bowl betting insights: Deebo attracting action
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The Super Bowl is fast approaching, and there are still plenty of bettors on the sideline who've yet to place a wager on the Chiefs-49ers game.
But there's also a large number who have, and they typically fall into two categories. The general public, who can't contain their excitement for the big game and want to take a stand early, and a group of bettors sportsbooks often refer to as "wise guys" or sharps.
They have opinions on games and props that the sportsbooks respect. Whenever a sharp places a bet, traders are generally asked to adjust the line accordingly. This is how line movement occurs and closing lines are formed.
The two-week break before the Super Bowl gives "wise guys" plenty of time to dissect the oddsboard, and this year, they've been keying in on a few specific players at both theScore Bet and ESPN Bet, two sportsbooks operated by PENN Entertainment.
Deebo Samuel was the prime target for sharps when player props first opened. The 49ers' dynamic playmaker is a nightmare matchup for opposing defenses, and sharps are especially keen on his ability as a ball carrier.
Samuel's rushing attempt total opened at 2.5, with the over paying +105. That price was immediately cut to -105 after sharps disagreed with the odds, but the move didn't prevent one-sided action. As it stands, 99.% of the handle and 99.7% of the bets on Samuel's rushing attempt total have ended up on the over, and the price has now moved all the way to -170.
The rushing attempt market isn't the only Samuel prop sharps backed, as they also piled in on his rushing yard total of 13.5, even though he's failed to surpass that total in six of his last seven games. Samuel's rushing yard total is now set at 16.5, and the over for 13.5 yards is paying -150.
The sharps also targeted Samuel's quarterback, Brock Purdy. The biggest prop bet taken between the two aforementioned sportsbooks was on under 20.5 passing completions at +122. The odds for over 20.5 are now even money. Purdy's had 20 or fewer pass completions in 11 of 18 games played this season.
A few of the other markets sharps have backed are as follows:
- Kyle Juszczyk to score a touchdown
- Richie James to not score a touchdown
- Each team to score over 13.5 points in each half