Who’s ready to get in on some funhouse NFL action this weekend? The Pro Bowl Skills Challenge games pop off tomorrow, January 30th, at 7 p.m. ET, in place of the regularly-scheduled Thursday Night Football. Note that this does not include the marquee Flag Football event, which kicks off on Sunday, February 2nd. For both tomorrow’s and Sunday’s events, DraftKings Sportsbook released betting markets for each of the competitions, including an incredible dodgeball faceoff.
The Skills Challenge betting markets for tomorrow’s competition include:
These Skills Challenge minigames are, of course, the NFL’s best-foot-forward as far as contests like the Home Run Derby and the Dunk Contest go. And, most importantly, they seem to be an offbeat competitive arena—sort of the whole point of these All-Star-esque tentpoles—that players can buy into.
Of course, I’m abundantly aware that betting on these competitions isn’t the play for the savvy gambler; indeed, there’s very little analysis that would give us much of a lean on any of these competitions, most of which present as -115 odds across the board for both conferences. But I also know there are folks who like to have fun with their purses, and who aren’t quite ready to call it a season on their favorite NFL athletes just yet.
To wit! I’ll provide short blurbs below on which way I’ll be sprinkling tomorrow night. All you sharps bet on Kansas City, anyways. You’ve got sprinkles to spare.
Pro Bowl Skills Challenge best bets
Dodgeball
A little bummed I’m getting this one out of the way first. It sure feels like a marquee-adjacent event, like a bit of a Thursday sidecar before Sunday’s flag football big wheels. But this is surely going to be the biggest draw for viewership tomorrow night. Who doesn’t love dodgeball?
Here are the rules and conditions, as per NFL.com:
Six teams of five players compete in a three-round dodgeball tournament.
As of right now, we don’t know the dodgeball rosters for either conference. But we know enough about who’ll be present and available for the games so as to
Lots of talk about the AFC being overrated in general after the way this playoff bracket has shaken out. Roster advantage goes to the Eagles over the Chiefs, in my opinion, and the Eagles had an easier road. And the NFC still has plenty to prove; the Kansas City Chiefs are favorites in the Super Bowl for a reason.
There’s part of me that believes more pride hangs on the line in this Dodgeball contest than in the flag football contest. Flag football’s become more of a Manning circus. This dodgeball match, however? This’ll get talked about.
The NFC isn’t done with the AFC just yet, and is looking for every opportunity to peacock over Patrick Mahomes’ conference. Give me the NFC to take home the W that really matters, here.
Pro Bowl Dodgeball best bet: NFC to win (-115)
Passing the Test
Rules and conditions for this challenge, per NFL.com:
Quarterbacks test their ability to hit targets all over the field for 40 seconds. For every correct answer their selected teammate gives about them, the QB will receive an additional ten seconds.
Impossible to get into the nitty-gritty of the quiz element, so let’s just run through the quarterbacks who’ll be present and available to participate for each contest.
AFC
- Joe Burrow
- Drake Maye
- Russell Wilson
NFC
- Jared Goff
- Sam Darnold
- Baker Mayfield
This is easy. Give me the AFC. You’re telling me Joe Cool got voted to the games and decided not to opt out, when so many others did? Looking at you, Josh Allen.
Russell Wilson can still hit deep balls with the best of them, and Drake Maye is enough of a wild card that I’m willing to believe he and a teammate might crush the quizzing aspect of this game.
Baker Mayfield is the only person I’ll take seriously among these NFC quarterbacks, two of whom are playoff reject pumpkins. Credit to them, however, for showing up. Looking at you, again, Josh Allen.
Give me Joe Burrow to dart the AFC to victory, here. He’s eccentric enough that whatever teammate he picks should be able to answer questions about Burrow’s notorious personality idiosyncrasies.
Pro Bowl Passing the Test best bet: AFC to win (-115)
Satisfying Catches
This one, too, should come down to a roster analysis. But, first—rules & conditions per NFL.com:
Wide receivers, tight ends, and defensive backs will compete in an obstacle course in which they complete catches from a jugs machine and the teammates with the lowest combined time will be declared the winners.
This is easy. Give me the team with Justin Jefferson and George Kittle. Ja’Marr Chase might be able to win football games on his own, but he can’t win aggregate-timed skill challenges on his own. And I like that Malik Nabers subbed in as an alternate for the NFC. He’s precisely the sort of guy I’d expect to want to show out at a skills-based obstacle course after getting stonewalled in the regular season standings (purely in terms of wins and losses!).
Ace in the hole for the NFC? Mike Evans, who also subbed in as an alternate. Baker’s there, too. Evans hit his record; the guy might just be there to play free and easy and have fun.
I’m talking myself into thinking this is a must-bet event.
Pro Bowl Satisfying Catches best bet: NFC to win (-115)
Relay Race
This one could be the toughest to evaluate. Rules & conditions:
Four players from each conference compete in a three-round, simultaneous relay. The fastest team wins.
After a thorough analysis of both conference rosters, I give this one to the NFC again. A lot of the AFC alternates who signed on aren’t known for elite speed (Jonnu Smith, Russell Wilson, etc.) and some of the starters like Joe Mixon and Jonathan Taylor are more known for their top-end speed, not necessarily their quick acceleration.
So give me the team that has Jahmyr Gibbs, Bijan Robinson, and Malik Nabers when it comes to speed.
NFC could sweep these games tomorrow; watch out.
Pro Bowl Relay Race best bet: NFC to win (-115)
