We are just hours away from Super Bowl LX, where the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks will compete to hoist the Lombardi trophy.
The Seahawks enter as 4.5-point favorites with -238 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Patriots are +195 underdogs, and the game total is set at O/U 44.5 points.
DraftKings Network has you covered from just about every single angle heading into this game. This includes plenty of player, game, and novelty props in addition to game predictions. You can check out my top player prop picks for the matchup here, but this article will look at my favorite long shot bets that I believe are worth taking a swing at.
Patriots vs. Seahawks Best Long Shot Prop Bets
Drake Maye to Record the Most Rushing Yards (+600)
The biggest selling point on the outlook of this bet is that both of these teams have excellent rushing defenses. Seattle has held opponents to the fewest points per game, ranks sixth in total yards allowed, third in total rushing yards allowed, and first in net yards per rush attempt. New England is not far behind, ranking fourth in opponents’ points allowed, eighth in total yards conceded, sixth in rushing yards allowed, and 13th in net yards per rush attempt.
Kenneth Walker III (-175) and Rhamondre Stevenson (+270) arrive as the two favorites in the matchup. Walker holds an over/under of 71.5, Stevenson’s line is set at 47.5, and Maye is projected at 35.5 rushing yards. While both the top running backs will see more opportunities with the ball, it is going to be difficult for either to thrive against these stout defenses.
Maye is a mobile threat who rushed for 450 yards and four touchdowns during the regular season. He averaged 26.5 rushing yards per game, but tallied 40+ rushing yards in five games. The North Carolina product has scaled up his workload with his legs in the postseason, rushing for 65+ yards in two of the three playoff games. His scrambling has been some of the Patriots’ best offense in the playoffs, so expect him to call on his legs to allude the Seahawks’ pass rush.
New England is also an underdog, so there’s a strong chance it plays from behind. Seattle has strong coverage, and the Patriots need Maye to be wise with the football. I am bullish on him taking off for over the 35.5 rushing yard line, and if both defenses can keep the opposing running back in check, the pathway for Maye to lead this game in rushing is there.
Austin Hooper Anytime Touchdown (+900)
Austin Hooper is not a name that will get much buzz heading into the matchup. The 31-year-old tallied just 21 receptions for 263 yards and two touchdowns on the season. However, Hooper has 30 career rushing touchdowns to his name, and this is an intriguing matchup for the Patriots’ TE2.
The Seahawks have leaned on their defense as their blueprint for success all season. They have been excellent against both the run and pass overall. However, one significant weakness is defending opposing tight ends. Across the regular season, Seattle has allowed an average of 6.1 receptions for 63.9 receiving yards per game and have given up six touchdowns to tight ends. In other terms, they allowed the fifth-most receptions and sixth-most receiving yards to opposing tight ends. This carried into the postseason, with 49ers’ tight end Jake Tonges leading the team with 59 receiving yards. Colby Parkinson also added three receptions for 62 yards in the Rams’ matchup.
Hunter Henry will headline the tight end production for the Patriots. But he will also see most of the defensive attention. Henry led the Patriots with seven receiving touchdowns. The Patriots are a bit lacking in red zone weapons, with none of their wide receivers being the biggest goal-line threats. Seattle will be well aware that Henry will be looked at as the top red zone option, but they still hold a weakness in matching up with opposing tight ends. Hooper has just one catch on four targets thus far in the playoffs, but has two playoff touchdowns in his career. The +900 odds rightfully indicate this is a long shot, but I like the matchup advantage, and Hooper has enough of a track record that it feels worth taking the swing on.
Rashid Shaheed to Record Longest Reception of 40+ Yards (+940)
The majority of Rashid Shaheed’s impact will likely come on special teams. The speedster is the punt and kick returner and made his impact felt by taking the opening kickoff for a touchdown against the 49ers. Seattle traded for the former Saints’ standout midseason, and he has provided a legitimate pop to their team.
Shaheed also makes an impact in the offense. Across his eight games with the Seahawks, he has tallied 15 receptions for 188 yards. This comes after spending the first eight games with the Saints, where he tallied 44 receptions for 499 yards and two touchdowns.
Unlike the Seahawks, the Patriots can be vulnerable to big plays. They have given up six plays of 40+ yards already this postseason after allowing six plays of 40 yards across the entire regular season. Shaheed is a boom-or-bust candidate. It has taken some time for him to be incorporated into this Seahawks offense, but this matchup is for all the marbles. If Shaheed gets a chance on offense in this game, it will almost certainly be on a big-play opportunity. A 40+ yard reception is a high bar, but he should get at least one chance at making this type of play. Getting +940 odds for him to pull it off is worth taking a swing in my mind.
