Player Props and Super Bowl Specials: What Punters Are Watching Early

Even in the NFL off-season, betting markets stay active. Super Bowl LX may be months away, but early odds on player props and team futures offer chances to spot value and gauge sentiment before kickoff. This year’s Super Bowl markets are especially packed—with everything from MVP futures to novelty bets on the board. Here’s what punters are already tracking ahead of the 2025–26 campaign.

Super Bowl Futures: Who’s Topping the Early Odds?

Futures markets are often the first stop for punters once the previous season wraps up. For Super Bowl 60, the Philadelphia Eagles currently lead the board at 13/2, followed closely by the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens, both at 15/2. The Kansas City Chiefs open at 8/1, with the Detroit Lions at 10/1 and the Los Angeles Rams priced at 18/1.

These odds reflect early confidence in rosters and off-season developments. But they’re far from final. Pre-season form, injuries, and tactical shifts can all alter the outlook dramatically.

Early focus often includes:

Value movement: Teams like the Lions or Rams could see their odds shorten with strong starts,
Squad updates: A key injury to a quarterback can reshape the market overnight,
Market trends: Following shifts in pricing provides valuable betting insights into both public perception and bookmaker sentiment.

Player Props: Tracking Individual Performance Early

While outright markets attract plenty of attention, player props are increasingly popular—especially around the Super Bowl. These allow punters to back individual performances during the play-offs or in the big match itself.

Common Super Bowl player props include:

First touchdown scorer,
Total passing yards,
Receiving and rushing yard milestones,
Super Bowl MVP,
Interception totals,
Anytime touchdown scorer.

The appeal is in the detail. Rather than relying on team outcomes, player props reward those who accurately forecast key individual statistics. Quarterbacks like Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, and Lamar Jackson usually feature near the top of early MVP or yardage markets. On the receiving end, A.J. Brown, Ja’Marr Chase, and Stefon Diggs are among the early favourites for major categories.

Novelty Specials: Beyond the Final Score

One of the more entertaining aspects of Superbowl betting is the variety of novelty markets available. While some are light-hearted—like predicting the coin toss or colour of the post-game sports drink—others involve actual game dynamics.

Early novelty-style markets may include:

Will there be a successful 2-point conversion?
Will a defensive or special teams touchdown be scored?
Total number of accepted penalties,
Number of total pass attempts by both teams.

These types of markets combine fun with informed decision-making. Past Super Bowl trends often guide predictions here, especially when evaluating match-up histories and coaching styles.

Point Spreads and Moneylines: How They Work

When the final match-up is confirmed, bookmakers release full game lines—including point spreads, moneylines, and over/under totals. Until then, punters keep tabs on projected lines and early forecasts.

Here’s a quick reminder of how Super Bowl point spreads function:

The favourite is given a minus figure (e.g. -6.5), which means they must win by more than that margin,
The underdog is given a plus figure (e.g. +6.5), which allows them to lose by less than the spread—or win outright—for the bet to land,
If the final margin equals the spread, the outcome is a push and stakes are returned.

Moneyline odds offer a different approach. They focus solely on the match result:

A favourite listed at -150 means a punter would need to stake £150 to return £100,
An underdog listed at +300 returns £300 for every £100 staked if they win.

As the season progresses, these numbers shift. Following betting news and market sentiment helps punters find the best price before public money or injury updates push the line.

Why Markets Shift Before the Match-Up Is Set

The Super Bowl line doesn’t just change once the teams are locked in. Throughout the season, prices shift based on a wide range of factors:

Late-season form: A surprise winning streak or upset result can shorten a team’s futures price,
Player fitness: A returning quarterback or key injury can significantly alter prop and outright markets,
Public backing: Teams with large fan bases often see their odds adjusted based on betting volume, not just on-field performance.

These shifts give smart punters the chance to spot value early. Waiting too long can mean a less favourable price by the time the post-season arrives.

Tracking Super Bowl Odds All Year Round

For serious bettors, the Super Bowl market is a year-round focus. Monitoring futures throughout the off-season and early fixtures helps identify underpriced teams or emerging prop trends.

Sportsbook platforms help facilitate this approach. With up-to-date specials, evolving player props, and intuitive odds formatting, it’s easier to stay ahead of public sentiment and adjust betting strategy accordingly.

When combined with consistent research and attention to line movement, following these markets from early summer into January and February becomes part of a broader long-game strategy.

What to Monitor in the Months Ahead

As the regular season approaches, several early signals are worth watching:

The Eagles’ form: As the early favourites, any injuries or poor performances could reshape the futures market,
Quarterback rotations: A struggling starter or breakout performance could heavily influence player props and game lines,
Defensive units: Dominant defensive teams often generate more betting interest in special markets such as safeties or total turnovers.

Add in coaching changes and rookie performances, and it’s easy to see how early prep can lead to more informed betting.

Early Preparation Means Better Betting Decisions

The Super Bowl remains the centrepiece of the NFL season—but for bettors, the process starts long before the teams arrive. Tracking team futures, studying player props, and following line movements across the calendar allows for smarter, more strategic wagering.

For punters looking to stay ahead, timing is everything. Many of the best opportunities appear well before kick-off. Those paying attention to the subtle shifts in odds and performance trends are often the ones with the clearest edge come February.

And with markets already open and evolving by the week, now is the time to start watching. Because sometimes, the sharpest Super Bowl bet isn’t the one placed on the day—it’s the one placed when no one else is looking.

Author Profile

Adam Regan: Deputy Editor

Features and account management. 3 years media experience. Previously covered features for online and print editions.

Email Adam@MarkMeets.com