The NFL playoffs are the most wonderful time of the year for sports bettors.
But there’s more to betting the postseason than just moneyline and against-the-spread picks. It’s also the time to cash in on player props since so many of the NFL’s best players will be showcasing their stuff for the world to see.
Today we’ll examine Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, who will make his first postseason start against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday.
Jalen Hurts Wild Card Prop Bets
Over 49.5 Rushing Yards (-114) at BetRivers
Wager: 2 units
This game is expected to come down to Philadelphia’s run offense, which ranked first in the NFL in average yards per game (159.7), against Tampa Bay’s vaunted run defense, which gave up the third-fewest yards per game (92.5).
Philadelphia had 100 yards rushing in its 28-22 loss to the Buccaneers in Week 6, but Tampa Bay dominated the time of possession, 39:56-20:04. Translation: Hurts and the Eagles will need to establish a run game early to keep Tom Brady and the Buccaneers’ high-octane offense off the field.
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Hurts is a huge part of Philadelphia’s run game. He has topped 50 yards rushing in eight of his 15 games, despite the fact he only had 44 yards in the teams’ first meeting and has been held to 89 rushing yards over his past three games.
He should easily surpass 50 yards this weekend, due to his ability to scramble on broken-down passing plays and run-pass options. The Eagles also seemed to figure out Tampa Bay’s defense in the second half of their last meeting, and Hurts exploited it with 24 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
The Buccaneers will undoubtedly cede scrambling opportunities to him if they are ahead in the second half.
Best NFL Wild Card Prop Bets to Make
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Under 1.5 Passing Touchdowns (-265) at BetRivers
Wager: 1 unit
If the Eagles offense is successful they will be running the ball, since they had 25 rushing touchdowns and Hurts only threw for 16 scores during the regular season. He had just three TDs in his past five games, and Hurts sat out Philadelphia’s Week 18 loss to the Dallas Cowboys to prepare for this Wild Card game.
The Buccaneers are a bend-but-don’t-break pass defense, allowing the 12th-most passing yards (4,062), but they finished tied for 18th in passing touchdowns allowed (26). The Eagles also love running the ball near the goal line and have had success, posting six rushing touchdowns in their past four games.
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Over 198.5 Passing Yards (-115) at BetRivers
Wager: 0.5 unit
The Eagles may want to run the ball, but they will have to complete more than a few big plays in the passing game to run with the defending champions. Philadelphia’s receivers are suspect, but Hurts is likely to take advantage of soft coverage if the Eagles are trailing in the second half.
Hurts completed just 12 passes for 115 yards in the teams’ first meeting, with No. 2 receiver Jalen Reagor held without a catch, despite drawing a pair of long pass interference penalties. Hurts has posted 199-or-more passing yards in three straight games, granted that was against the New York Giants and two games against the Washington Football Team.
Tampa Bay is also surrendering about 239 passing yards per game, meaning Hurts should be able to surpass 200 on Sunday.
Anytime TD Scorer (+185) at BetRivers
Wager: 0.5 unit
Hurts had 10 rushing touchdowns during the regular season, including two against Tampa Bay in their Week 6 meeting, and Philadelphia runs a heavily run-pass option offense, particularly near the goal line.
Hurts’ unique ability to break contain, coupled with the Eagles’ unconventional offense, should set him up for a short-yardage scoring scamper Sunday.
Best NFL Wild Card Prop Bets to Play
Check out the best NFL player prop bets this week with our props comparison tool, including projections to help you make the best decisions.
Click “Place Bet" to unlock the associated sportsbook’s welcome offer and place your bet. Select the game you want to highlight, including Jalen Hurts props.
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