Rams vs. Bengals Super Bowl 56 Touchdown Props: Odds & Picks

.One of the most popular bets for any game, let alone the Super Bowl, is the first touchdown scorer bet. It’s a pretty simple concept, all you have to do is pick the first player to score a touchdown. That player has to be the one to take the ball into the end zone, so if you were to bet on Joe Burrow or Matthew Stafford, they would have to score on rushing or receiving touchdown, not a passing touchdown. This bet is fun because it can end quickly or you can go the entire game without a touchdown being scored, as was the case in a Sunday Night Football game when the Saints shut out the Buccaneers 9-0. One important note about touchdown props: There are a lot of options for a game like this, so make sure you’re betting the right prop. Some books will lump first touchdown, last touchdown and anytime touchdown into one section. Some books will allow you to bet on who will score first for a given team, which is a different prop. We have more Super Bowl betting tips to steer you in the right direction.

Super Bowl 56 First Touchdown Scorer Odds

It should come as no surprise that Cooper Kupp is the favorite across the board, followed by the two lead running backs. Kupp was the best receiver in the NFL from anywhere on the field this year. That carried over to the red zone where he led the league in targets, catches and touchdowns. Only DK Metcalf and Marvin Jones Jr. had a higher red-zone target percentage this year than Kupp. It makes sense why running backs are near the top of the board when they’re more likely to get the ball inside the 10-yard line.

First Touchdown Trends

I prefer to take bigger swings with my first touchdown bets because it’s an unpredictable market where things need to go your way to win. Take the Rams for example. They scored the first touchdown of the game 12 times this season. Kupp is clearly their top target and yet he only scored the first touchdown of a game twice this season, as did three of his teammates—Tyler Higbee, Sony Michel and Odell Beckham Jr. (in fewer games).

If you like trends, the Rams have scored the first touchdown of the game in their last four games. As far as the Bengals go, they scored the first touchdown of the game eight times this season. Ja'Marr Chase is between the fourth- or fifth-favorite on the board depending on the book, but he’s yet to score the first touchdown in a game this season, although he’s been the Bengals’ first touchdown scorer twice.

Times Scoring the Game’s First TD This Season

• 2: Odell Beckham Jr., Tyler Boyd, Tyler Higbee, Sony Michel, C.J. Uzomah, Cooper Kupp
• 1: Bengals D/ST, Kendall Blanton, Joe Burrow, Chris Evans, Darrell Henderson, Tyler Higbee, Van Jefferson, Samaje Perine, Robert Woods

Times Scoring Team’s First TD This Season

• 5: Joe Mixon
• 4: Van Jefferson, Cooper Kupp
• 3: Ja'Marr Chase, Tyler Higbee, Sony Michel, C.J. Uzomah
• 2: Odell Beckham Jr., Tyler Boyd, Darrell Henderson Jr., Tee Higgins, Samaje Perine
• 1: Chris Evans, Bengals D/ST, Kendall Blanton, Joe Burrow, Robert Woods

First Touchdown Scorer Picks

Odell Beckham Jr.

+1000 at BetMGM

With Tyler Higbee’s status up in the air because of a knee injury, it’s hard to find value on the board. Kendall Blanton stepped up admirably in Higbee’s absence in the NFC Championship Game and did cash a first touchdown ticket against the Cardinals in the Super Wild Card round, but his price is too short for my liking. If you can get 10-1 on Odell Beckham Jr., those are good odds. He’s caught 83% of the passes Matthew Stafford has thrown to him in the playoffs, building a nice rapport in short order. As mentioned, Kupp is likely to see more targets, but Beckham Jr. is a nice option given how much of an impact he’s made on this offense.

Tyler Boyd

+1800 at DraftKings

Tyler Boyd is a value play at this price. C.J. Uzomah says he’s going to play on Sunday, but he has a sprained MCL, so it’s fair to wonder how effective he’s going to be. If Uzomah is limited, Joe Burrow might spread his target share out to the backup tight end Drew Sample, but Sample hasn’t played a ton this year. The Bengals are likely going to try and get the ball out quickly to help a shaky offensive line against the Rams pass rush so slot receiver Boyd should have an opportunity to make some catches. He has a 12.5% target share in the red zone, tied with Uzomah and Joe Mixon for third on the team. He’s also reliable when the ball comes his way, catching 71.4% of passes thrown to him in the red zone.

Joe Burrow & Matthew Stafford

Burrow: +4000 at BetMGM

Stafford: +6600 at BetMGM

Nobody is going to confuse either quarterback for Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen as rushers, but quarterbacks have the ball in their ends on every snap so there’s always a chance they could score. I prefer Burrow to Stafford in this prop. He’s a more mobile quarterback and he’s probably going to have to use his legs to evade the Rams' pass rush. At 30-1 or higher, Burrow is a great option. I’m not so keen on Stafford as an option in comparison, but the 66-1 price is just too good to pass up. Stafford isn’t a complete statue and had rushing touchdowns in each of his first two playoff games this year. If you can get that price, it’s worth the swing.