Matt Bowen
Close
- Matt Bowen is a fantasy soccer and NFL author for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2015, writes commonly for ESPN+ and spent a number of years on “NFL Matchup.” After graduating from the University of Iowa, Matt performed security in the NFL for St. Louis, Green Bay, Washington and Buffalo over seven seasons.
Multiple Authors
Betting the Super Bowl is difficult, even should you observe the league persistently. I get it. Examining personnel, offensive developments and the protection or strain schemes that may influence the remaining numbers is so much — and all of it issues.
However, there’s a neater path right here once we focus solely on the quarterbacks in this matchup. New England Patriots QB Drake Maye is an MVP candidate. As is the Seattle Seahawks’ Sam Darnold. Both are former first-rounders, one thriving in simply his second season, the different a veteran enjoying a few of the finest soccer of his profession along with his fifth staff in eight seasons.
So, let’s break down the quarterbacks, beginning with their respective abilities and offensive programs, and lay out our greatest bets for each in Super Bowl LX.
Note: Odds by DraftKings Sportsbook
and topic to change.
Drake Maye
Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has confirmed to be a menace with each his arm and his legs. AP Photo/John Locher
An correct thrower who delivers the ball with exact location, Maye accomplished a league-best 72.0% of his passes throughout the common season in Josh McDaniels’ system. With schemed ideas that open voids in the center of the subject, plus the catch-and-run targets, Maye can play on rhythm whereas utilizing his high-end pocket mobility to reset his throwing window when he will get pressured. And given his dual-threat traits, Maye produces on designed carries whereas creating battle for defenses on scramble makes an attempt, having posted 450 dashing yards this season and one other 141 up to now in the playoffs.
Betting Super Bowl 60
• Buzz: Biggest Super Bowl bets up to now
• Early bets | Trends, up to date odds
• Anytime Touchdowns: Who will rating?
• Seahawks favored over Patriots
LX protection | Betting house
Best bets for Maye
OVER 19.5 completions (-108)
The Seahawks are a heavy Cover-2 protection, enjoying it on league-high 33.1% of opponent dropbacks. That shell protection limits vertical routes, nevertheless it additionally permits quarterbacks to take the throws which can be out there beneath. Maye averaged 20.8 completions this season, and he could possibly be pressured to throw with extra quantity if New England trails in the second half.
OVER 39.5 dashing yards (-114)
Maye rushed for 65 yards in opposition to Denver in the AFC Championship Game and has topped the 40-yard mark in three of his final 4 video games. He performs with actually good ball-carrier imaginative and prescient when he breaks include, and I imagine he’ll want to make some difference-making performs as a runner to win vital moments versus this Seattle protection.
Anytime TD (+320)
Let’s take a shot right here, given the juice at +320. Maye rushed for 4 touchdowns in the common season, and he added one other rating in the AFC title recreation on a designed carry (QB draw). McDaniels can scheme for his quarterback in the low pink zone space of the subject.
Sam Darnold
Sam Darnold appears to have discovered a house in Klint Kubiak’s offensive system in Seattle. AP Photo/Stephen Brashear
Darnold is a straightforward match in coordinator Klint Kubiak’s offense, a system that mirrors each the run and the cross recreation on the broad zone motion. This permits Darnold to play on schedule at a better charge, utilizing outlined reads to discover second- and third-level voids, and he has an elite goal in broad receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Plus, with Darnold’s mobility, he can get on the edges on boot ideas, and Kubiak can even arrange his quarterback for vertical shot performs.
Editor’s Picks
1 Related
Darnold accomplished 67.7% of his throws in the common season (sixth finest in the league) and topped the 4,000-yard passing mark. While Darnold nonetheless makes some questionable choices with the ball late in the down, Kubiak can work to preserve him on rhythm versus New England.
Best bets for Darnold
Longest completion OVER 35.5 yards (-115)
Darnold had two completions of 40 or extra yards in the NFC Championship Game and 17 this season of at the very least 36 yards (together with the playoffs). As I stated above, Kubiak will scheme these vertical throws. Take your photographs to Smith-Njigba and Rashid Shaheed right here.
Start a free fantasy baseball league
The 2026 fantasy baseball season is right here! Get the gang again collectively, or begin a model new custom.
Start or reactivate a league >>
OVER 2.5 dashing makes an attempt (+106)
Darnold had solely 35 dashing makes an attempt in the common season (2.1 per recreation). However, can we get one scramble out of Darnold, plus a pair kneel-downs at the finish of the half or finish of the recreation? Remember, these kneel-downs depend as dashing makes an attempt. And I’m taking Seattle to win. Let’s make this wager.
OVER 1.5 landing passes (-122)
Darnold threw a number of landing passes in eight regular-season video games, and he dropped three on the Rams in the NFC Championship Game. I like this wager due to Kubiak’s capability to script ideas in the excessive pink zone, and Smith-Njigba can create his personal separation when the Patriots play man protection.
One extra bonus wager…
Maye/Darnold mixed 450+ cross yards (-119)
Yes, we’re two superb defenses in this matchup. But this quantity feels low, so let’s get in on this now earlier than it begins to climb nearer to recreation day. This season, Maye averaged 258.5 passing yards per recreation, whereas Darnold checked in at 238.1.
