Expert NFL and College Football Picks for Quarterback Battle Props Odds
The football season is just around the corner! I know there are a lot of fans excited to watch their favorite team or teams, and many of you are excited to put some money down and try to build your bankroll as well.
Bookmaker.eu has put up odds on some of the most highly-anticipated quarterback battles in both the NFL and college football. This gives bettors an option to try to make some cash even before the season gets underway. Keep in mind that these odds can change quickly, so if you see value on any betting option available, you'll want to move on it right away.
Let's take a look at a few of them and I'll give some predictions on who I think the betting value is on at this time.
NFL
Denver Broncos Starting Quarterback - Trevor Siemian (-210) Paxton Lynch (+160)
Denver has had a hard time finding a quarterback to stick with since John Elway retired. Now, it is up to Elway and the Broncos coaching staff to figure out who they want to move forward with under center.
Trevor Siemian fits the Broncos offensive scheme the best in my opinion. Paxton Lynch looks less comfortable out there. And while some would argue his upside is higher, Lynch played against lesser competition in college and that didn't do him any favors.
Prediction: Siemian
New York Jets Starting Quarterback - Josh McCown (-130) Christian Hackenburg (+120) Bryce Petty (+2,000)
First of all, let's just be honest, things aren't looking very good for your team if they can't come up with an option better than these three guys. The Jets are in for a long season, and it is hard to see any of these quarterbacks being very productive, especially when they aren't surrounded by very much talent.
Bryce Petty has never really been given a serious chance here, so I'll discount him. Josh McCown has played some decent football in the NFL before, and I have to think that gives him the edge to start the season under center. Hackenburg is a guy who struggled badly to meet expectations at Penn State, and until he proves something more on the field I'm going to think his upside is limited. Note that all of these guys are likely to get a chance this year, but I think McCown will be first up.
Prediction: McCown
College Football
North Carolina Tar Heels Starting Quarterback - Brandon Harris (+115) Nathan Elliot (+145) Chazz Surratt (+800) Logan Byrd (+1,400)
Brandon Harris definitely has the most experience of these guys, but he never proved a whole lot while at LSU. The team might go with him, but I think that limits their upside. Elliot was technically Trubisky's backup last year, but he threw a grand total of nine passes, so it is hard to consider that much of an edge on anyone else.
Chazz Surratt has wowed with his arm strength and mobility in camp. Surratt is a freshman, so he could easily be seen as a guy for the future. However, because his upside is the greatest, I think there is value on him. I'll take a big plus-money price on him.
Prediction: Surratt
Michigan Wolverines Starting Quarterback - Wilton Speight (-400) Brandon Peters (+325) John O'Korn (+5,000)
Jim Harbaugh knows quarterbacks, and he seemed to like Wilton Speight a lot last year. Even when Speight was injured late in the year, Harbaugh continued to play him over O'Korn. I don't think O'Korn has any shot at being the starter from day one.
Peters is a guy with a lot of upside, but I think Harbaugh will settle on Speight in this battle, at least to start the season. Speight did a great job managing the game last year up until his turnover problems late in the season. Keep in mind, though, Speight wasn't even close to 100 percent healthy for those games.
Prediction: Speight
Texas A&M Aggies Starting Quarterback- Jake Hubenak (+145) Nick Starkel (+185) Kellen Mond (+235)
There is a significant amount of pressure on Kevin Sumlin to come through with a big season this year. The problem for him is that this Texas A&M team clearly has less talent than some of the Aggies teams from the past few seasons.
Hubenak is the senior, so he's the betting favorite, but I don't see him as a guy with a high ceiling. Mond was the second-ranked dual-threat quarterback in the country last year, so he certainly has a chance to get the job. Starkel redshirted last year, and he knows the system better. This one is the most wide open of them all, but I'll take Starkel here.
Prediction: Starkel
Virginia Tech Hokies Starting Quarterback- Josh Jackson (-140) AJ Bush (+300) Hendon Hooker (+350)
Justin Fuente did a great job in his first year at Virginia Tech, leading the team to a 10-4 record. Fuente was definitely helped by having a tremendous quarterback in Jerrod Evans. Evans is gone, and now they are looking to find the right replacement.
I give Josh Jackson a really good shot at getting the job here. Fuente spoke extremely highly of him last year before the season, and there was even talk of him winning the job above Evans. Eventually, Jackson redshirted, and that was the right decision. Hendon Hooker was great in the spring game, so he has to be considered as a possibility. I think it is less likely Bush will get the nod here because he doesn't have as many years of eligibility left. Jackson is the clear leader in my book.
Prediction: Jackson
Other Odds Available:
NFL- Texans Starting Quarterback- Tom Savage (-320) Deshaun Watson (+280) Brandon Weeden (+4,000)
College Football- Texas Longhorns Starting Quarterback- Shane Buechele (-850) Sam Ehlinger (+560)
Auburn Starting Quarterback- Jarrett Stidham (-750) Sean White (+500)
Baylor Starting Quarterback- Zach Smith (-250) Anu Solomon (+200)
Clemson Starting Quarterback- Kelly Bryant (-126) Hunter Johnson (+161) Zerrick Cooper (+808)
Florida Starting Quarterback- Malik Zaire (-109) Feleipe Franks (+235) Luke Del Rio (+490) Kyle Trask (+1329)
Miami Starting Quarterback- Malik Rosier (-190) N'Kosi Perry (+205) Evan Shirreffs (+330) Cade Weldon (+550)
Pittsburgh Starting Quarterback- Max Browne (-375) Ben DiNucci (+280)
Tennessee Starting Quarterback- Quinten Dormady (-275) Jarrett Guarantano (+215)
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Read more articles by Aaron Smith
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