Get (and Bet) Defensive in Cross-Sport Parlays

· Feb 09 - 5 minutes read

Much of the attention heading into Sunday’s Super Bowl 58 is focused on the offensive players for the San Francisco 49ers with Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey and Co. listed by the BetUS sportsbook as the favorite to take down Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs.

However, Kansas City finished second in the NFL in total defense during the regular season, allowing just 298.8 yards per game. San Francisco was eighth in total defense. The Chiefs and 49ers finished second and third in total defense as well so keep that in mind when looking at the football prop bet options.

Get (and Bet) Defensive in Cross-Sport Parlays

We are focusing on the defense as we look at some enticing cross-sport options that could be used for a three-legged parlay.

The Chiefs are listed by the NFL betting lines as the two-point underdogs against San Francisco in Super Bowl LVIII. The game is set for Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET at Allegiant Stadium, the home of the Las Vegas Raiders. The Super Bowl will be televised by CBS.

Keep on reading for some solid prop bets this week on the defensive side of the ball.

NFL vs NHL Cross-Sport Parlay

The Montreal Canadiens have some defensive issues, there is no question about that. However, not even the Canadiens figure to allow more shots on goal against the St. Louis Blues than the San Francisco 49ers will have total tackles in the Super Bowl.

San Francisco recorded 43 solo tackles and another 26 assists in the win over the Detroit Lions as Detroit ran six more offensive plays than the 49ers did.

It would take some doing for the St. Louis Blues to go over that number when the Blues play the Montreal Canadiens. Montreal has allowed the second-most goals among Eastern Conference teams, but it would take a complete defensive meltdown for Montreal to approach 60 shots on goal allowed.

In 13 games since the start of January, the Blues average 24.7 shots on goal. Even if you factor in the 141 missed shots during that stretch, it would be pretty hard for the Blues to manage more shots against the Sabres than the 49ers have tackles against the Chiefs.

Go with the 49ers in this prop bet to have more tackles than the Blues have shots on goal.

Picks: 49ers total tackles (-135) vs St. Louis Blues Shots on Goal

Rookie Safety Brown Ready to Deliver ‘Premier’ Hits

The injury to star 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga opened up the opportunity for third-round pick Ji’Ayir Brown to see extended playing time as a rookie.

Ji’Ayir Brown clocking in for work

🎥: @49ers pic.twitter.com/OjXCUNVedP

— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) February 7, 2024

The former Penn State defensive back recorded a career-high 10 tackles in San Francisco’s win over the Detroit Lions in the NFC Championship, and much of those numbers can be attributed to the use of rookie tight end Sam LaPorta in the passing game.

Kansas City certainly will feature tight end Travis Kelce in the Super Bowl so Brown is among the players who could see plenty of Kelce.

Brown’s season high for tackles in the regular season was six and that seems more like the range he will land in against the Chiefs.

He is priced at -115 by the BetUS sportsbook to have more total tackles than there will be total goals scored in the West Ham United-Arsenal and Aston Villa-Manchester United soccer games.

Arsenal is third in the English Premier League with 47 goals scored in 23 matches and are tied for the fewest goals (22) conceded.

Looking at the combined goals scored for these four teams, Aston Villa leads the way at 3.4 followed by West Ham (3.1), Arsenal (3.0) and Manchester United (2.7).

An average game would result in six goals combined being scored in those two matches so go with Brown to top that mark.

Picks: 49ers safety Ji’Ayir Brown (-115) to have more tackles than goals in two Premier League games

White Could Be Right Price for NFL vs NBA Parlay

Both Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs and Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers have thrown some passes in the playoffs that could have resulted in interceptions. They could put the ball at risk in the Super Bowl as well as both teams have aggressive offensive play callers.

Other than a head-scratching loss to the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers by the Celtics, guard Derrick White has been dialing long distance for Boston in recent games.

He had four 3-pointers in wins against New Orleans, Indiana and Memphis and, in his last game, he hit five 3-pointers against Atlanta.

In Kansas City’s first three playoff games this season, the Chiefs have four takeaways and two giveaways. San Francisco has three takeaways and one giveaway in its two postseason contests, so go with White to have more 3-pointers in Sunday’s matchup with the Miami Heat. That carries a -135 moneyline compared to -105 NFL odds for the Super Bowl to have more combined turnovers.

Picks: Celtics guard Derrick White (-135) to have more 3-pointers vs Miami than there will be turnovers in the Super Bowl

Bet on This Sport Parlay

Questions of the Day

Who are the top defensive players who could figure into the Super Bowl player props?

San Francisco is led by linebacker Fred Warner, defensive end Nick Bosa and rookie safety Ji’Ayir Brown while linebackers Nick Bolton and Drue Tranquill join safety Justin Reid as the top tacklers in the postseason for the Chiefs.