NFL Week 6 Odds, Picks & Predictions: First Touchdown Scorer (2022)
With Week 5 in the rearview mirror, we now look forward to Week 6. The prop market continues to explode in popularity when betting on pro football, which is most likely a direct result of lifelong fantasy football players finally entering the betting landscape as legalization spreads.
Below, I will walk through my favorite first touchdown scorer bets for Week 6. These plays are a half-unit each, or 0.5% of your betting bankroll.
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(Odds Courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
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Irv Smith Jr. (+1600)
The Minnesota Vikings travel to Miami to take on the Dolphins on Sunday as three-point favorites. Last week, Minnesota started the game by throwing the ball relentlessly, which led to great success to begin the contest as they jumped out to a 21-3 lead.
There should be no reason for them to deviate from the pass-heavy game plan as Kirk Cousins went 32/41 for 296 yards. While Miami has a couple of talented individuals in their secondary, they have struggled as a group.
Entering this week, the Dolphins pass defense has allowed the fifth-most passing yards per game and surrendered the fourth-most points per game. While all the attention will be on Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen, we are going to target starting TE Irv Smith Jr. at a juicy 16/1 price.
Smith is third on the team in targets and has one receiving touchdown this season. Meanwhile, the Dolphins have allowed opposing tight ends to score in two of the first five weeks.
Even if Miami gets the ball first, I find It much more probable that Minnesota gets the first touchdown considering that the Dolphins are projected to start their third-string QB.
Breece Hall (+1200)
The New York Jets travel to Green Bay to take on the Packers on Sunday as seven-and-a-half point underdogs. Despite the large spread, we are still targeting them to score the first touchdown via the run.
Rookie RB Breece Hall had his breakout game last week in the Jets’ 40-17 stomping of the Miami Dolphins. In that game, Hall racked up 197 all-purpose yards and added a touchdown on the ground.
Leading the carries by an 18-10 margin over fellow tailback Michael Carter, we can expect this to be Hall’s backfield moving forward after that incredible performance. Whenever you get a starting halfback at 12/1 to score first, It is almost always a must-play.
However, this week is an especially opportunistic situation to take advantage of as the Jets are slated to go against a Packers defense that struggles against the run. Entering this week, Green Bay ranks just 21st in the league in rushing yards allowed per game.
Five of the last seven touchdowns this Packers’ defense has given up were on the ground. If New York gets the ball first, this 12/1 prop will be very much alive.
Best of luck!
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Tony Sartori is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Tony, check out his archive and follow him @tony_sartori.