2020 NFL Draft First Round Odds – Which School/Conference Will Have Most Players Picked? How Many Selected at Each Position?
- You can wager on a variety of first round props for the 2020 NFL Draft
- Alabama and LSU are projected to have the most players taken in the first round, while defensive back is expected to be the position most heavily targeted
- What are the best bets on the board?
The first round of the NFL Draft is still taking place April 23rd, albeit with no fans. With a severe lack of sports to bet on due to the coronavirus pandemic, NFL Draft props will no doubt garner a lot of action.
Fortunately for us, sportsbooks are already out with a variety of first round prop bets for us to evaluate.
Everything from how many players from each position will be drafted, to school-vs-school props are on the board, so let’s dive in and try to find some value.
2020 NFL Draft First Round Props
| Total Players at Each Position Drafted in First Round | Line | Over Odds | Under Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quarterbacks | 4.5 | +170 | -250 |
| Wide Receivers | 5.5 | +110 | -150 |
| Running Backs | 1.5 | +275 | -450 |
| Tight Ends | 0.5 | +300 | -500 |
| Offensive Linemen | 5.5 | -250 | +170 |
| Total Offensive Players | 15.5 | -200 | +150 |
| Defensive Backs | 6.5 | +120 | -160 |
| Defensive Linemen | 6.0 | -130 | -110 |
| Linebackers | 3.5 | +130 | -170 |
| Total Defensive Players | 15.5 | -150 | +110 |
| Total Players from Conference/School Drafted in First Round | Line | Over Odds | Under Odds |
| SEC | 15.5 | -155 | +115 |
| Big Ten | 5.5 | -275 | +185 |
| Big 12 | 3.5 | +155 | -205 |
| ACC | 3.0 | -120 | -120 |
| Pac-12 | 2.5 | +125 | -165 |
| Alabama | 5.5 | -125 | -115 |
| LSU | 5.5 | +185 | -275 |
| Ohio State | 2.5 | +225 | -350 |
| Clemson | 1.5 | -275 | +185 |
| Georgia | 1.5 | +110 | -150 |
| Oklahoma | 2.0 | -185 | +145 |
| Auburn | 1.5 | +160 | -225 |
Odds taken on March 18th
The SEC Still Rules Draft Night
To no one’s surprise, the SEC is expected to produce by far the most draft picks of any conference in the first round. Their over/under is three times higher than the next closest conference (Big Ten), while Alabama and LSU project to have the most players taken on April 23rd, highlighted by the Tigers’ Joe Burrow, who is essentially a lock to go first overall to the Bengals.
Highest-graded offensive players in college football:
1. Penei Sewell, OT – 95.5
2. Joe Burrow, QB – 94.9
3. Josh Jones, OT – 93.5 pic.twitter.com/KLnNO96iCR— PFF College (@PFF_College) March 18, 2020
The Pac-12 meanwhile, has the lowest over/under of any Power 5 conference in the first round, while Clemson, Auburn and Georgia (more on them later) are the biggest programs expected to have the fewest players selected.
For months now, we’ve been hearing how deep the wide receiver class is in this year’s draft, but it’s a pair of defensive positions that are expected to produce the most first round picks. The over/under for defensive backs taken is 6.5, while 6 defensive lineman project to be drafted led by Ohio State’s Chase Young.
Chase Young vs NFL Draft's previous top edge defenders pic.twitter.com/NVHAgv0Oaa
— PFF College (@PFF_College) March 11, 2020
Back the Bulldogs
Of all the potential prop bets listed above, the one that screams value is the total number of Georgia players taken in the first round. D’Andre Swift is arguably the best running back in this entire class and is favored to be the first back taken.
He’s incredibly shifty, boasts excellent speed and is one of the best pass catching RBs in the draft. He’s a surefire first round talent as is one of his offensive linemen.
D'Andre Swift…
77 yards. TO. THE. HOUSE. ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/3GNTrgeYPa
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) November 11, 2018
Andrew Thomas is one of a handful of elite o-line prospects in this year’s draft, and can shore up any team’s guard or tackle position. He’s a dominant run blocker and possesses all the tools to develop into a premier pass blocker. He’s projected to go anywhere from the early teens to the back of the first round, but you won’t find too many scouts who don’t have a first round grade on him.
Pick: Georgia Bulldogs over 1.5 players drafted in first round (+110)
Fade the Big 12
Another prop bet to target is the under on the number of Big 12 players taken in the first round. Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb is one of the best wide receiver prospects and a virtual lock to be a top 15 pick, but after him there are nothing but question marks.
CeeDee Lamb is a game changer with the ball in his hands
26 missed tackles forced this year per @PFF
This looks like a tackling blooper reel pic.twitter.com/daTZwd9ltR
— Connor Rogers (@ConnorJRogers) March 10, 2020
Sooners’ linebacker Kenneth Murray and defensive tackle Neville Gallimore could potentially be Day 1 picks, as could TCU defensive tackle Ross Blacklock and wide receiver Jalen Reagor. Not one of the four is a consensus first round pick however, and each has flaws that teams might not be willing to overlook.
You have to lay a decent amount of juice on this prop, but NFL teams will likely shy away from the Big 12 in the first round, and seek more proven commodities.
Pick: Big 12 under 3.5 players drafted in first round (-205)
2020 NFL Draft First Round Head-to-Head Props
| More First Round Picks | Option 1 Odds | Option 2 Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Big 10 (EVEN) vs Alabama (EVEN) | -185 | +145 |
| Big 12 (-0.5) vs Pac-12 (+0.5) | -185 | +145 |
| ACC (-0.5) vs Pac-12 (+0.5) | -120 | -120 |
| ACC (+0.5) vs Big 12 (-0.5) | -120 | -120 |
| LSU (+0.5) vs Alabama (-0.5) | -165 | +125 |
| Clemson (+0.5) vs Ohio State (-0.5) | -160 | +120 |
| Clemson (+0.5) vs Oklahoma (-0.5) | -160 | +120 |
| Auburn (+0.5) vs Georgia (-0.5) | -240 | +165 |
| Offensive Players (EVEN) vs Defensive Players (EVEN) | -160 | +120 |
| Defensive Linemen (EVEN) vs Offensive Linemen (EVEN) | -155 | +115 |
As far as the head-to-head props go, it’s hard to pass on Georgia over Auburn getting plus money. We’ve already gone over why the Bulldogs are a strong bet to have two players drafted on Day 1, while Auburn will almost certainly only have one.
DERRICK BROWN IS ON THE LOOSE.
(via @CBSSports)pic.twitter.com/aeAtx5RgpL
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 5, 2019
Tigers’ stud defensive tackle Derrick Brown is expected to hear his name called early, but after that only one other Auburn player projects to be a top-50 pick. That honor belongs to edge rusher Marlon Davidson.
The four-year starter is extremely powerful, but didn’t amass a ton of production in college. His combine performance didn’t turn any heads and he’s been criticized for being slow off the ball. He doesn’t profile as a first round pick, so if Swift and Thomas go in the first round, we’ll be cashing two Bulldogs tickets.
Pick: Georgia Bulldogs over Auburn Tigers (+165)
As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.
