40 Yards of Gold Tournament Odds: John Franklin III Listed as Favorite, Ted Ginn Jr Close Behind

• The 40 Yards of Gold (June 29th) is a sprinting tournament for the fastest players in the NFL
• The event will pit 24 speedsters against each other in head-to-head matchups
• Chicago Bears CB John Franklin III & New Orleans Saints WR Ted Ginn Jr have been listed as the early favorites

It’s a bar-room debate that’s been had as long as taps have flown with beer: who is the fastest player in the NFL?

We can stop debating as of June 29th with the first ever 40 Yards of Gold, a tournament-style speed contest that will answer the question once and for all.  Twelve offensive and twelve defensive players will compete and, thanks to Bookmaker, you can place bets on who will win the tournament plus several head-to-head matchups.

40 Yards of Gold Tournament Winner Odds

*Odds as of 5/27. 

If you’ve never heard of the favorite on the board, John Franklin III, nobody can blame you.  After going undrafted in 2018, he signed with the Chicago Bears but was waived before ever playing a game.

He spent part of the season on the practice squad and, this season, signed a reserve/future contract.  All of that said, if you believe the stories about John Franklin III, you’re actually getting incredible value on a Usain Bolt-like freak athlete.

Vote me as the #1 Seed on Defense in the 40 Yards of Gold All-Star Speed Tournament. Go to:https://t.co/dzlm3cSzCf
on Thursday, May 9 @ 11AM EST to Cast your Vote. @40yardsofgold #GodsofSpeed #JF3 #Chicago #ChicagoBears #Fast #Speed #LastChanceU pic.twitter.com/tSoeiFc381

— John Franklin III (@jf3_5) May 5, 2019

Franklin and his trainer claim he ran a 4.19 40-yard dash in training.  Could that be a lie? Sure. Is the competition steep? Sure.

But at +558, I think it’s more than worth sprinkling some action on a young player who has everything to gain from winning this competition.

While I do believe chasing for the title of fastest player will have many motivated, there’s no denying that a player without a full NFL contract may have a little extra in the tank when it matters most.  My money is with the Bears cornerback.

PICK: John Franklin III (+558)

First-Round Matchup

*odds taken 5/27

Maybe my favorite bet on the board.  New Orleans Saints WR Ted Ginn Jr will take on free agent Jacoby Ford in the first round.

I love the former Ohio State Buckeye in this match up.  Despite being 34 years of age, Ginn has always been known as a burner and, unlike other players who transition to different styles as they age, he is still a deep threat into his mid 30s.

https://twitter.com/40YardsofGold/status/1132650717217460224

The price may look like it’s short on value, but with Ginn being such a clear favorite, I think the correct play is to pony up.  Ginn is the play here.

PICK: Ted Ginn Jr. (-300)

Offense vs Defense

*odds taken 5/27

In the first prop, I said my pick was John Franklin III, a defensive player, and I don’t feel like hedging my bets.

If he doesn’t win, Washington cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie has a decent chance. DRC ran a 4.33 in his draft year and has also been clocked at 4.29.

The reality is all of these players are blazing fast, but I like two defensive players as much or more than I like anyone in this competition, so I’m happy to be getting +105.

Redskins linebacker Reuben Foster was visibly in serious pain and carted off the field after an injury on Monday. pic.twitter.com/Ha6QnT4Owy

— NBC Sports Commanders (@NBCSCommanders) May 20, 2019

Washington fans received some bad news this off-season with the Reuben Foster injury, but maybe  Rodgers-Cromartie winning this event could give them some positive vibes heading into the season.

PICK: Defensive Player (+105)

Anyone Faster Than 4.29?

*odds taken 5/27

There is a lot of pride on the line in this event.  Earning the “fastest player” title would be something any NFLer would love to have. While I don’t expect Pro Bowl-level effort, it’s entirely possible someone runs a time faster than 4.29 seconds.

The record at the NFL combine belongs to WR John Ross who posted a 4.22 back in 2017. He isn’t in the event but it still provides players with a target.

There are 15 races in the individual bracket, giving 30 chances for someone to beat this time. In addition to believing it’s possible, I also want no part of watching this event cheering for the players to run slow.

PICK: Yes (+115)