Shedeur Sanders, the prodigal son of NFL Hall of Famer Deion “Prime Time” Sanders, will make his first start at quarterback in the National Football League in tomorrow’s preseason matchup against the Carolina Panthers.
Sanders entered the NFL Draft last April as a top prospect at QB and was expected to come off the board in the first round. Rumors of poor predraft interviews and unimpressive team visits swirled as numerous quarterbacks were selected ahead of Sanders.
Even the Browns themselves drafted a quarterback ahead of Sanders this year, Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel.
Cleveland’s quarterback room also includes veteran Joe Flacco and recent free agent signee Kenny Pickett. Gabriel, Pickett, and Flacco appear to be ahead of Sanders on the depth chart.
So why is Sanders starting the first preseason game for the Browns? Gabriel and Pickett are nursing hamstring injuries, and coach Kevin Stefanski has opted to rest Flacco for tomorrow night’s contest.
Veteran Tyler Huntley has been signed this week and will likely perform mop-up duty against the Panthers once coaches have seen enough of Sanders.
Shedeur Sanders Betting Odds
Betting on NFL Preseason games is a volatile market due to the constant rotation of mostly unfamiliar players.
In the case of tomorrow night’s game, since the Browns have no real depth at the quarterback position, gamblers can rest assured that Sanders will likely play the entire first half, perhaps longer.
Kevin Stefanski is in no rush to see what Tyler Huntley brings to the team, so this unique scenario allows for more betting confidence than usual.
Despite these assurances, the lowly Panthers are favored to win by just under a touchdown at most NFL sportsbooks we frequent.
Shedeur Sanders Prop Bets vs. Carolina
Since tomorrow’s game could be the last time that Sanders will see the field for significant minutes this season, NFL gambling sites have created a few prop bets to capitalize on the situation.
First Completion Yardage Length
Over 7.5 -125
Under 7.5 -115
Total Interceptions
Over 0.5 +155
Under 0.5 -220
Total Passing Touchdowns
Over 0.5 -110
Under 0.5 -130
Total Passing Yards
Over 110.5 -120
Under 110.5 -120
Total Rushing Yards
Over 11.5 -120
Under 11.5 -120
Will He Complete His First Pass?
Yes -180
No +140
The NFL props are generic in nature and don’t offer any real insight into his performance, other than that his first passing play will likely be a safe one. Still, Sanders has a chance to shine on national television while his competition rests.
Each journey begins with a first step, so tune in tomorrow night at 7 p.m. to see the onset of Shedeur’s career.
