The nation's top college football prospects will be center stage at Lucas Oil Field in Indianapolis this week for the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine. They'll be poked, prodded, and pushed to their breaking point as scouts and general managers from all 32 teams size them up from the sidelines in the lead-up to the 2023 NFL Draft.
Fortunately, you don't have to be a professional talent evaluator to get in on the action. Select sportsbooks have released a wide variety of NFL Combine betting markets so you can now wager on players' speed, strength, and athleticism from the comforts of your couch.
I've awoken from my post-Super Bowl hangover and have my top picks ready to go for this year's combine. My analysis — as well as this year's schedule — are below.
NFL Combine Schedule
| Date | Time (ET) | Positions |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, March 2 | 3:00 p.m | DL/LB |
| Friday, March 3 | 3:00 p.m. | DB/ST |
| Saturday, March 4 | 1:00 p.m | QB/WR/TE |
| Sunday, March 5 | 1:00 p.m | RB, OL |
NFL Combine props
There's no shortage of intriguing markets to wager on at this year's combine. All odds below are courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook as of March 2, 2023.
Will anyone break the 40-yard dash record of 4.22 seconds?
| Outcome | Odds |
|---|---|
| Yes | +400 |
| No | -650 |
John Ross set the NFL 40-yard dash record in 2017 by posting a crazy fast 4.22 time, and Baylor’s Tyquan Thornton nearly broke Ross’ record last year at 4.28. However, witnessing those sub-4.3 times is still a rare occurrence.
Only 13 sub-4.3 times have been run since 2013, but some of the candidates who could fall in the 4.2 range are Texas A&M running back Devon Achane, Cincinnati wide receiver Tyler Scott, and TCU WR Derius Davis.
Pick: Yes (+400 at DraftKings)
Most bench press reps
| Outcome | Odds |
|---|---|
| Over 39.5 | -105 |
| Under 39.5 | -125 |
Former Oregon State defensive tackle Stephen Paea is the official bench press record holder, doing it 49 times in 2011. Since then, only three players have broken the 40-rep plateau.
Michigan’s Mazi Smith and Baylor’s Siaki Ika both have incredible strength on tape and it’s even been reported that Smith can do 22 reps at 325 lbs. This makes the Over 39.5 at close to even money very tempting to jump on.
Pick: Over 39.5 (-105 at DraftKings)
Highest vertical jump
| Outcome | Odds |
|---|---|
| Higher than 43.5 inches | -135 |
| Lower than 43.5 inches | +105 |
The vertical jump record at the NFL combine is shared by Donald Washington (2009) and Chris Conley (2015). While a jump of 44 inches or higher has happened in two of the last three combines, there have only been seven official jumps past that total dating back to 2006. The plus money has me leaning toward the Under.
Longest broad jump
| Outcome | Odds |
|---|---|
| Longer than 11'5" | -125 |
| Shorter than 11'5" | -105 |
Byron Jones' broad jump of 12'3" isn’t just a combined record, but an unofficial world record. Not only that, but it’s also a half-foot clear of the next longest jump.
That said, we’ve been getting a lot of big jumps at the combine in recent years. Eleven players have jumped farther than 11'5'' since 2013, and there has been at least one in three of the last five. There is a deep group of athletic receivers and defensive backs in this class, so I'm expecting a big broad jump longer than 11'5" in 2023.
Pick: Longer than 11'5" (-125 at DraftKings)
Fastest 20-yard shuttle
| Outcome | Odds |
|---|---|
| Slower than 3.88 seconds | -115 |
| Faster than 3.88 seconds | -115 |
Current Houston Texans WR Brandin Cooks and former Dolphins DB Jason Allen share the record in the 20-yard shuttle drill at 3.81 seconds.
The Over/Under for this year’s drill is set at 3.88 seconds, but speed records at the combine are tough to break and only six players have run lower than this number dating back to 2006. I think the Under is the safer side when it comes to this prop.
Pick: Slower than 3.88 seconds (-115 at DraftKings)
Fastest 60-yard shuttle
| Outcome | Odds |
|---|---|
| Slower than 10.81 seconds | -120 |
| Faster than 10.81 seconds | -110 |
Brandin Cooks also held the record in the 60-yard shuttle for three years at 10.72 seconds, before West Virginia wideout Shelton Gibson broke his mark in 2017 by a mere 0.01 seconds.
But once again, speed records are tough to one-up, and this year’s Over/Under for the top mark is set at 10.88. Only nine players have run a time faster than that, and just one has gone below that number since 2018. I’d lean to the Under once again.
Pick: Slower than 10.81 seconds (-120 at DraftKings)
