The ‘Underwear Olympics,’ also known as the NFL Draft Combine, has returned to Indianapolis after getting canceled in 2021. As the Combine has become more of an event, it has become a larger part of the sports betting landscape, too. Some sportsbooks are offering NFL Draft Combine odds for various markets.
Position groups start going through drills on Thursday (i.e., 40-yard dash, bench press reps at 225 lbs., vertical jump, broad jump, etc.). So, there is no time to waste if you want to get in on the betting action at DraftKings and FanDuel!
DraftKings’ NFL Draft Combine Betting Markets
Rather than offer markets on who is the fastest or strongest players, DraftKings has opted to go with over/unders on the various drills players will participate in during the Combine.
If you dig hard enough, you can find past results for guys, but past performance does not always correlate with future performance. Several things can impact how a player does in drills, i.e., injuries, training habits, weight gain/loss, muscle gain/loss, etc. Then, there is the ever-present possibility someone has an exceptionally great day or a bad one.
Be sure to double-check whether a player will take part in drills before placing a bet.
NFL Combine Odds: Anyone To Break 40-Yard Dash Time Combine Record
- Yes (faster than 4.22 seconds) +500
- No -1000
If Derrick Stingley Jr. was taking part in drills at the Combine, there is a chance he could best the record of 4.22 seconds set by John Ross in 2017. Stingley has decided to run drills at LSU’s Pro Day instead.
A couple of guys have talked the talk and claim they either can or have run in the 4.2s (i.e., USC’s Isaac Taylor-Stuart). But without proof, it didn’t happen.
Fastest 40-yard dash time
- Faster than 4.29 seconds -130
- Slower than 4.29 seconds +100
There are a handful of impressive speed demons in this year’s draft class. But expecting any of them to run faster than a 4.29 may be a bit ambitious. According to Pro Football Reference, there have only been four times faster than 4.29 seconds at the last six Combines (one in 2020; two in 2017; and one in 2015).
UTSA defensive back Tariq Woolen has supposedly run a 4.2 before, but his claim can’t be confirmed. A sub-4.29 time would boost someone’s draft stock, but expecting someone to run that fast may be wishful thinking.
Most Bench Press Reps (at 225 lbs.)
- Over 39.5 reps -120
- Under 39.5 reps -110
NFL.com credits former Oregon State defensive tackle Stephen Paea with the record. The big man completed 49 reps at the 2011 Combine. Over the years, several players have completed 40+ reps, but only three have done so over the last five combines.
Odds are also available for the vertical jump, broad jump, 3-cone drill, and 60-yard shuttle run.
FanDuel NFL Draft Combine Odds
FanDuel’s NFL Draft Combine markets focus on the 40-yard dash. Along with the fastest 40-yard dash overall, FanDuel offers markets for the fastest in various position groups, i.e., defensive backs, running backs, offensive linemen, defensive linemen, wide receivers, and Kayvon Thibodeaux vs. Aidan Hutchinson.
Odds To Run Fastest 40-Yard Dash At NFL Combine
| Odds On Fastest 40-Yard Dash At The Combine | FanDuel |
|---|---|
| Calvin Austin III | +350 |
| Tariq Woolen | +470 |
| Kalon Barnes | +600 |
| Daxton Hill | +750 |
| Isaac Taylor-Stuart | +800 |
| Skyy Moore | +800 |
| Jahan Dotson | +1200 |
| Treylon Burks | +2000 |
| Kyler Gordon | +3000 |
| *additional players available at FanDuel.com |
If you believe what you read on the internet, all the players in the table can run in the 4.3s. Of course, most of the times available online date back to high school — and a lot can happen during a college career that might impact a player’s speed.
The favorite, Calvin Austin III, sounds like he could be the guy to go with. According to PFF.com, his fastest laser-timed 40 in high school was a 4.38, but he has been hand-timed in the 4.2s on several occasions. His speed helped him make his name in high school, where he won several state titles in track.
As a walk-on, he has had to work for his roster spot from the first day he stepped foot on campus at Memphis. If his work ethic is half as good as reported, he could be even faster than he was in high school. However, expectations are high for every player listed in the table, and it would not be shocking to see one of them record the fastest time.
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