Barkley betting: Historic season leading to all-time high rushing props
Eagles running back Saquon Barkley is having a historic season, forcing oddsmakers to post unprecedented rushing lines to keep up with the MVP candidate's production.
Barkley's 124.5-yard rushing prop for Sunday's NFC championship against the Commanders is the highest rushing total in the last three seasons at theScore Bet and ESPN Bet.
The former Giant soared over his rushing prop last week against the Rams. He accumulated 205 yards on the ground as snow piled up, rushing for the fifth-most yards in a game in playoff history. He also cleared his rushing prop against the Packers in the wild-card round.
Sportsbooks can't keep pace with Barkley, who's exceeded his rushing total in 15 of 18 games this season. Bettors are taking notice. Over 80% of the bets on this prop and over 90% of the handle (money wagered) back Barkley to rush for at least 125 yards this weekend. He's also a popular bet to score a touchdown. Barkley has the shortest odds to reach the goal line at -250, but he's still garnered 34% of bets and 42% of the handle in the anytime touchdown market.
He's scored touchdowns in nine of the 18 games he's played. In the nine games he reached the end zone, Barkley scored multiple touchdowns in six of them. He's +200 to score two touchdowns Sunday.
The favorite to win Offensive Player of the Year ran for 2,005 yards during the regular season, becoming the ninth player in NFL history to eclipse 2,000 rushing yards. He averaged 125 rushing yards per game.
Philly continuously feeds Barkley regardless of whether opposing defenses stack the box or play a normal four-man front. Barkley finds holes behind the NFL's best offensive line and uses his extraordinary lateral movement to create space. He's also showcased his breakout speed with six touchdown runs of at least 60 yards, including two against the Rams in the divisional round.
Expect the Eagles to stick with their run-first approach against a Washington team that allowed the seventh-most rushing yards per game this season. Barkley averaged 148 rushing yards in two previous meetings against the Commanders. He carried the ball at least 26 times in both matchups.
The Commanders lack the defensive personnel to contend with Philadelphia's offensive line or rushing attack, which explains why the Eagles are 6-point home favorites.
While Barkley didn't break the single-season rushing record because he sat in Week 18, he's on pace to break Terrell Davis' 1998 overall rushing record (including playoffs) of 2,476 yards. Barkley has run for 2,329 yards, so he's 148 short. If the Eagles advance to the Super Bowl, Barkley's almost guaranteed to smash Davis' mark.
How high is too high for Barkley's rushing props? Oddsmakers are trying to answer that question. If Barkley surpasses his prop again this Sunday and the Eagles advance, his Super Bowl line could be colossal.
Sam Oshtry is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X @soshtry for more betting coverage.