Originally posted on 02/11/2024:

There is a fair catch rule now. KC kickoff touchback this year 83% and SF 62%.




Opening kick to be a touchback – no
This prop needs to be credited to fellow Sporting Life NFL contributor Ross Williams – who has had great success with this bet over the years.

A huge 49 of the 57 Super Bowl opening kickoffs were returned, including 26 of the last 30. The only four to result in a touchback over the last three decades were kicked indoors.

Pat McAfee has shared insight as to why Super Bowl kicks have such a high propensity of being returned – as kickers are usually seen handling the ball ahead of the game, allowing them to ‘break in’ the leather of the ball.

However, at the Super Bowl, the ball is carried out fresh, ready to be kicked away before being collected for preservation in the Hall of Fame, meaning it is supposedly much harder to kick. This means the ball will not travel as far – so a return is more likely.