2026 Senior Bowl Predictions: Betting Picks & NFL Draft Stock Risers from Practice Week

One of the marquee events of NFL draft season comes to an end on Saturday with a matchup between the National and American rosters, and my 2026 Senior Bowl predictions are siding with the team that had noticeably better QB play during practice.

The National team is a 1.5-point betting favorite for Saturday's 2:30 p.m. ET (NFL Network) kick from Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Ala. Alongside my Senior Bowl best bets, I also highlight the biggest winners and practice standouts from the three days of practices.

📊 2026 Senior Bowl predictions & odds

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💰 Senior Bowl preview: Best bet & betting analysis

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American ML (+100)

All-star games are tough to bet given the circumstances, but the best bet is to go with the team with the better group of QBs. That's hands down the American roster, which has arguably the most talented QB (Garrett Nussmeier), the QB who had the most consistent week of practice (Luke Altmyer), and the most athletic QB (Taylen Green).

The American roster also has a deeper wide receiver corps and the running back who looked the best throughout practice (Mike Washington Jr.).

Both teams have comparable talent in the trenches (the O-line and D-line were the strongest groups in practice).

Score predictions: American 21, National 17

🎥 Senior Bowl practice standouts: Top NFL draft stock risers

Want more on this year's NFL draft? Check out our 2026 NFL mock draft 1.0.

National offense: Gennings Dunker (OT), Iowa

The best practice performers this week on the National roster all reside on the offensive line, from Kansas State center Samuel Hecht to Georgia Tech guard Keylan Rutledge to multiple offensive tackles. Chief among them, though, was the redhead, mullet-and moustache-wearing, coffee-drinking All-Big Ten tackle from Iowa.

Gennings Dunker won the week for the National offense both on and off the field, with his balance in pass protection and movement skills in the run game standing out. Dunker came into the week viewed as a potential top 100 pick and only helped himself.

National defense: Kyle Louis (LB), Pitt/Jacob Rodriguez (LB), Texas Tech

The National roster ended up with one of the best linebacker corps any Senior Bowl side has had in recent memory. Most years, the week of practice Oregon's Bryce Boettcher had would have earned him praise, but he was overshadowed by two all-time practice weeks from Pitt's Kyle Louis and Texas Tech's Jacob Rodriguez.

Louis was like a Tasmanian devil all week, flying around the field and attacking the football. His ability to change directions made him a complete terror in coverage. Meanwhile, Rodriguez was just a ball magnet. Not a shocker considering he picked off four passes and forced seven fumbles this past season. Both could end up going on Day 2.

American offense: Max Iheanachor (OT), Arizona State

In a week full of offensive linemen shining against a deep group of defensive linemen, the consensus was that Arizona State's Max Iheanachor is the most talented offensive lineman in Mobile this year. Iheanachor was a star in one-on-ones thanks to his ability to mirror pass rushers with his light feet and lateral quickness.

Iheanachor was viewed as arguably the top senior offensive tackle entering the week, but he could be a top-50 selection in April if he tests well at the NFL Scouting Combine. The 6-foot-6, 325-pounder was so good in pass protection that it even provoked a punch from Michigan's Derrick Moore. 

American defense: Zion Young (EDGE), Missouri

As a whole, the defensive linemen lived up to the hype at the Senior Bowl. The first couple of Senior Bowl players likely drafted this April will all be along the defensive line, including three from the American roster. Florida's Caleb Banks, Michigan's Derrick Moore, Clemson's TJ Parker, and Missouri's Zion Young all had flashy weeks, but I lean toward Young for the biggest standout.

Not only did he make jaws drop with his power, but he also proved he's more than a one-move pony by going into his bag to showcase his pass rush repertoire. Young was unblockable at times in team drills, too, exploding into the backfield to blow up run plays and pressure QBs. He has shot to sneak into the first round and be the first Senior Bowl player drafted in April. 

📈 Senior Bowl stock report: Biggest winners at every position

Ahead of the Senior Bowl, each team participated in three open practices in front of NFL front offices and media, and several NFL prospects helped their stock throughout the week.

National & American: Offensive practice winners

National & American: Defensive practice winners

📺 How to watch Senior Bowl 2026

• Date: Saturday, Jan. 31
• Kickoff: 2:30 p.m. ET
• Location: Hancock Whitney Stadium (Mobile, Ala.)
• TV: NFL Network