The 2022 battle for the Lombarky Trophy is a tradition unlike any other. The grit and grind all season is one that few pups can claim as their own to get to this point. Puppy Bowl XVIII is an alternative for those not watching the Super Bowl hosted by Animal Planet to raise awareness of adopting pets from Shelters and Rescues. The rules are simple: 118 puppies between Team Ruff and Team Fluff take a football-like field. If these puppies take a toy on the field and take said toy across the end-zone, they will score a touchdown. Although simple, it can be a ruff trying to get points as you will see some of the adoptable puppies napping, chasing their tail, or just doing absolutely nothing. It’s adorable. Although there will be some frustration for those on the betting front, we must consider these are all good boys (and girls). This article will break down the slate to help you with all of your betting and DFS lineups for the upcoming Puppy Bowl.
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When putting together a lineup for DFS or even looking at this from a betting perspective, we must look at historical data. Looking at dog breeds from previous seasons, over/under, and betting lines can help us understand how to begin looking at roster construction.
As of today, Team Fluff is a -7.5 (-140) favorite against Team Ruff [+7.5 (EVEN)]. Even after Team Ruff was able to come away with a victory last season, it appears the money is in favor of Team Fluff and with good reason. We also have some additional lines such as Age of MVP O/U 17.5 weeks of age, the First letter of Name of MVP, will the MVP be male or female, and will the MVP be Purebreed or Mixed Breed. There’s a lot to break down here, so let’s go through all of these one-by-one and break down the overall slate.
Game/DFS Breakdown
So as mentioned above, Team Fluff is a 7.5 point favorite over Team Ruff. There are many players on Team Fluff that give this team the edge heading into The Puppy Bowl. First, we cannot say enough about Dinozzo, the Team Fluff captain heading into the matchup. As a Basset Hound/ Shih Tzu mix, we know many things about this dog. He has the deadly combination of the Basset Hound, which was initially bred to hunt hare with an incredible sense of smell and scope out the toys that are on the field, as well as the Shih Tzu, which were originally bred to sit around the palace of the Emporer of China and bark when people approached. With this combination, you will have a puppy that will be extremely alert and able to track down any toy on the field with a high motor. Dinozzo is a favorite to win the Most Valuable Pup (MVP) award and the main reason Team Fluff is favored in this matchup.
Another favorite for this upcoming matchup and a cornerstone of Team Fluff is Nugget, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi from Florida Little Dog Rescue. Also, my favorite sleeper as the MVP candidate, Nugget, will be a fan favorite in this year’s Puppy Bowl. Although low to the ground, a little-known fact, Pembroke Welsh Corgis were initially bred as cattle herding dogs. These dogs are stout, quick, and can be a dominant force to be reckoned with. Although Nugget appears to be adorable, well, he is. A characteristic that Corgi also has is called “zoomies.” This is an intense burst of energy that Corgi ignores all rules of stamina and can sprint in circles for 15-20 minutes at a team. If Nugget can burst out in these “zoomies” in the middle of this matchup, you might as well call the game over. The other dogs will have to watch their tails, though, because once the whistle blows, it’s all business for Nugget and watches for him to end up with multiple touchdowns in this year’s matchup.
Although you have the heavy hitters in Dinozzo and Nugget, that does not mean team Ruff will roll over to get their bellies scratched, as they have some firepower of their own. The captain and leader of team Ruff, Moby, from Harley’s Haven Dog Rescue, is a French Bulldog who will lead the pack for team Ruff. French Bulldogs were originally bred as companion dogs, so there are not many underlying strengths of innate skillsets that Moby brings to the table. Still, if you’ve ever met a French Bulldog in person, you know the firecracker personalities they have. Moby is adorable and will lull you to sleep with his snorts as their faces are a bit squished, and thus breathing can be difficult after excessive activity, but once Team Fluff lets down their guard, you better believe Moby will swoop in. A natural-born leader as one of the more talkative breeds out of all the dogs, Moby will have to be at his best to lead his team to victory.
This year, the absolute secret weapon for Team Ruff is Odell Barkham Jr from the Animal Friends Humane Society. This Beagle/Chow mix is one that I don’t believe Team Fluff had been planning for. The deadly combination of the two breeds is both adorable and something to keep your eye on this year. The Beagle was originally bred for hunting hare. We know that an insane sense of smell comes with what is required as endless stamina from this breed. Odell Barkham Jr. will likely never get tired on the field, while many of the other species you will see taking naps or needing a quick (or long) water break).
Additionally, you have all the best assets of the Chow. This working dog was initially trained to hunt, guard, pull sleds, and sometimes even herd cattle. This big boy will be a bear of a pup to stop out on the field but will be ready to cuddle up on your lap shortly after. If team Ruff is going to pull one out this year, you better believe Odell Barkham Jr. will be a significant factor in this matchup.
Some additional names to consider here on the slate is:
Maisie on Team Ruff (Compassion Kind Shelter)- A chihuahua/Daschund Mix. Do not be fooled by the small demeanor; this pup will be a firecracker out on the field, running circles around the other dogs.
Ted. D. Bear on Team Fluff (Florida Little Dog Rescue)- A Goldendoodle I may adopt myself.
Wasabi on Team Fluff (The Sato Project) – A low-to-the-ground mixed breed whose appearance looks like they will be an absolute terror out there on the field.
Sky on Team Fluff (ROAR Animal Rescue) – One of the more athletic-looking dogs in this competition, Sky has been said to have a strong sense of curiosity and may attempt to take toys from other dogs. That will lead to a higher probability of getting into the end zone.
As you can see from the above picks, I’m loading up on players from Team Fluff this season, as being a 7.5 point favorite in this year’s matchup seems to point to a higher scoring percentage on that side of things. With so much variance in the puppy bowl, I will have to go with the money and trust that Team Fluff will likely come out with the victory this year.
Betting Picks
Please keep in mind that these are my picks and only help guide you. I am not a professional and will leave that to our Head of Sports Betting, Brian O’Connell. However, there are some lines that I like heading into the Puppy Bowl, and I want to share some of them with you.
Team Fluff -7.5 (-140) – One of my favorite lines heading into the Puppy Bowl. As I showed in the breakdown above, there are so many good boys (and girls) on Team Fluff it almost seems unfair. Although all dogs are good dogs, my favorite pups heading into the matchup seem to fall on the Team Fluff side of things. In two of the last three years, Team Fluff has taken home the trophy, and I see a no different outcome in this year’s matchup.
Puppy Bowl – First Letter of Name of MVP “K-Z” (-120) – This is probably the one I’m laying down the most money on. Three out of my four favorite DFS plays in the puppy bowl are all in this category. Although there could be a surprise pup that comes out on top, I will stick with my guns and believe that the possibility of Nugget, Odell Barkham Jr., and Moby have the opportunity to win Most Valuable Pup this season.
