The Lions dominated the Cardinals as 13-point underdogs in a stunning 30-12 victory and the Saints bullied the Buccaneers as 11½-point underdogs in a shocking 9-0 win.
Todd Dewey
Todd Dewey covers sports betting for the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
tdewey@reviewjournal.com … @tdewey33 on Twitter. 702-383-0354
In addition to handicapping a team’s motivation, bettors must be aware of a plethora of players who are opting out of bowl games.
BetMGM and Caesars each reported a seven-figure loss, the SuperBook reported a six-figure loss and Station Casinos also reported a big losing day capped by the Packers’ 45-30 win and cover over the Bears on “Sunday Night Football.”
Last season, home teams had a losing record (127-128-1) for the first time in NFL history. This season, home teams are 92-98 straight up and 81-109 ATS.
Favorites went 7-5 ATS and double-digit favorites went 3-0 ATS as the Bucs (-10½) beat Atlanta 30-17, the Colts (-10½) whipped Houston 31-0 and the Rams (-14) ripped the Jaguars 37-7.
Alabama has been favored in 92 straight games and 164 of 165 dating to 2009. Those streaks will come to an end in Saturday’s SEC title game against Georgia.
Based on a parlay of each team’s conference futures at BetMGM — where the Bucs are +210 favorites to win the NFC and the Pats are the +450 third pick to win the AFC — the odds are 16-1 that the matchup happens.
Circa sportsbook took sharp money on the Raiders-Cowboys and Bills-Saints games, and the South Point took sharp action on the Bears-Lions matchup.
In the first seven weeks of the season, there were only two outright upsets by underdogs of seven points or more. But there have been nine such upsets in the last four weeks.
Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy, the 6-1 third choice, and New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick, the +850 fourth pick, are the two biggest liabilities at Circa Sports.
After 248 contestants selected the Steelers before the 3 p.m. Saturday deadline, Ben Roethlisberger was placed on the COVID list for Sunday’s game against the Lions.
Not even halfway through the 20-week Circa Survivor NFL contest, 83 percent of the field has been eliminated in the quest for the $6 million prize.
Underdogs went 9-3 ATS with seven outright wins, including upsets by the Jaguars (+16) over the Bills and Broncos (+10) over the Cowboys.
There are six teams with odds of 10-1 or less to win the Super Bowl. The Bills are the clear betting favorites to win it all. But the NFC is a 2-point favorite over the AFC in the early Super Bowl line.
NFL Sunday on Halloween was a veritable house of horrors for bettors as the books won big to snap a rare losing streak. BetMGM reported close to a multimillion-dollar win.