Week 1 of the NFL season is now history. My condolences if you had the under in the Broncos-Dolphins game, Rams in your parlay and Javon Walker on your fantasy team.
Shall we move on to Week 2? Not just yet. There are a few things to discuss before we get to Week 2 betting numbers.
Bookmakers had better brace themselves because the public loves the Colts again this year. While the professionals were on the Ravens in the Sunday night game, the public heavily bet Indy.
?The Colts always are a popular team,? said Jay Kornegay, sportsbook director at the Las Vegas Hilton.
The house did extremely well with the 49ers upsetting the Rams and the Dolphins knocking off the Broncos. That line was bet up from Denver -4 ? to -6. Miami defensive end Jason Taylor returning a fumble 85 yards on the final play accounted for the Dolphins winning 34-10, much to the chagrin of those holding a ticket on the under at 38.
But bettors had their share of victories, too, with the Steelers steamrolling the Titans, the total falling in the middle in Thursday?s Raiders-Patriots game, and the Bengals easily covering against the Browns.
Now that they have a big-play offense, could the Bengals become a public team?
?It takes a while,? Kornegay said. ?You have to have success for a couple of years and have a fancy offense. You have to be showcased on TV. The Bengals aren?t there yet.?
One team that could rapidly start losing its popularity with the betting public is the Green Bay Packers. A mediocre Lions defense held the Packers to three points. An aging Brett Favre can only do so much without decent guards and without his best receiver, Walker. He was lost for the season with a knee injury.
This brings us to Week 2 where the Packers are 7-point home favorites against the Browns, who appear to be the worst team in the NFL. Before the season, Green Bay might have been double-digit favorites against the Browns.
Oddsmakers had some tough calls as they usually do early in the season. For instance, who to make a favorite in the Rams-Cardinals and Chiefs-Raiders games? The Rams failed to cover for the 13th time in 16 tries as a road favorite this past Sunday against the 49ers. They also are 7-19 against the spread on grass.
But if there?s one team that never will be popular with the public it?s the Arizona Cardinals. You can?t make them a favorite against the Rams, and bookmakers didn?t. They either have the game as a pick or the Rams a slight favorite.
Some places opened the Raiders as the favorite against the Chiefs at home for the Sunday night game. But by Monday morning, Kansas City was laying points. This is the highest total on the board by a good six points at 53 ?. So much for linesmakers appreciating Kansas City?s new look defense holding the Jets scoreless until the final 30 seconds.
I believe the Chicago Bears have the best defense in the NFC. But Chicago isn?t getting any respect because rookie Kyle Orton starts at quarterback. The Bears are +2 ? to the Lions at home. The Lions have lost 29 of their last 32 road games, and their quarterback is vertically-challenged Joey Harrington.
Early money has come on the Steelers and Dolphins, who are starting to gain lost respect with bettors under new coach Nick Saban. Pittsburgh has been bet up from -4 ? to -6 against the Texans. This is on the road mind you. Has the thought occurred to you that maybe, just maybe, Willie Parker is the real deal? Can you name the last time the Steelers had a fast running back who was good? John Henry Johnson?
Some places opened the Jets -6 ? at home against the Dolphins. That line has come down to six. This probably wouldn?t have happened if Dave Wannstedt still was coaching Miami.
The Bills are an interesting team to watch. If they can defeat the Bucs on the road, people are going to take notice. It?s an off-surface for Buffalo and quarterback J.P. Losman?s first road start. The Bucs opened -2 and have been bet up to -2 ?.
The biggest early totals move is on the Patriots-Panthers. The over/under opened 45 ? and is down to 43 at some books. One reason could be the Panthers lost Kris Jenkins for the season. Jenkins is one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL. Carolina and New England accounted for 61 points when they met in the Super Bowl two years ago
Shall we move on to Week 2? Not just yet. There are a few things to discuss before we get to Week 2 betting numbers.
Bookmakers had better brace themselves because the public loves the Colts again this year. While the professionals were on the Ravens in the Sunday night game, the public heavily bet Indy.
?The Colts always are a popular team,? said Jay Kornegay, sportsbook director at the Las Vegas Hilton.
The house did extremely well with the 49ers upsetting the Rams and the Dolphins knocking off the Broncos. That line was bet up from Denver -4 ? to -6. Miami defensive end Jason Taylor returning a fumble 85 yards on the final play accounted for the Dolphins winning 34-10, much to the chagrin of those holding a ticket on the under at 38.
But bettors had their share of victories, too, with the Steelers steamrolling the Titans, the total falling in the middle in Thursday?s Raiders-Patriots game, and the Bengals easily covering against the Browns.
Now that they have a big-play offense, could the Bengals become a public team?
?It takes a while,? Kornegay said. ?You have to have success for a couple of years and have a fancy offense. You have to be showcased on TV. The Bengals aren?t there yet.?
One team that could rapidly start losing its popularity with the betting public is the Green Bay Packers. A mediocre Lions defense held the Packers to three points. An aging Brett Favre can only do so much without decent guards and without his best receiver, Walker. He was lost for the season with a knee injury.
This brings us to Week 2 where the Packers are 7-point home favorites against the Browns, who appear to be the worst team in the NFL. Before the season, Green Bay might have been double-digit favorites against the Browns.
Oddsmakers had some tough calls as they usually do early in the season. For instance, who to make a favorite in the Rams-Cardinals and Chiefs-Raiders games? The Rams failed to cover for the 13th time in 16 tries as a road favorite this past Sunday against the 49ers. They also are 7-19 against the spread on grass.
But if there?s one team that never will be popular with the public it?s the Arizona Cardinals. You can?t make them a favorite against the Rams, and bookmakers didn?t. They either have the game as a pick or the Rams a slight favorite.
Some places opened the Raiders as the favorite against the Chiefs at home for the Sunday night game. But by Monday morning, Kansas City was laying points. This is the highest total on the board by a good six points at 53 ?. So much for linesmakers appreciating Kansas City?s new look defense holding the Jets scoreless until the final 30 seconds.
I believe the Chicago Bears have the best defense in the NFC. But Chicago isn?t getting any respect because rookie Kyle Orton starts at quarterback. The Bears are +2 ? to the Lions at home. The Lions have lost 29 of their last 32 road games, and their quarterback is vertically-challenged Joey Harrington.
Early money has come on the Steelers and Dolphins, who are starting to gain lost respect with bettors under new coach Nick Saban. Pittsburgh has been bet up from -4 ? to -6 against the Texans. This is on the road mind you. Has the thought occurred to you that maybe, just maybe, Willie Parker is the real deal? Can you name the last time the Steelers had a fast running back who was good? John Henry Johnson?
Some places opened the Jets -6 ? at home against the Dolphins. That line has come down to six. This probably wouldn?t have happened if Dave Wannstedt still was coaching Miami.
The Bills are an interesting team to watch. If they can defeat the Bucs on the road, people are going to take notice. It?s an off-surface for Buffalo and quarterback J.P. Losman?s first road start. The Bucs opened -2 and have been bet up to -2 ?.
The biggest early totals move is on the Patriots-Panthers. The over/under opened 45 ? and is down to 43 at some books. One reason could be the Panthers lost Kris Jenkins for the season. Jenkins is one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL. Carolina and New England accounted for 61 points when they met in the Super Bowl two years ago
