LAS VEGAS - There have been three early adjustments on this week's NFL playoff games so far. Each move has been on the favorite.
This is no shock to Cesar Robaina, odds manager for Las Vegas Sports Consultants.
"Historically this week favors the favorite," he said. ?They usually are the better team. That's why they earned a bye while their opponent had to play last week.
"In the case of two teams, the 49ers and Steelers, they had to play wars. That takes a lot of you."
So it's not a big surprise that Tennessee is minus four against Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay is up to five against San Francisco.
LVSC opened Tennessee minus three and Tampa Bay minus 4 1/2.
LVSC also sent out Oakland minus five and Philadelphia minus 7 1/2. The Falcons-Eagles line had not moved as of Monday afternoon, while the Raiders were at 5 1/2.
"A few years ago you would have four No. 1 seeds that were really good," Robaina said. "There used to be a big drop off between the No. 1 seeds and the rest of the playoff teams.
"But in the last few years, and this year is a perfect example, the No. 1 seeds aren't what you would call super teams."
That's reflected in the line, as only the Eagles are more than a six-point favorite.
"It comes back to parity," Robaina said. "We used to always see double-digit favorites in this division playoff round on at least two of the games. Now you have the biggest spread being 7 1/2. That's a testament to parity."
The Steelers-Titans matchup is the one game Robaina wishes he could have changed off his opening recommendation. He would have opened Tennessee higher than minus three.
"It really hurts the Steelers that they have to play the early game on Saturday after playing Sunday," Robaina said.
Robaina said part of his thinking in opening the Titans low was because bettors had previously preferred to play the Steelers on the road this season.
"Their defense is in shambles, but they have a lot of weapons on offense," Robaina said of the Steelers.
Robaina believes the Falcons can give the Eagles a battle.
"A young team like that with incredible confidence after beating Green Bay can be tough," he said. "I wouldn't be surprised if they stayed close to the Eagles and even won it."
Robaina doesn't like the 49ers' chances as much, unless Brad Johnson can't play quarterback for Tampa Bay.
"That Giants game had to take a lot out of them," he said of the 49ers. "Tampa Bay's key is Brad Johnson. Is he really 100 percent? Is he going to play?
"From what I hear, he is. But you never know. If he goes out early, it suddenly becomes San Francisco's game because Rob Johnson is awful."
The Jets have outscored New England, Green Bay and Indianapolis, their last three opponents, by a combined score of 113-34. However, now the Jets must visit the well-rested Raiders.
"It's tough to make that line any lower than five because the Raiders are such a good team and are at home," Robaina said.
The highest total is on the Jets-Raiders at 47. The Pittsburgh-Tennessee 'over/under' has dropped from 45 to 44, while the Falcons-Eagles and 49ers-Bucs total is resting at 39.
This is no shock to Cesar Robaina, odds manager for Las Vegas Sports Consultants.
"Historically this week favors the favorite," he said. ?They usually are the better team. That's why they earned a bye while their opponent had to play last week.
"In the case of two teams, the 49ers and Steelers, they had to play wars. That takes a lot of you."
So it's not a big surprise that Tennessee is minus four against Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay is up to five against San Francisco.
LVSC opened Tennessee minus three and Tampa Bay minus 4 1/2.
LVSC also sent out Oakland minus five and Philadelphia minus 7 1/2. The Falcons-Eagles line had not moved as of Monday afternoon, while the Raiders were at 5 1/2.
"A few years ago you would have four No. 1 seeds that were really good," Robaina said. "There used to be a big drop off between the No. 1 seeds and the rest of the playoff teams.
"But in the last few years, and this year is a perfect example, the No. 1 seeds aren't what you would call super teams."
That's reflected in the line, as only the Eagles are more than a six-point favorite.
"It comes back to parity," Robaina said. "We used to always see double-digit favorites in this division playoff round on at least two of the games. Now you have the biggest spread being 7 1/2. That's a testament to parity."
The Steelers-Titans matchup is the one game Robaina wishes he could have changed off his opening recommendation. He would have opened Tennessee higher than minus three.
"It really hurts the Steelers that they have to play the early game on Saturday after playing Sunday," Robaina said.
Robaina said part of his thinking in opening the Titans low was because bettors had previously preferred to play the Steelers on the road this season.
"Their defense is in shambles, but they have a lot of weapons on offense," Robaina said of the Steelers.
Robaina believes the Falcons can give the Eagles a battle.
"A young team like that with incredible confidence after beating Green Bay can be tough," he said. "I wouldn't be surprised if they stayed close to the Eagles and even won it."
Robaina doesn't like the 49ers' chances as much, unless Brad Johnson can't play quarterback for Tampa Bay.
"That Giants game had to take a lot out of them," he said of the 49ers. "Tampa Bay's key is Brad Johnson. Is he really 100 percent? Is he going to play?
"From what I hear, he is. But you never know. If he goes out early, it suddenly becomes San Francisco's game because Rob Johnson is awful."
The Jets have outscored New England, Green Bay and Indianapolis, their last three opponents, by a combined score of 113-34. However, now the Jets must visit the well-rested Raiders.
"It's tough to make that line any lower than five because the Raiders are such a good team and are at home," Robaina said.
The highest total is on the Jets-Raiders at 47. The Pittsburgh-Tennessee 'over/under' has dropped from 45 to 44, while the Falcons-Eagles and 49ers-Bucs total is resting at 39.
