NFL Bettors Backing Favorites in Playoff Contention in Week 17

There are only three NFL games left in Week 17 that don’t have playoff implications, so it’s no surprise that bettors are targeting some key favorites in several of the most critical contests heading into the weekend.

Key Takeaways

The Packers are dominating Saturday night betting, while the public is split on Texans-Chargers in the early game.

The Steelers, Jaguars, Bills, and 49ers are getting a lot of action.

The Panthers are a popular pick to cover and maybe upset the Seahawks.

Following a Christmas Day sweep for underdogs, all five of the most-bet teams by tickets and four of the most-bet teams by handle at BetMGM are favorites.

The Packers are 4.5-point favorites Saturday night against the Ravens, who need a win to keep their faint playoff hopes alive. Green Bay is the most popular spread team at BetMGM and theScore Bet. DraftKings has Green Bay, which has already locked up a postseason berth, getting 87% of the money, while BetMGM reported over 90% has come in on the home favorite.

In the early game between the Texans and Chargers on Saturday, bettors seem split. Houston, the lone underdog in that BetMGM most-popular mix, is +1.5 and in need of a win Saturday to stay in the AFC South title hunt. Los Angeles, however, is the fourth most-bet team by tickets at the online operator.

At DraftKings, Houston is getting 51% of the tickets, with L.A. at 55% of the handle. Those roles are reversed at BetMGM, while theScore Bet has also reported a very close ticket percentage difference.

Week 17 Games (Sat.-Mon.)

DraftKings Splits

BetMGM Splits

theScore Bet Splits

Texans-Chargers (-1.5)

HOU 51% bets
LAC 55% handle

LAC 51% bets
HOU 58% handle

LAC 50% bets
LAC 62% handle

Ravens-Packers (-4.5)

GB 68% bets
GB 87% handle

GB 83% bets
GB 92% handle

GB 80% bets
GB 80% handle

Seahawks-Panthers (+7)

CAR 55% bets
CAR 75% handle

CAR 58% bets
CAR 51% handle

CAR 53% bets
SEA 82% handle

Steelers-Browns (+3)

PIT 83% bets
PIT 78% handle

PIT 77% bets
PIT 72% handle

PIT 75% bets
PIT 56% handle

Jaguars-Colts (+6)

JAX 76% bets
JAX 80% handle

JAX 75% bets
JAX 66% handle

JAX 80% bets
JAX 91% handle

Patriots-Jets (+13.5)

NE 80% bets
NE 92% handle

NE 78% bets
NE 72% handle

NE 86% bets
NE 82% handle

Cardinals-Bengals (+7.5)

CIN 73% bets
CIN 78% handle

CIN 85% bets
CIN 92% handle

CIN 78% bets
CIN 87% handle

Buccaneers-Dolphins (+6)

TB 77% bets
TB 79% handle

TB 76% bets
TB 72% handle

TB 81% bets
TB 94% handle

Saints-Titans (+2.5)

NO 73% bets
NO 86% handle

NO 82% bets
NO 84% handle

NO 76% bets
NO 87% handle

Giants-Raiders (+1.5)

NYG 58% bets
LV 71% handle

LV 53% bets
LV 65% handle

LV 65% handle
NYG 53% bets

Eagles-Bills (-1.5)

BUF 64% bets
BUF 61% handle

BUF 71% bets
BUF 75% handle

BUF 59% bets
BUF 76% handle

Bears-49ers (-3)

SF 59% bets
SF 74% handle

SF 64% bets
SF 68% handle

CHI 61% bets
CHI 78% handle

Rams-Falcons (+7.5)

LAR 81% bets
LAR 90% handle

LAR 75% bets
LAR 84% handle

LAR 67% bets
LAR 77% handle

Laying points on road

Bettors are going big on the Steelers as 3-point favorites at Cleveland on Sunday. Pittsburgh, which can clinch the AFC North with a win or a Ravens loss Saturday, is the second most-bet team by handle and tickets at BetMGM and third at theScore Bet. DraftKings has the largest Steelers lean, with 83% of the bets and 78% of the money coming in on the road favorites.

The Jaguars are also laying points in a road game at the Colts, with both teams trying to stay alive in different spots. Jacksonville (-6) is already heading to the postseason but is looking to remain in first place in the division.

Indianapolis’ very slim playoff chances rely on not just covering but winning outright, but the Jags are getting 80% of the money at DraftKings and the majority of wagers at all three operators.

Slight favorites needing wins

The Bills and 49ers are also getting a lot of love from the public this week. Buffalo is a 1.5-point favorite over the Eagles, who have already locked up the division, and the Bills have to win to stay in contention for the AFC East, even though they’ve secured a postseason berth. The majority of the money at all three sportsbooks is coming in on Buffalo to cover the low spread at home.

With a playoff spot in hand, San Francisco is hoping to stay in the NFC North hunt Sunday night, and the heavily bet 49ers are getting 59% of the tickets and 78% of the handle at DraftKings to cover as 3-point favorites over the Bears, who are close to clinching the division.

NFC South on line

The Panthers enter Sunday with a chance to lock up the NFC South with a win over the Seahawks and a Buccaneers loss. Bettors like Carolina’s chances to at least cover as a 7-point underdog against the current top seed in the NFC, as the Panthers are getting the bulk of the action at all three operators. Carolina (+280) is also the fifth most-bet moneyline underdog at BetMGM.

The Bucs (-6 versus the Dolphins) have nearly 80% of the money at DraftKings and over 90% at theScore Bet to cover and force a winner-take-all showdown with the Panthers in Week 18.

Popular totals, props

The public’s top totals play so far is Texans-Chargers over 39.5 at BetMGM. Bettors also like Steelers-Browns over 33.5, Jaguars-Colts over 47.5, Bears-49ers over 52.5, and Cardinals-Bengals over 52.5.

The most popular player prop so far this week belongs to Chargers receiver Quentin Johnston, whom bettors love to go under 35.5 receiving yards. Carolina’s Rico Dowdle to haul in fewer than three receptions is also a big play.

Arizona tight end Trey McBride leads BetMGM’s anytime touchdown scorer market in tickets with odds of +110, followed by Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (-105) and Buffalo’s James Cook (-105). Bettors also like Houston receiver Nico Collins to score the first touchdown in Saturday’s afternoon showdown.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

NFL Bettors Backing Favorites in Playoff Contention in Week 17

Tags: