The top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft makes his debut on Sunday, but bettors aren’t buying that quarterback Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears are trustworthy as a favorite yet.
Sportsbooks BetMGM and Fanatics both reported heavy action on Chicago’s opponent Tennessee on Friday.
The Titans, a 3.5-point underdog, are the most-bet team to cover the spread heading into Sunday, but Tennessee’s causing a bit of a conundrum for bettors in another market.
“The Bears were getting major love all offseason, but many bettors may be nervous to lay over a field goal with a quarterback making his NFL debut,” Fanatics Sportsbook senior editor Max Meyer said. “Yet, that level of Titans spread enthusiasm hasn’t translated to Titans moneyline. They haven’t gotten as much betting interest to pull off the upset as some of the other Week 1 underdogs.”
Tennessee has received 50.9% of the wagers but 59.4% of the handle at Fanatics.
At BetMGM, 63% of the money is fading the Bears, who opened as a 4.5-point favorite.
However, FanDuel reported that “the public certainly believes that the trend of rookie quarterbacks succeeding right away will continue” in the player prop market as bettors are taking Williams to go over his passing yards total of 237.5.
Sunday’s best
A Sunshine State battle is also garnering a lot of betting attention as the Jacksonville Jaguars (+3.5) visit the Miami Dolphins as the second-most bet Sunday game at BetMGM. The road underdog is getting 63% of the handle but 45% of the wagers. The 48.5-point total is one of the most-placed bets at ESPN BET, where 84% of the handle is on the over.
The Dallas Cowboys, a popular team among fans and bettors, open the season on the road against the Cleveland Browns as a 2.5-point underdog. “America’s Team” has seen 73% of the bets and 68% of the money at ESPN BET. The Cowboys (+115) are getting the most tickets at BetMGM to win outright.
There seems to be no love for the underdog in ESPN BET’s most-wagered Sunday game. The Cincinnati Bengals (-7.5) have seen 84.4% of the spread bets and 94.6% of the moneyline wagers against the expected-to-struggle New England Patriots.
Primetime action
In the Sunday night game against the Los Angeles Rams, the Detroit Lions (-4.5) are getting 74% of the bets and 66% of the spread handle at Fanatics.
FanDuel also reported that “ bettors certainly don't believe the Lions’ impressive (2023) season to be a fluke as we have taken around double the amount of Detroit bets on the moneyline.”
Aaron Rodgers makes his return to the NFL when the New York Jets head to San Francisco as a 4.5-point underdog. FanDuel bettors are backing the quarterback who missed nearly all of last season. The Jets are getting 58% of the handle, but the public feels some rust coming for Rodgers as they are going under on his player props, FanDuel said.
