Week 6 of the NFL season featured a number of fiercely fought games, but the favorites came out on top every single time. The result was a profitable one for gamblers, and a decidedly tough one for sportsbooks all over the country.
Favorites dominating the action on Sunday included the Pittsburgh Steelers (-3, 81% of bets), Detroit Lions (-3, 81% of bets), Atlanta Falcons (-6, 75%), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-3.5, 72%), Green Bay Packers (-5.5, 66%) and Houston Texans (-6.5, 64%).
In all four of the 4 p.m. kickoffs on Sunday, the favorite won and covered: Detroit, Pittsburgh, Atlanta and the Los Angeles Chargers, who won against Denver 23-16.
Huge public support for Lions proves tricky for the books
The Detroit Lions took on the Dallas Cowboys in a game where public support was firmly behind the visiting Lions.
BetMGM revealed that a massive 81% of point-spread bets went to the Lions, along with 85% of point-spread money. The sportsbook took a real hit, then, when the Lions sailed through, ending with a score of 47-9.
“We had a decent [early window], but it’s all gone after the Lions kneeled it out,” BetMGM Nevada’s Scott Shelton said.
“We hung tough all day but the Lions was back breaking," Jeffrey Benson of Circa Sports said on X. “As ALWAYS the lights will come on in the morning. If a bookmaker is whining after today then he hasn’t been in the industry long enough.”
Sunday afternoon also saw Pittsburgh take a 32-13 win over the host Las Vegas Raiders. The Steelers, too, were the clear favorite and their comfortable win came as no surprise. Prior to the game, the Steelers had been a field goal favorite with a lower game total of 36.5 points at FanDuel.
The Chargers defeated Broncos on Sunday, another unwelcome result for sportsbooks across the country. Prior to the game, bookies had been promoting good value bets for the Broncos, who entered the day on a three-game winning streak. But of course, it was the Chargers that took the win, providing little relief for bookies once again.
Sportsbooks needed an upset - but it wasn’t to be
As the New York Giants closed the day with their battle against the Cincinnati Bengals, bookmakers were urging customers to bet on an upset. But the game turned out just as expected, with Cincinnati bringing in the money for gamblers - and bookies losing out once again.
“We have had a really good start to the season, but (Sunday) was certainly the public’s day as seemingly every popular favorite covered,” Johnny Avello, director of sports operations at DraftKings, told Covers.
“Sunday was ugly, especially in the afternoon. Four games. Four favorites. Four overs," John Murray of Superbook Nevada said to ESPN.
The week wrapped with the favorite Buffalo Bills covering the -1 spread with a 23-20 victory over the New York Jets.
