You know you’re into the nitty gritty of the NFL betting schedule when you hit double figures. And here we are, at Week 10.
This is the time of the year when teams start scoreboard watching, with a close eye fixed on the standings and their potential playoff hopes. But for NFL bettors, we’re always focused on the spreads and totals and how they shift from Sunday night to Sunday afternoon.
The most lucrative NFL betting strategy remains getting the best of the number, and we share our NFL betting tips on the lines to bet now and ones to bet later. Good luck.
Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans (-2.5): Bet Now
Note: This spread took a turn in the other direction early Monday morning. The point spread was sitting Titans -2.5 (-115) and then a steam move pushed this spread as low as -1. However, there is buyback coming in on Tennessee now, which has moved the spread back to -1.5 and some books are dealing that line with extra vig at -115, indicating a possible move to -2. This steam move may have been sharp money looking to manipulate the line and get the lower spread on the home side before doubling down on Tennessee. Follow the live odds for Thursday Night Football.
Don’t get caught on your back like a turtle – or Philip Rivers – when it comes to the spread for Thursday Night Football. Tennessee opened -2.5 for this mid-week primetime contest and will likely move to -3 quite quickly.
The Titans out-muscled Chicago in Week 9, winning 24-17 and just holding off the Bears enough to cover the 6.5-points at home (Chicago scored 17 points in the fourth quarter). It wasn’t a pretty win, but it snapped a two-game slide for Tennessee and the Titans get to stay home for this short week.
The Colts, on the other hand, couldn’t keep pace with Baltimore for four quarters. After battling the Ravens to a 10-7 lead at the half, Indianapolis caved like the rotting Jack-o-Lantern on your neighbor’s porch, getting outscored 17-0 in the final 30 minutes. It marked the third time in the past four games that the Colts failed to cover the spread.
If you’re all about that Honky Tonk in Nashville Thursday night, take the Titans -2.5 now.
Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers (-9.5): Bet Later
This line is actually moving away from the undefeated Steelers after opening as high as -10 for this AFC North rivalry. A near loss to the Cowboys (and whoever their QB was) as 14-point chalk will do that.
Pittsburgh didn’t look great in that 24-19 squeaker, but it was the team’s third straight road game and a textbook letdown spot after the win over Baltimore in Week 8. The Steelers are back in Heinz Field for the first time in almost a month, but Ben Roethlisberger’s tender knee could make him a no-show for practice and keep this spread under the key number of -10 (although he told the media he was fine).
The Bengals also bring a lot of heat into this match. Cincinnati enjoyed a bye in Week 9 and was last seen upsetting the Titans in Week 8. Joe Burrow is blossoming under center and taking Bengals backers along for the ride, with Cincy sitting 6-2 against the spread.
Given all that, shops have jumped from Steelers -10 to -9.5 and are dealing extra vig on the underdog Bengals +9.5 (-115). That could mean a drop to Pittsburgh -9. For those who always carry an extra Terrible Towel in the glovebox, wait it out and see how low the Steelers will go.
Los Angeles Chargers at Miami Dolphins (Over 50): Bet Now
It’s a showdown between rookie quarterbacks, with Justin Herbert and the Bolts visiting Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins. The Over/Under opened as low as 49.5 and has crept to 50 points with early money siding with a shootout in South Beach.
Herbert and the Chargers were oh-so-close to a Week 9 win but this total is more about the L.A. defense – or lack thereof – which has allowed each of its last five opponents to break the 30-point plateau on the scoreboard, topping the total in all five of those contests since Week 4.
Miami’s offensive attack hasn’t slowed much since Tua usurped the starting gig from Ryan Fitzpatrick, including getting 27 points in the 34-31 win over Arizona on Sunday (the Dolphins opened the game with a scoop-and-score). The Miami defense is a dangerous crew and very disruptive but has given up big scores against quality opponents.
The bad weather in Florida is supposed to pass by the weekend, so if you’re lining up for these Young Guns like Emilio Estevez, Kiefer Sutherland, Lou Diamond Phillips, Charlie Sheen, and Dermot Mulroney (I mean, what a cast!), get down on the Over 50 now.
Denver Broncos at Las Vegas Raiders (Over 50.5): Bet Later
This AFC West showdown in Sin City opened with a total as high as 51 points but is trickling down with action on the Under out of the gate. And who could blame them? The Broncos and Raiders have played Under in seven straight head-to-head matchups, going back to 2017. Contrarian bettors: ACTIVATE!
The Raiders are an Over bettors wet dream, with an offense putting up 27 points per game and a defense giving up one point more. The Silver and Black have kept Over backers in the black, with a 6-1-1 O/U mark heading into Week 10.
The Broncos have started to show some teeth on offense in recent games. Denver has posted scores of 27 and 31 points in the past two weeks and it looks like Drew Lock is settling in since returning from injury. The Broncos defense, however, is slipping with a total of 107 points allowed in the past three games.
If you’re bucking this divisional totals trend, crack a Coors and wait to see how low the number will go before buying up the Over.
Where Can I Get the Best Odds on the NFL?
You can bet on NFL odds at every online and casino sportsbooks, including NFL moneylines, spreads, Over/Under totals and a ton of NFL prop odds. Head over to our best-suggested sportsbooks for the top spots to bet on NFL odds in your area.
