Seattle will have a healthy line-up this weekend, but that hasn’t swayed NFL bettors heading into the Seahawks divisional tilt against Arizona.
The 3-point favorite Cardinals are Week 11’s most popular public pick, getting nearly three of every four wagers (74 percent) placed on Sunday’s game in Seattle (4:05 pm ET, FOX).
Sportingbet.com oddsmaker David Main said the public may change its tune on Seattle after this weekend.
“The Seahawks get (quarterback) Matt Hasselbeck back which, combined with the return to health of their receiving corps, means Seattle will have as close to their best starting offence out on the field as they have all season,” Main said.
Along with Hasselbeck, who returns after missing five games with a bulging disc in his back, the Seahawks also get WR Deion Branch back.
Another popular pick this week is Cleveland, which is getting 66 percent of the bets as a 5-point dog at Buffalo, which has lost three straight.
“Buffalo has not looked good of late and hasn’t won a game since Week 7,” noted Main. “(Browns QB) Brady Quinn had a strong debut and bettors seem to have already jumped onto the Quinn bandwagon.”
And to no surprise, the teams with the NFL’s best records – the New York Giants and Tennessee – are getting lots of action this weekend.
The 8-1 SU (straight up) Giants (7-point home favorites) are getting more than 60 percent of bets on their game against Baltimore while 9-0 SU Tennessee (3-point road favorite) is getting 58 percent of wagers on its tilt with Jacksonville.
“The Giants-Ravens game will be interesting in particular as the Ravens are currently on a 4-0 run during which time they have scored an average of 33.5 points per game,” said Main. “Granted these wins were against the Dolphins, Raiders, Browns and Texans – but these games will have given the team a great confidence boost, especially rookie Joe Flacco.”
Other popular picks include Philadelphia (9-point road fave) getting 60 percent of bets against Cincinnati and New Orleans (-5.5 road faves) attracting 63 percent of wagers against Kansas City.