Sunday’s Week 12 features three double-digit spreads for the first time since Week 9.
Key Takeaways
- The public is backing big favorites like the Lions and Seahawks in Week 12.
- Chiefs-Colts is a popular game with intriguing betting splits.
- With Ja’Marr Chase out, bettors have their eye on another Bengals receiver in the anytime touchdown market.
The popularly bet Lions are 10.5-point favorites over the Giants, who are still without quarterback Jaxson Dart. The successful Seahawks are laying 13.5 at Tennessee, and the suddenly hot Ravens are -13.5 at home against the struggling Jets.
The Lions and Seahawks are getting the vast majority of wagers and money at online sportsbooks BetMGM and DraftKings. Throw in the Patriots being heavily bet road favorites (-5.5 or -6) against Cincinnati, and those four games could determine what kind of week it is for operators.
“Bettors are not afraid of big favorites,” BetMGM trading manager Christian Cipollini said. “The Patriots and Lions are two of the most popular teams to cover. The Bengals and Giants keeping it close would be a good outcome for the sportsbook.”
New England leads the way as the most-bet team by handle and tickets at BetMGM. The Lions are second in spread bets and third in money.
Bettors are a little more hesitant to lay so many points on Baltimore. The Ravens are getting around a 60% majority of wagers and handle at DraftKings, but BetMGM reported its customers are leaning slightly toward taking the points on the Jets.
| Week 12 Games | DraftKings Splits | BetMGM Splits |
|---|---|---|
| Giants-Lions (-10.5) | DET 77% bets DET 86% handle |
DET 82% bets DET 90% handle |
| Patriots-Bengals (+5.5) | NE 66% bets NE 74% handle |
NE 61% bets NE 64% handle |
| Seahawks-Titans (+13.5) | SEA 75% bets SEA 85% handle |
SEA 72% bets SEA 76% handle |
| Jets-Ravens (-13.5) | BAL 62% bets BAL 59% handle |
NYJ 52% bets NYJ 52% handle |
| Colts-Chiefs (-3.5) | IND 60% bets KC 55% handle |
IND 51% bets KC 67% handle |
| Steelers-Bears (-2.5) | CHI 59% bets CHI 69% handle |
CHI 63% bets CHI 58% handle |
| Vikings-Packers (-6.5) | MIN 52% bets MIN 66% handle |
GB 62% bets GB 56% handle |
| Jaguars-Cardinals (-3) | JAX 68% bets ARI 55% handle |
JAX 66% bets JAX 57% handle |
| Browns-Raiders (-3.5) | CLE 64% bets LV 82% handle |
CLE 53% bets LV 57% handle |
| Eagles-Cowboys (+3) | PHI 62% bets DAL 56% handle |
PHI 57% bets DAL 55% handle |
| Falcons-Saints (-2.5) | ATL 67% bets NO 52% handle |
NO 66% bets NO 87% handle |
| Buccaneers-Rams (-6.5) | TB 55% bets LAR 82% handle |
LAR 61% bets LAR 71% handle |
| Panthers-49ers (-7) | SF 61% bets CAR 70% handle |
SF 71% bets SF 73% handle |
Split decisions
Indianapolis at Kansas City is the most-bet game for Sunday as of now at BetMGM. The 3.5-point favored Chiefs fell to 5-5 after dropping their last two games, but an interesting betting split is set up at Arrowhead Stadium against a Colts team that’s in a three-way tie for the second-highest win percentage through 11 weeks.
The Chiefs are the second most-bet team by handle at BetMGM with 67% of the money, but the tickets are nearly even between the two teams. The Colts are getting the fourth-most tickets in Week 12. DraftKings has seen a similar split with the Colts getting 60% of the bets and the Chiefs taking 55% of the money. Indianapolis is also the most popular moneyline underdog at BetMGM, where the Colts are getting 68% of the tickets and 30% of the money.
Eagles-Cowboys is one of the biggest betting games on the slate this week and is also seeing a difference of opinions. Philadelphia is getting the third-most tickets as a 3-point favorite, but the Cowboys have seen the fourth-most spread money so far. DraftKings reported that 62% of the bets are on the Eagles, while Dallas has received 56% of the handle.
Browns-Raiders is another battle of splits at DraftKings and BetMGM.
Public backing
Bettors are also taking a 2-8 Saints team this week as a -2 to -2.5 point favorite against the struggling Falcons. In a shocking turn of events, New Orleans is the fifth-most popular spread team by handle at BetMGM, which has 87% of the money coming in on the home team.
Bettors also like the Bears (-2.5) at home against the Steelers. Chicago is getting the fifth-most tickets this week at BetMGM, and DraftKings reported that 69% of the money has come in on the Bears.
However, the Steelers at +120 on the moneyline are the second-most popular underdog to win outright, followed by the Giants (+450), the Cowboys (+145), and the Browns (+165).
Totals, props
Patriots-Bengals over 51.5 is the most-bet total at BetMGM this week, followed by Colts-Chiefs under 50 and Browns-Raiders under 36. There’s also interest in Eagles-Cowboys under 47.5 and Vikings-Packers under 41.5.
The most-bet player prop at BetMGM is Jets running back Breece Hall over 14.5 receiving yards. Panthers receiver Tetairoa McMillan over 61.5 receiving yards and Eagles WR DeVonta Smith over 53.5 receiving yards are also seeing a lot of action.
With Bengals wideout Ja’Marr Chase suspended for this week’s game, bettors have made teammate Mitchell Tinsley the most popular player in the anytime touchdown market at BetMGM.
