Squares got squashed on Sunday at sports betting sites as big NFL favorites failed to cover and, in some instances, lost outright.
The nearly 10-point favorite San Francisco 49ers lost to the Deshaun Watson-less Cleveland Browns, and the 6.5-point-favored Philadelphia Eagles lost to the New York Jets.
Meanwhile, the Buffalo Bills, laying more than two touchdowns at legal sportsbooks, eked out a five-point win over the New York Giants, nowhere near enough for a cover.
Pros 1, Joes 0
Buffalo, Philly, and San Francisco took heavy action from bettors before Week 6 began, including as part of parlays and teasers. At BetMGM, for instance, the 49ers and Eagles were two of the three most bet teams by handle for the week's slate of games.
“It's Pros vs. Joes at MetLife this weekend,” BetMGM sports trader Seamus Magee said in a statement before the Week 6 games kicked off. “Public is all over the Eagles driving up the Jersey Turnpike. Sharps are hoping for another primetime performance from Zach Wilson and the Jets to cover the spread.”
DraftKings also reported that the 49ers and Eagles were the two teams receiving the most action against the spread and on the moneyline on Sunday. The Boston-based bookmaker also said a $35,000 bet was placed on Bills -14 that would have paid $66,850 altogether, but it never had much of a chance.
The safety dance of death
It was not a clean sweep for the books, though. FanDuel reported on Thursday that 96% of bets and 97% of handle were on the 49ers to cover, which they did not, but that 83% of bets and 79% of handle was on the Detroit Lions to do the same, which they did against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Miami Dolphins also romped and covered against the Carolina Panthers, with 86% of bets and 85% of handle on the Fins earlier in the week.
Still, BetMGM dodged another bullet when New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones was sacked in the endzone to end the Pats matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. Almost three-quarters of the point-spread handle for the game was on the Patriots, who were 3-point underdogs. The safety wrecked the cover for New England backers, leading to a 21-17 final score.
“Raiders are undoubtedly the need here,” Magee noted pregame. “Money keeps pouring in on [New England head coach Bill] Belichick vs. his former assistant.”
