Typically, the betting public hammers NFL teams laying points, but that strategy backfired in Week 13 when those clubs went 6-10 against the spread.
Heading into Week 14, it looks like bettors are hoping that trend continues, as several spread underdogs are drawing a good amount of attention at multiple sportsbooks.
Key Takeaways
- The Bears left a bigger impression on bettors coming out of the Thanksgiving games.
- The Texans and Commanders are other popular betting underdogs in Week 14.
- The public is all over Miami’s running back to keep his hot streak going.
The Packers are coming off an impressive Thanksgiving Day win over the Lions, but the Bears also looked really good on Black Friday with a victory over the Eagles. Apparently that made a more lasting impression heading into this Sunday.
The Bears, 6.5-point underdogs at BetMGM, are the most-bet team in Week 14 by tickets and handle at the online sportsbook. theScore Bet also reported the love for Chicago this week.
“The Bears-Packers showdown for the top spot in the NFC North is our most-bet game of the weekend, with over 75% of bets and 80% of money on Chicago to cover a touchdown on the road,” said Adrian Horton Sr., theScore Bet’s North American sports trading director.
With a surprising 9-3 record and sitting atop the NFL North, Chicago is getting the majority of the bets and money at three different sportsbooks, Despite being on the road, 75% of bets at DraftKings are backing the underdog.
Chicago (+240) is also the most-bet moneyline underdog team this week at BetMGM in the most-bet game on Sunday’s busy slate.
| Week 14 Games | DraftKings | BetMGM | theScore Bet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saints-Buccaneers (-8.5) | TB 71% bets TB 71% handle |
TB 71% bets NO 50% handle |
TB 83% bets TB 57% handle |
| Seahawks-Falcons (+7) | SEA 74% bets ATL 78% handle |
SEA 72% bets SEA 67% handle |
SEA 82% bets SEA 80% handle |
| Bengals-Bills (-5.5) | CIN 63% bets CIN 78% handle |
BUF 56% bets BUF 66% handle |
CIN 53% bets BUF 51% handle |
| Steelers-Ravens (-5.5) | BAL 53% bets PIT 50% handle |
PIT 52% bets PIT 56% handle |
BAL 52% bets BAL 56% handle |
| Colts-Jaguars (+1.5) | IND 55% bets IND 57% handle |
IND 51% bets IND 65% handle |
IND 52% bets JAX 55% handle |
| Titans-Browns (-4.5) | CLE 68% bets TEN 63% handle |
CLE 84% bets CLE 71% handle |
CLE 78% bets CLE 55% handle |
| Dolphins-Jets (+2.5) | MIA 66% bets MIA 82% handle |
NYJ 51% bets NYJ 53% handle |
MIA 63% bet NYJ 57% handle |
| Commanders-Vikings (+1.5) | WAS 66% bets WAS 71% handle |
WAS 76% bets WAS 78% handle |
WAS 66% bets MIN 53% handle |
| Broncos-Raiders (+7.5) | DEN 77% bets DEN 63% handle |
DEN 56% bets LV 51% handle |
DEN 85% bets DEN 69% handle |
| Bears-Packers (-6.5) | CHI 75% bets CHI 71% handle |
CHI 72% bets CHI 54% handle |
CHI 80% bets CHI 76% handle |
| Rams-Cardinals (+8.5) | LAR 74% bets LAR 82% handle |
LAR 84% bets LAR 86% handle |
LAR 82% bets LAR 78% handle |
| Texans-Chiefs (-3.5) | HOU 57% bets HOU 58% handle |
HOU 61% bets HOU 69% handle |
HOU 53% bets HOU 56% handle |
| Eagles-Chargers (-2.5) | PHI 69% bets PHI 65% handle |
PHI 63% bets LAC 55% handle |
PHI 68% bets PHI 82% handle |
Popularity contest
It appears bettors are getting sucked into the Chiefs this week. Despite hosting the Sunday prime-time game, which is the first for Kansas City since Missouri launched sports betting, the 3.5-point favorite isn’t getting the majority of wagers at any of those three sportsbooks.
The Texans are the second most-bet spread team in Week 14 by handle and third by tickets at BetMGM, which reported that 69% of the money and 61% of the wagers is on the underdogs.
"Our biggest line move of the week is the Texans, who opened +5.5 at Kansas City and are in to +3.5 as of Friday with the majority of bets and handle in that matchup coming in on Houston,” Horton said.
The Commanders are also seeing the bulk of the action as 2-point underdogs at struggling Minnesota. More than 70% of the money at DraftKings and BetMGM has come in on Washington, the fourth most-bet team by handle at BetMGM.
The handle split between the Ravens (-5.5) and underdog Steelers is fairly even across the board. There are a lot of bettors also backing Joe Burrow and the Bengals, who are getting 78% of the money as 5.5-point underdogs against the Bills at DraftKings.
Buffalo, however, is the fifth-most popular favorite at BetMGM. The Seahawks (-7) at Atlanta and the Broncos (-7.5) at Las Vegas are also favorites drawing heavy action. The Eagles (-2.5) are dominating the ticket and handle percentages at some sportsbooks for Monday night, but BetMGM has actually seen more money come in on the Chargers.
"Overall, the Bears, Eagles and Seahawks are our most popular sides by total handle, and all three teams are getting more than 80% of spread money in their matchups,” Horton said.
Props, totals
Steelers-Ravens under 42.5 is the most-bet total at BetMGM this week. Texans Chiefs under 41.5, Bengals over 53.5, and Dolphins-Jets under 41.5 are also taking a lot of tickets.
Bears-Packers over 44.5 is leading the way at theScore Bet, as well as Bengals-Bills over 53.5, Texans-Chiefs over 41.5, and Seahawks-Falcons over 44.5.
The most-bet player prop this week at BetMGM is scorching-hot Miami running back De’Von Achane, who is coming off back-to-back 100-yard performances; bettors are all over his over 78.5 rushing yards prop at BetMGM.
Achane (+400) also leads the sportsbook’s first touchdown scorer market, while Tampa Bay running back Sean Tucker at +1,000 is getting the most tickets in the anytime touchdown market.
