NFL’S FIRST-EVER WEEK 18 WILL PROVIDE CHALLENGES FOR ODDSMAKERS THAT ARE UNIQUE TO THE SEASON’S FINAL WEEK, ACCORDING TO THELINES.COM

(LAS VEGAS) — The majority of playoff berths are clinched ahead of NFL’s first-ever Week 18, which can make games more unpredictable than a typical slate of games, according to TheLines.com, which tracks odds in the U.S. regulated sports betting market.

Week 18 games with playoff ramifications, though, can be more dependable for oddsmakers. The Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos, the San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams, and the win-or-go-home Los Angeles Chargers at Las Vegas Raiders are among those featuring teams fighting for their playoff lives or have significant seeding implications. Three of those games offer a spread of 5.5 points or less, according to a consensus of that nation’s largest legal online sportsbooks — including DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, BetRivers, Caesars, and PointsBet.

“The final week, in particular, brings a level of uncertainty not seen in any other week because the motivation for teams out of the playoff race is uncertain, and the top teams often rest their best players,” said Brett Collson, lead analyst for TheLines.com. “Games with playoff implications tend to be more dependable, but even then you never quite know how teams respond to playing for their postseason lives. It’s uniquely challenging — and fun — for oddsmakers and bettors.”

The consensus point spreads for Week 18 games, as of Monday, Jan. 3:

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• Kansas City Chiefs (-10) at Denver Broncos; over/under 44.5
• Dallas Cowboys (-2.5) at Philadelphia Eagles; over/under 41.5
• Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns (-2.5); over/under 44
• Green Bay Packers (-11) at Detroit Lions; over/under 46.5
• Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings (-3.5); over/under 44.5
• Washington Football Team (-6.5) at New York Giants; over/under 38.5
• Indianapolis Colts (-15.5) at Jacksonville Jaguars; over/under 44
• Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens (-4.5); over/under 42
• Tennessee Titans (-10.5) at Houston Texans; over/under 43
• New Orleans Saints (-4.5) at Atlanta Falcons; over/under 40
• New York Jets at Buffalo Bills (-16.5); over/under 45
• New England Patriots (-5.5) at Miami Dolphins; over/under 40
• Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-9.5); over/under 42.5
• San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams (-5.5); over/under 44.5
• Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals (-6.5); over/under 48
• Los Angeles Chargers (-3) at Las Vegas Raiders; over/under 48.5

The penultimate week in the NFL season will offer some oddities, including four of the widest point spreads of the season. Late-season blowouts are to be expected as struggling teams finish out their years with little to play for, but pandemic concerns are throwing a wrench at oddsmakers, too, according to TheLines.com, which tracks odds in the U.S. regulated sports betting market.

As of Monday morning, the New England Patriots (-15.5), San Francisco 49ers (-15), Buffalo Bills (-14) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-13.5) all are significant double-digit favorites over the Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, Atlanta Falcons, and New York Jets, respectively, according to a consensus of that nation’s largest legal online sportsbooks — including DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, BetRivers, Caesars, and PointsBet. All four games feature matchups of postseason contenders against teams with little at stake, a common theme in the final weeks of every regular season.

But oddsmakers are also factoring the potential havoc that Covid could have on some team’s rosters, especially when key players are involved. That will keep scoring expectations relatively low, with 13 games with a projected point total of 46 or less. In fact, the matchup between the Arizona Cardinals and the Dallas Cowboys features an over/under of 50 points, which is just the second time in three weeks that a game has reached that threshold. By contrast, the first week of the NFL season featured five games with point totals of 50 points or more.

“Bettors need to be vigilant in the last few weeks of the season,” said Brett Collson, lead analyst for TheLines.com. “Whether it is struggling teams playing out the string, Covid continuing to affect rosters, or inclement weather that can hold down scoring, oddsmakers are factoring in a lot of moving parts.”

The consensus point spreads for Week 17 games, as of Monday, Dec. 27:

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• Atlanta Falcons at Buffalo Bills (-14); over/under 44.5
• New York Giants at Chicago Bears (-6); over/under 38.5
• Kansas City Chiefs (-4.5) at Cincinnati Bengals; over/under 49
• Miami Dolphins (-3.5) at Tennessee Titans; over/under 41
• Las Vegas Raiders at Indianapolis Colts (-7.5); over/under 45.5
• Jacksonville Jaguars at New England Patriots (-15.5); over/under 42
• Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints (-7); over/under 38
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-13.5) at New York Jets; over/under 45.5
• Philadelphia Eagles (-3.5) at Washington Football Team; over/under 45
• Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Chargers (-6); over/under 45.5
• Houston Texans at San Francisco 49ers (-15); over/under 45
• Arizona Cardinals at Dallas Cowboys (-5); over/under 50
• Detroit Lions at Seattle Seahawks (-7.5); over/under 42.5
• Los Angeles Rams (-3) at Baltimore Ravens; over/under 46
• Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers (-7); over/under 48
• Cleveland Browns (-3) at Pittsburgh Steelers; over/under 41

To access updated lines and a betting guide for every NFL team, visit www.thelines.com/betting/nfl. To access Week 17 odds, visit www.thelines.com/nfl-week-17-odds-2021/.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS REMAIN SUPER BOWL FAVORITES AS NFL PLAYOFFS BEGIN
Green Bay Packers and Buffalo Bills among biggest movers ahead of Wild Card Weekend’s unprecedented six-game schedule, according to TheLines

With the NFL Playoffs now set, the favorite to win the Super Bowl remains unchanged from the NFL’s preseason odds, according to analysts TheLines, which tracks odds in the U.S. regulated sports betting market.

With an expanded format of 14 teams, the reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs unsurprisingly open the playoffs as +220 favorite, according to a consensus of the nation’s largest legal online sportsbooks — including DraftKings, FanDuel, PointsBet, PlaySugarHouse, BetMGM, Unibet, and William Hill. The Chiefs opened the season as +600 favorites, meaning bettors would win $600 for every $100 wagered.

While Kansas City has remained on top, much else has changed, including several preseason longshots moving toward the top. The Green Bay Packers, the only other team to receive a first-round playoff bye in the new format, open the playoffs as the NFC favorite at +450. Green Bay opened the season at +3100. The Buffalo Bills open at +700, moving from +2500 before the first week.

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Not coincidentally, the three Super Bowl favorites entering the playoffs are led by the three favorites to win the NFL MVP award. That includes Aaron Rodgers, whose strong finish catapulted him from relative longshot to prohibitive favorite at -2500, followed by Josh Allen (+1000) and preseason favorite Patrick Mahomes (+1500).

“The Chiefs have been remarkably steady all year, but anyone who bet on the Packers or Bills to win the Super Bowl before the season began has to be excited now,” said Brett Collson, lead analyst for TheLines.com. “The odds will shift dramatically each week of the playoffs, and there will be plenty of twists and turns. The main certainty, though, is that the NFL playoffs drives bettors to sportsbooks like no other event on the sports calendar.”

The current odds for each playoff team to win Super Bowl LV as of Monday, Jan. 4 (with preseason odds):

• Kansas City Chiefs +220 (+600)
• Green Bay Packers +450 (+3100)
• Buffalo Bills +700 (+2500)
• New Orleans Saints +750 (+1200)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers +1000 (+1500)
• Baltimore Ravens +1100 (+650)
• Seattle Seahawks +1300 (+2000)
• Pittsburgh Steelers +2000 (+2500)
• Tennessee Titans +2800 (+3000)
• Los Angeles Rams +3300 (+4000)
• Indianapolis Colts +4000 (+2300)
• Cleveland Browns +5000 (+3400)
• Chicago Bears +9000 (+4400)
• Washington Football Team +10000 (+17000)

The consensus point spreads for Wild Card Weekend, as of Monday, Jan. 4:

• Indianapolis Colts at Buffalo Bills (-7); over/under 52
• Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks (-4.5); over/under 42.5
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-8) at Washington Football Team; over/under 46.5
• Baltimore Ravens (-3.5) at Tennessee Titans; over/under 54.5
• Chicago Bears at New Orleans Saints (-9.5); over/under 47.5
• Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers (-4); over/under 46.5

To access updated NFL playoff lines and Super Bowl odds, and for more analysis, visit TheLines.com/odds/nfl-playoffs.