Tag: favorite

Jaguars open as home underdog vs. Chargers

The Jaguars are an underdog against the Chargers, despite their 38-10 win earlier this season.

The Jacksonville Jaguars traveled across the country in September to blowout the Los Angeles Chargers by 28 points, but oddsmakers don’t like their chances of doing it again.

At BetMGM, the Jaguars opened as a 2.5-point underdog for their playoff game against the Chargers at TIAA Bank Field.

The Jaguars and Chargers have never met in the postseason before, but the two teams have faced each other 10 times since 2010. Jacksonville was 0-5 on the road against the Chargers before winning this season in Week 3. The Jaguars are 3-4 all-time at home against the Chargers.

Jacksonville’s 38-10 win over Los Angeles in Week 3 comes with some caveats. Quarterback Justin Herbert was struggling with a rib cartilage fracture suffered in Week 2 and he was without star receiver Keenan Allen. On the other side of the ball, defensive end Joey Bosa played only 13 snaps before suffering a groin injury that kept him out for three months.

Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence finished that win with 262 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions.

Jaguars open as 4-point road favorite vs. Texans

The Jaguars are unsurprisingly favored against the Texans, despite an early season loss.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have been sub-.500 this season since October when a 13-6 home loss to the Houston Texans dropped the team to 2-3 on the year.

Nearly three months later, the Jaguars have a chance at a climbing back to .500 with a fourth straight win. Standing in their way are the Texans.

While the Texans won their first meeting and the rematch is in Houston, oddsmakers are unsurprisingly siding with the 7-8 Jaguars against the 2-12-1 Texans. At BetMGM, Jacksonville is a four-point favorite in the Week 17 contest. The scoring total is set at 43.5.

When the Texans came to TIAA Bank Field in October, they were out-gained by the Jaguars 422 total yards to 248. Despite the offensive output, Jacksonville turned the ball over twice and failed to convert any of its three fourth down tries. The Jaguars finished without a touchdown, while the Texans scored a game-winner with just over three minutes left in the fourth quarter.

It was the only game this season that saw the Jaguars finished with less than 14 points.

Houston lost nine straight after beating Jacksonville, but snapped that streak Saturday with a 19-14 win over the Tennessee Titans. That victory for the Texans guaranteed that the Jaguars and Titans will play for the AFC South title in Week 18, regardless of Week 17 results.

Alabama vs. Ole Miss: Prediction, point spread, odds best bet

Alabama opens up as an 11.5 point favorite in Ole Miss showdown

The Alabama Crimson Tide plays the Ole Miss Rebels on Nov. 12, and if you’re looking to do some betting research, you’re in luck. Below is the latest point spread, money line odds and over/under line, as well as the information you’ll need to make the smartest bet at Bet MGM Sportsbook.

The game kicks off at 2:30 p.m. CST and can be seen on CBS.

Alabama must rally from a tough loss on the load and try to salvage what is left of their season. Even though they won’t compete for a national title, they can still win 10 games and play in a New Years’ Six bowl games. Despite the two losses, the Crimson Tide is still a very dangerous football team and hopefully, the team can release some frustrations this week.

As for Ole Miss, the Rebels are 8-1 and still have a lot left to play for. LSU holds the head-to-head, but with an LSU loss and Ole Miss victory this weekend they would be on pace to represent the west in the SEC title game. Ole Miss will be ready to go, this is a massive spot for the team.

Slumping Jaguars open as favorite against streaking Giants

The Jaguars haven’t won a game in October, but still opened as the favorite against the 5-1 Giants in Week 7.

The Jacksonville Jaguars haven’t won a game in October and are in the midst of a three-game losing streak. The New York Giants are on a three-game win streak and improved to 5-1 with a win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.

Yet, it’s the Jaguars that opened as 2.5-point favorites for a Week 7 matchup at home against the Giants.

A rule of thumb is that oddsmakers add a three-point advantage for hosting teams, so that would translate to the Giants being slight favorites in neutral territory. The Jaguars lost their last home game, 13-6, against the previously winless Houston Texans.

Evidently, the Giants still haven’t managed to win over the betting community, despite winning as an underdog in four of the first six weeks of the 2022 season, tying an NFL record in the process.

The Week 5 matchup against the Texans is the only other time this season that the Jaguars were favorites. The point total is set at 42.5.

Texas nearly double digit favorites against Louisiana

Texas is heading into the week as the favorite per Tipico betting odds.

After a long offseason, college football is finally back. Week 0 kicked off on Saturday, with three Power Five programs beginning their season. Everybody enjoyed having games back except Nebraska fans.

Texas fans still have a few days remaining before getting back to Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. For the first time since the 1984 season, the No. 21 Longhorns will have a ranked on ranked matchup against the No. 23 Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns.

Even more exciting is the debut of Steve Sarkisian. There seems to be a new sense of excitement within the program with the first-year head coach. Expectations may still be on the higher end but any sense of progress will be considered a successful season.

Sarkisian is hoping his all-time record against ranked opponents is not an omen for the season opener.

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After beating Iowa State last year, Billy Napier’s squad is looking to have two program-defining wins in as many seasons. Being one of the best Group of Five teams from last season, this is not a regular opening game.

In the sportsbooks, Texas is heading into the week as the favorite per Tipico betting odds. The Longhorns are expected to win by two possessions, being 8.5 point favorites.

Check out the full line here:

Line: Texas (-8.5)

Over/Under: 58.5

Money Line: Texas -320 | Louisiana +250

You can catch the game on Saturday, Sept. 4 at 3:30 p.m. CDT on Fox. The television network announced Tim Brando and Spencer Tillman will be on the call.

Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes and opinions.

Packers open as 4-point favorites over Buccaneers in NFC title game

Despite a 28-point loss in the first meeting back in October, Matt LaFleur’s team are the early favorite to advance to Super Bowl LV. 

The Green Bay Packers (14-3) will welcome the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13-5) to Lambeau Field for the NFC Championship Game on Sunday.

Despite a 28-point loss in the first meeting back in October, Matt LaFleur’s team is the early favorite to advance to Super Bowl LV.

According to BetMGM, the Packers opened as 4-point favorites over the Buccaneers, who beat the New Orleans Saints as 2.5-point underdogs to advance to the conference title game.

The Packers beat the Los Angeles Rams after opening as a 7-point favorite in the NFC Divisional Round.

Green Bay hasn’t lost since Nov. 22 in Indianapolis. LaFleur’s team will be a betting favorite for the eighth straight game (7-0 in last seven games).

The Packers were 2.5-point favorites during the first meeting, but the Buccaneers used a 38-0 run to beat the Packers 38-10 in Tampa Bay in Week 6.

The Buccaneers won twice as an underdog this season (vs. GB in Week 6, at NO in NFC Divisional Round). They have won six straight games.

The Packers are 12-2 as the favorite this season, including the playoffs.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Final BetMGM odds for Texas Longhorns-West Virginia Mountaineers game

Just hours away from kickoff, Longhorns Wire gives you the latest and final betting odds from BetMGM for WVU-Texas.

When the lines opened for the West Virginia-Texas game, the Longhorns were favored by 7.5 points. As the week went on and money started coming WVU’s way, the line dipped down to 6.5 points. Not surprising to see that kind of action.

In the last five games of the series only twice has this game been decided by one score or less. However, both times that game was played in Austin and decided by a combined five points. The running trend is that the game on Saturday will in face be a close one. Taking a look at the final BetMGM betting odd we can see that the line has moved yet again.

Final BetMGM odds for Texas-West Virginia

Line:  Texas (-5)

Over/Under: 54.5

Texas against the spread

Overall: 2-3-1

At Home: 1-1-1

As the favorite: 1-2-1

Looking for some action on this game or others? Place your legal sports wagers online at BetMGM in CO, IN, NJ, TN, and WV. New Customer Offer: Risk-free first bet up to $500! Terms and conditions apply. Visit BetMGM and bet now! 

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes and opinions.

Download the USA TODAY SportsWire app to follow Longhorns Wire and your other favorite teams in the Apple Store for iPhones and Google Play for Android devices.

Updated BetMGM Odds: Line moving in favor of West Virginia

After opening as 7.5 point favorites, the spread has dropped one point per BetMGM. UT is now only favored by 6.5 against the Mountaineers.

After opening as 7.5 point favorites on Monday, the spread has dropped one point per BetMGM. Texas is now only favored by 6.5, meaning they can cover the spread by beating West Virginia by a touchdown.

This will mark the fourth occasion the Longhorns will going into the game as the favorite. Texas is 1-3-1 against the spread this season, only covering against UTEP in the season opener.

A win would be the Longhorns’ first Big 12 three-game winning streak since Nov. 2018 against Texas Tech, Iowa State, and Kansas. Tom Herman will once again be coaching to maintain his job for the rest of the season. A loss would be the second at home.

For West Virginia, they have gone on the road twice this year and lost both matchups. The first came against Oklahoma State, losing by two scores. On Oct. 24, the Mountaineers had a shocking loss in Lubbock, dropping one against Texas Tech.

It should be a fun one with the best scoring defense in the Big 12 coming to visit the best scoring offense in the Big 12.

Line: Texas (-6.5)

O/U: 55.5

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Looking for some action on this game or others? Place your legal sports wagers online at BetMGM in CO, IN, NJ, TN, and WV. New Customer Offer: Risk-free first bet up to $500! Terms and conditions apply. Visit BetMGM and bet now! 

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes and opinions.

Download the USA TODAY SportsWire app to follow Longhorns Wire and your other favorite teams in the Apple Store for iPhones and Google Play for Android devices.

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Alabama opens up as favorite for Week 1 matchup vs. Missouri

Alabama will take on Missouri for Week 1 of the 2020 conference-only season. They open up as a 19.5 point favorite over the Tigers.

Alabama will open up the 2020 season with a road game in Columbus, Missouri to face the Missouri Tigers. This game is one of two added SEC East opponents for the shortened, conference-only season.

The Week 1 matchups were announced on the Paul Finebaum Show.

Brett McMurphy of Stadium.com reports via Twitter that Alabama opens up as a 19.5 point favorite over Missouri.

The two teams have faced each other a total of six times, the Crimson Tide has four wins, the Tigers have the other two. No ties between the two programs.

Missouri’s last win over Alabama came in the 1975 season, they won with a final score of 20-7.

McMurphy also reported the opening lines for all the other SEC matchups taking place during Week 1.

The lines were created by Collin Wilson of The Action Network.

They are subject to change, and the season, as a whole, is subject to various outside factors that can affect the season.

Roll Tide Wire will keep you updated on Alabama football as Nick Saban and the team continue to work toward the opening game against Missouri on Sept. 26.

You can see the full list of opening lines below.

Opinion: Lions games I’m looking forward to in 2020

Our Sonja Greenfield highlight which Detroit Lions games she is most looking forward to during the 2020 regular season.

The Detroit Lions have released their 2020 schedule and while there are plenty of interesting games on the docket, I was asked which games I was most looking forward to.

Is it OK to say all of them?

If only because it’ll mean that life as we know it is back to normal — or close to it, anyway. Outside of that, here are the ones I’m looking forward to seeing the most.

  1.  Both Chicago Bears games. I really want to see Jeff Okudah feast on the Bears offense. And it’s always a good day when the Lions beat the Bears.
  2. The Cardinals. We know that The Tie will be the big storyline going into the game. So, let’s actually win this time.
  3. The Saints. If the Saints start 3-0 and the Lions are at least 2-1, it’ll be a very good test for the Lions. And if the Lions are 1-2, or heaven help us, 0-3, I’ll at least be able to see Cesar Ruiz from Michigan at center.
  4. The Redskins. That’s a family thing. My father in law is a Redskins fan so that one is always a fun game for me personally.
  5. Thanksgiving. Regardless of who they play — it’s the Texans this year –, it’s my favorite holiday. You can never go wrong with food and football.
  6. Green Bay at home in December. It’s always fun to beat the Packers — especially at home.
  7. Tampa Bay. It’ll be fun to see Tom Brady in something other than a Patriots jersey. Besides, the last time Brady was in Detroit for a regular-season game, the Lions beat him. So, can lightning strike twice?

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Check out game-by-game score predictions from around the NFL Wires network:

Buf / Mia / NE / NYJ // Bal / Cin / Cle / Pit // Hou / Ind / Jax / Ten // Den / KC / LV / LAC //// Dal / NYG / Phi / Was // Chi / Det / GB / Min // Atl / Car / NO / TB // Ari / LAR / SF / Sea