Tag: nfl betting lines

49ers open as slight favorites over Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII

The 49ers open as favorites over the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII.

The San Francisco 49ers are set for a rematch against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII. Their first meeting in Super Bowl LIV to conclude the 2019 season finished with a 31-20 Chiefs win. Early odds have the 49ers as the favorites to avenge that defeat.

BetMGM has San Francisco listed as 1.5-point favorites over the Chiefs on the opening line. With two weeks to go until the game though there’s plenty of time for that line to move.

The 49ers have been favored in all three of their playoff games, including by 9.5 over the Packers in the divisional round and 7 over the Lions in the conference championship game.

They’ve yet to cover a spread after a pair of three-point victories. They’ll need to cover this one against the Chiefs if they want to get a win and their sixth Lombardi Trophy.

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49ers open as heavy favorite to win NFC championship

The 49ers open as big favorites over the Lions:

The 49ers will host the Lions in the NFC championship game at Levi’s Stadium. While Detroit played better than the 49ers did in the divisional round, San Francisco is still a 7-point favorite over the Lions according to BetMGM.

While it’s a little surprising to see such a big number on the 49ers to open, there’s certainly a path to a big win for a San Francisco team that’s in its third NFC championship game in as many years.

It would make sense if the number started trending toward Detroit given what they can do in the run game and how they might be able to keep the game tight the same way the Packers did.

Injuries could also play a key role in how the line moves. 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel is banged up, as is Lions center Frank Ragnow. Both players are huge pieces to their offenses and in a game that should be closely contested, those injuries could make a huge difference.

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49ers open as big favorites in Week 1 vs. Bears

The #49ers are favored big over the Bears to open the 2022 season.

The 49ers may have some uncertainty under center, but they’ll still be favored to begin the season with a victory. Tipico Sportsbook had Week 1 lines out after the NFL’s schedule was released, and San Francisco is favored by 6.5 points on the road against the Bears.

Opening lines can shift a lot based on how training camps and preseasons go, but the biggest domino to fall will be the fate of Jimmy Garoppolo. The 49ers went to the NFC championship game with him under center last year and he’s still on the roster now which leaves the door open to him starting again in 2022. However, if he’s traded or released and fully clears the way to Lance starting, the line could see an adjustment based on how Lance looks in the preseason.

Chicago also didn’t make many major additions in the offseason to help out second-year signal caller Justin Fields. They’ll also be under the guidance of first-time head coach Matt Eberflus who’ll be looking to turn around a Bears club that went 6-11 last season.

The 49ers a year ago beat the Bears 33-22 at Soldier Field, which may also play into the sizable early line. San Francisco in that game trailed 16-9 midway through the third quarter before ripping off a 24-6 run to close the game and secure a victory.

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2021 Week 5 NFL pick ’em: Parity is making NFL picks harder

The picks are in! NFL Week 5 picks straight up, against the spread and over/unders.

If only picking games straight up was a good way of building a bankroll.

While I figured out over/unders a little bit last week, the struggles against the spread continued. Parity in the NFL is high this year which is making it tougher, but it’s just sort of a strange year in the league. Nevertheless, there’s plenty of weeks to bounce back.

Odds are provided by Tipico.

To the picks!

49ers head to Seattle as slight underdogs

The 49ers are the underdogs against the Seahawks according to the BetMGM point spread.

The 49ers finally turned their bad fortunes in Seattle around last season with a 26-21 victory in the final week of the year. Prior to that they’d lost eight straight at CenturyLink Field. This year they enter their Week 8 matchup against the Seahawks looking for a second consecutive win in the Pacific Northwest, but BetMGM has Seattle favored by three points going into Sunday.

It’s a little bit of a surprise the line isn’t a touch over three points considering the Seahawks’ dominance so far this season and the myriad injuries the 49ers are dealing with on both sides of the ball.

However, San Francisco is still 4-3 and coming off consecutive wins over the Rams and Patriots. The 49ers pretty thoroughly handled each opponent in those contests, giving some credence to the idea that they’re still a playoff team even with their rash of injuries.

Seattle is dealing with some injuries of their own as well. Their top three running backs are all either questionable or doubtful. Safety Jamal Adams is questionable as well.

The 49ers should be able to move the ball on a dreadful Seahawks defense that may still be missing its best player. Whether they can slow down Russell Wilson and a relentless Seattle passing attack is a different story.

If San Francisco does swing the minor upset, they’d shake up an already crazy division race, and they’d earn a second consecutive victory in Seattle for the first time since they won back-to-back games there in 1988 and 1991.

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49ers favored over Giants despite injury issues

Injury issues on both sides leave the 49ers as four-point favorites vs. the Giants at MetLife Stadium.

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The 49ers’ injury woes didn’t stop oddsmakers from making them favorites over the winless New York Giants. BetMGM Sportsbook has San Francisco favored by 4 points Sunday on the road at MetLife Stadium.

One key reason for that line is the Giants’ injury issues. They’ll be without running back Saquon Barkley, who tore his ACL last week. Wide receiver Sterling Shepard also went on Injured Reserve with a toe injury.

San Francisco on the other hand will be down running backs Raheem Mostert and Tevin Coleman, and defensive ends Nick Bosa and Dee Ford. They’ll likely not have quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, and tight end George Kittle’s status is still uncertain. Deebo Samuel and Richard Sherman are also on Injured Reserve.

It’s a testament to the depth of the 49ers’ roster that they’re still more than a point or two road favorites with so many players sidelined. The Giants are 0-2, but their defense has been respectable to this point. Their offense has been less formidable.

This is a game the 49ers should be able to win even with their growing list of injuries. In a normal setting they may win going away. The injuries on both sides make this such a high-variance contest that it’s hard to get a feel for how the game goes either way. It’ll also be interesting to see if the line changes once official injury announcements are made on Kittle and Garoppolo.

This is a stay away for us from a wagering perspective, but the Giants getting 4 is our guess if we had to make one.

[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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Week 1 NFL betting lines up at BetMGM: Chiefs, 49ers among biggest favorites

Looking at the early NFL Week 1 betting lines for the 2020 season at BetMGM Sportsbook.

The early Week 1 NFL betting lines and odds are up at BetMGM following the release of the 2020 schedule Thursday night. Sports bettors now have several months to browse and track the lines in search of the best early value before training camps open and rosters begin to finalize.

Getting in on these early lines and other NFL futures odds can help pass the time with the sports world on a continued pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Also see – 2020 NFL Schedule: 5 best games for betting

Week 1 NFL betting lines: Thursday and early Sunday slate

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Odds last updated Friday, May 8 at 1:20 p.m. ET.

Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs – Thursday, Sept. 10 (8:20 p.m. ET)

Moneyline: Chiefs -500 | Texans +375

Against the spread: Chiefs -10 (-110) | Texans +10 (-110)

Total: 55.5 Over: -110 Under: -110

New York Jets at Buffalo Bills – Sunday, Sept. 13 (1 p.m. ET)

Moneyline: Bills -264 | Jets +215

Against the spread: Bills -6.5 (-110) | Jets +6.5 (-110)

Total: 41.5 O: -110 U: -110

Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Redskins – Sunday, Sept. 13 (1 p.m. ET)

Moneyline: Eagles -250 | Redskins +200

Against the spread: Eagles -5.5 (-110) | Redskins +5.5 (-110)

Total: 45 O: -110 U: -110

Seattle Seahawks at Atlanta Falcons – Sunday, Sept. 13 (1 p.m. ET)

Moneyline: Seahawks -129 | Falcons +105

Against the spread: Seahawks -1 (-110) | Falcons +1 (-110)

Total: 48.5 O:-110 U: -110

Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots – Sunday, Sept. 13 (1 p.m. ET)

Moneyline: Patriots -304 | Dolphins +240

Against the spread: Patriots -6.5 (-110) | Dolphins +6.5 (-110)

Total: Off the board (OTB)

Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings – Sunday, Sept. 13 (1 p.m. ET)

Moneyline: Vikings -189 | Packers +155

Against the spread: Vikings -3.5 (-110) | Packers +3.5 (-110)

Total: 46.5 O: -110 U: -110

Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars – Sunday, Sept. 13 (1 p.m. ET)

Moneyline: Colts -303 | Jaguars +240

Against the spread: Colts -6.5 (-120) | Jaguars +6.5 (+100)

Total: 46.5 O: -110 U: -110

Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions – Sunday, Sept. 13 (1 p.m. ET)

Moneyline: Lions -130 | Bears +110

Against the spread: Lions -1.5 (-110) | Bears +1.5 (-110)

Total: 44.5 O: -110 U: -110

Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens – Sunday, Sept. 13 (1 p.m. ET)

Moneyline: Ravens -358 | Browns +280

Against the spread: Ravens -7.5 (-110) | Browns +7.5 (-110)

Total: 49.5 O: -110 U: -110

Las Vegas Raiders at Carolina Panthers – Sunday, Sept. 13 (1 p.m. ET)

Moneyline: Raiders -120 | Panthers +100

Against the spread: Raiders -1.5 (+100) | Panthers +1.5 (-120)

Total: 46 O: -110 U: -110

Place your Week 1 NFL bets at BetMGM, or play in their online casino. Bet now!

Week 1 NFL betting lines: Late Sunday slate

Los Angeles Chargers at Cincinnati Bengals – Sunday, Sept. 13 (4:05 p.m. ET)

Moneyline: Chargers -182 | Bengals +150

Against the spread: Chargers -3.5 (-110) | Bengals +3.5 (-110)

Total: 46.5 O: -110 U: -110

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints – Sunday, Sept. 13 (4:25 p.m. ET)

Moneyline: Saints -189 | Buccaneers +155

Against the spread: Saints -3.5 (-110) | Buccaneers +3.5 (-110)

Total: 49.5 O: -110 U: -110

Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers – Sunday, Sept. 13 (4:25 p.m. ET)

Moneyline: 49ers -400 | Cardinals +310

Against the spread: 49ers -8.5 (-110) | Cardinals +8.5 (-110)

Total: 45.5 O: -110 U: -110

Dallas Cowboys at Los Angeles Rams – Sunday, Sept. 13 (8:20 p.m. ET)

Moneyline: Cowboys -143 | Rams +120

Against the spread: Cowboys -2.5 (-110) | Rams +2.5 (-110)

Total: 50.5 O: -110 U: -110

Week 1 NFL betting lines: Monday doubleheader

Pittsburgh Steelers at New York Giants – Monday, Sept. 14 (7:15 p.m. ET)

Moneyline: Steelers -162 | Giants +135

Against the spread: Steelers -3 (-110) | Giants +3 (-110)

Total: 48.5 O: -110 U: -110

Tennessee Titans at Denver Broncos – Monday, Sept. 14 (10:10 p.m. ET)

Moneyline: Broncos -154 | Titans +130

Against the spread: Broncos -1.5 (-110) | Titans +1.5 (-110)

Total: 42.5 O: -110 U: -110

Want action on the Week 1 NFL betting lines? Sign up and place your legal sports wagers online at BetMGM. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @EstenMcLaren on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook. Please gamble responsibly.

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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Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings sports betting odds and lines, with Week 16 NFL betting picks, tips and bets.

The Chicago Bears (7-8) visit the playoff-bound Minnesota Vikings (10-5) Sunday with an 1 p.m. ET kickoff at U.S. Bank Stadium. We analyze the Bears-Vikings odds and sports betting lines, while providing betting tips and advice on this Week 17 NFL matchup.

Bears at Vikings: Week 17 preview, betting trends and notes

Looking to place a bet on this game or others? Sign up at BetMGM!

  • The Bears eliminated the Vikings from the 2018 playoffs with 24-10 Week 17 victory at U.S. Bank Stadium.
  • The Bears are 5-0 against the spread (ATS) in their five meetings with the Vikings.
  • Minnesota is 6-2-1 ATS in its last nine games against teams with losing records.
  • The Vikings and Bears have hit the Under in four of the last five meetings.
  • Chicago is 2-8 ATS in its last 10 games.
  • Minnesota is 6-1 against the moneyline in its last seven home games against Chicago, but the only loss was the last meeting.
  • Both teams are coming off inept, humbling losses – the Bears losing at home 26-3 to the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Vikings losing their first home game of the season 23-10 to the Green Bay Packers.

Bears at Vikings: Key injuries

Vikings: The injury report only shows one player as not practicing – Pro Bowl snub LB Eric Kendricks (quadriceps). RB’s Dalvin Cook (shoulder) and Alexander Mattison (ankle) have been limited and neither is expected to play. With Minnesota locked in as the No. 6 seed, several key veterans on both sides of the ball could be pulled early.

Bears: Four players didn’t practice Thursday – DL Akiem Hicks (elbow), NT Eddie Goldman (concussion), WR Taylor Gabriel (concussion) and OL Bobby Massie (ankle). Some of these guys may be making business decisions as to play a meaningless game.

Bears at Vikings: Odds, betting lines and prediction

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday, at 9:20 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Vikings 20, Bears 16

Moneyline (?)

For only giving away 1.5 points, Minnesota (-129) is a little stiff. Chicago is +105, so this one pretty much bets itself. If you think Chicago is going to beat Vikings QB Kirk Cousins a fourth consecutive game, take the Bears here instead of being given a paltry 1.5 points.

Every $1 wagered on the Bears ML would profit $1.05 if they win.

Against the Spread (?)

As mentioned above, the line is Vikings -1.5. Both teams are -110 because it is what is so perilous about putting bets down in Week 17. Minnesota has absolutely nothing to play for or risk Sunday. With the Vikings coming off a national humbling to the Packers and the Bears’ recent dominance of them, if the Vikes lay down in front of their home fans, it will have a negative backlash. If you think motivation of a veteran means anything, take the Vikings at a better price than the moneyline.

Over/Under (?)

This is the most difficult bet of them all because 36.5 (Over -115, Under -106) is such a low number. But these teams tend to hit the Under. It won’t take much to hit the Over and these are teams with opportunistic defenses and special teams, but the Bears have dominated Cousins and, in the last three games against Minnesota, Chicago QB Mitch Trubisky has been knocked out of two of them. The sportsbooks are daring you to take the Over. Take the UNDER 36.5 (-106), but it will be close.

Want action on this game? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

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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Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens sports betting odds and lines, with Week 17 NFL betting picks, tips and best bets.

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The Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7) will make their final bid for a postseason berth Sunday of Week 17 against the AFC North-rival Baltimore Ravens (13-2) at M&T Bank Stadium. The game will kick off at 4:25 p.m. ET. We analyze the Steelers-Ravens odds and sports betting lines, while providing sports betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Steelers at Ravens: Week 17 preview, betting trends and notes

Get some action on the games by betting at BetMGM. New customer offer: RISK-FREE First Bet (up to $500!) paid in free bets.

  • The Ravens beat the Steelers 26-23 in overtime in Pittsburgh in Week 5. Ravens QB Lamar Jackson passed for 161 yards and rushed for 70. His 3 interceptions were a single-game season-high.
  • The Steelers enter Week 17 off of back-to-back losses to the Buffalo Bills (17-10) and New York Jets (16-10).
  • The Tennessee Titans (8-7) hold the tie-breaker over the Steelers for the second wild-card spot based on strength of schedule.
  • The Ravens have won 11 straight games with seven of those being decided by at least two scores. They clinched home-field advantage through the AFC playoffs.
  • Steelers third-string QB Devlin Hodges will get the Week 17 start after Mason Rudolph (shoulder) suffered an injury in Week 16.
  • Baltimore will rest Jackson and RB Mark Ingram (calf) in the regular-season finale, along with several veteran defensive starters.
  • QB Robert Griffin III will start for the Ravens. He appeared in six games this season, going 12-for-17 through the air with one touchdown and one pick. He hasn’t started a game since 2016.
  • The Ravens (18.1) and Steelers (18.3) rank third and fourth, respectively, in scoring defense. They’re two of the five teams in the NFL allowing fewer than 310 yards of offense per game.

Steelers at Ravens: Key injuries

Ingram is the main injury concern for Baltimore, but he was likely to rest this week regardless.

Steelers RB James Conner (thigh) may join Rudolph on the shelf for Week 17 after he left the Week 16 contest.

Steelers at Ravens: Odds, betting lines and prediction

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday at 8:50 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Ravens 20, Steelers 13

Moneyline (?)

Take the value with the RAVENS (+110). Even though they’ll be resting stars, they’re still the deeper and more talented group on offense. Baltimore is 6-1 at home this year while Pittsburgh (-133) is just 3-4 on the road. Hodges threw six interceptions against just a single touchdown over the Steelers’ last two losses and they briefly switched back to Rudolph last week.

Against the Spread (?)

The spread is set at 2.5 points with -110 odds on either side. Stick with the hosts on the moneyline rather than taking lower odds for just 2 points of insurance in the event of a loss. PASS on the spread.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Ravens to win outright on the moneyline returns a profit of $11. Backing them to cover +2.5 on the spread and stay within 2 points in a loss, tie or win outright would return $9.09 in profit.

Over/Under (?)

The best play is the UNDER 38.5 (-110). It was going to be a strong defensive battle even if both sides were fielding full rosters. Look for both QBs to struggle and Baltimore’s backup defenders to prove their worth in a defensive slog.

Want action on this game? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Esten’s NFL betting record: 45-42

Follow @EstenMcLaren and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

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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49ers underdogs on road for 2nd consecutive week

The 49ers may not be underdogs again all year if they beat the Saints.

The 49ers are underdogs for the second week in a row. They’re 2.5-point underdogs in New Orleans, but the line hasn’t moved the way it did against the Ravens. That’s evidence of the 49ers’ rising standing among NFL fans.

San Francisco opened as 3.5-point underdogs in Baltimore. The line quickly rose to 6.5 points as money came in on the red-hot Ravens. The 49ers acquitted themselves very well in a 20-17 loss on a last-second field goal.

That Saints line hasn’t moved throughout the week even though the 49ers are on the second game of a two-game East Coast swing. They’re also coming off their second loss of the year, while New Orleans got extra days off after playing Thanksgiving night in Atlanta.

Talk of the 49ers needing to prove themselves is over, and it’s showing at least partially in the way the betting lines have acted the last two weeks. Had San Francisco played poorly in Baltimore, that Saints line surely would’ve moved off that 2.5 number.

It’ll be interesting to see if and how the line moves closer to game time when more public money starts coming in. Luckily for San Francisco – their 10-2 record speaks for itself. If they play well against the Saints and knock off the NFC’s No. 1 seed, they may not enter another game as underdogs all season.