Tag: Spread

Bills slight road underdog vs. Chiefs in divisional round

#Bills slight road underdog vs. #Chiefs in divisional round:

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For the second time this season the Buffalo Bills will face the Kansas City Chiefs as an underdog.

Heading into the divisional round, Kansas City has opened as an early 2.5-point favorite over Buffalo. That line comes to us via Tipico Sportsbook  (access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list).

Throughout the start of the 2021 NFL season, the Bills were the favorite in most of their games. That all changed in Week 5, the first time they did battle with the Chiefs.

In that contest, KC was favored over Buffalo by three points. However, the Bills ended up going on to win that matchup, 38-20.

The Bills victory came after the Chiefs beat them twice in 2020, including their playoff matchup in the AFC championship round.

To reach next weekend, Buffalo and Kansas City both routed their wild-card round foes.

In addition to the spread, the Bills have an over/under point total of 54.5 points with the Chiefs. The moneyline opens at Buffalo (+118) and Kansas City (-138).

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The Bills did the impossible. They demolished Bill Belichick and the spread.

The city of Buffalo finally gets one over when it matters most on Bill Belichick.

For years, Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots made it their mission to embarrass the Buffalo Bills. Season after season, what was supposed to be a heated division “rivalry” in practice, turned out to be more of a relaxed tune-up for New England. In Belichick’s entire tenure (starting in 2000), he had only lost to the Bills five times. The Bills were his punching bag, and they could not punch back for the life of them.

With all that vital history laid out, Saturday night had to be cathartic for the greater Buffalo area.

The Bills beat the Patriots in the Wild Card Game. Okay, Josh Allen is a great quarterback. That’s not exactly surprising. Moving on. What’s next?

Wait, sorry. Scratch that. The Bills gave the Patriots an absolute beatdown in the Wild Card Game.

A 47-17 win. For the Buffalo Bills. On a Bill Belichick-coached team. In a playoff game. (Also, by far the worst postseason loss for the Patriots since a 46-10 thrashing in Super Bowl XX where the ’85 Bears scraped Tony Eason off the Superdome turf.)

It reads even crazier in text than seeing it happen live.

What might be even more insane, considering that whole Belichick context thing, is how the Bills smashed major pre-game bets. (Odds courtesy of Tipico.)

A -4.5 spread in favor of the Bills? Obliterated.

A pre-game Over/Under of 42.5? Well, the Bills kind of got there on their own, now didn’t they?

Again, in case it hasn’t been emphasized enough: This was the Buffalo Bills against Bill Belichick. It boggles the mind.

For more of a picture of how the Bills did whatever they wanted against one of their most famous, entrenched tormentors, take this tweet from ESPN Stats and Info.

The Bills were so dominant that they extended their own extremely new Super Bowl era record by scoring a touchdown on their first six possessions (!).

How about how the Bills faced only six proper third downs—meaning chunk play after chunk play came primarily on first and second down—against what was the NFL’s No. 4 defense?

There’s well-deserved vengeance, and there’s becoming an intimidating, unruly bully yourself.

Last but not least, to really drive the point home: With the blowout victory, the Bills not only handed Belichick his worst loss ever in January or otherwise, but it’s also worth noting they’ve always been the team to give him his worst, most cemented defeats as coach of the Patriots.

Bananas (or wings?) all around.

Buffalo celebrates and starts thinking Super Bowl while Belichick’s Patriots lick their wounds. Did you ever think you’d read a sentence like that?

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Congrats to the Lions, who now own the longest playoff drought with the Bengals’ win

The Bengals win and the Lions somehow keep losing even when they’re not playing.

There are no shortages of NFL fanbases who understand nothing but playoff pain. In a league where any opportunity at a postseason win can be very few and far between, the sting of a mid-January loss is a unique hurt.

It lingers.

Before Saturday afternoon, the Cincinnati Bengals and their poor fans were, quite frankly, unmatched in winter misery. Fortunately for everyone in southwestern Ohio, they can finally rip the collective monkey off their back.

Led by stellar performances from Joe Burrow in their first playoff game, the Bengals beat the Raiders, 26-19.

Here’s the glorious moment of euphoria, courtesy of linebacker Germaine Pratt.

Cincinnati now has its first playoff win in over three decades. That’s after seven straight losses (!) in the Wild Card round, from Carson Palmer to Andy Dalton. It is the first time that the Bengals advance further in the postseason since 1990.

More importantly, it ends the NFL’s longest playoff-win drought at 32 years. For a frame of reference, the last time the Bengals played on the second weekend of the playoffs, Back To The Future Part III was the top movie of the U.S. box office, and Phil Collins led the charts with his ever-smooth symphony, “Another Day in Paradise.” What a time to be alive.

Where it gets interesting is what the Bengals’ victory means for another perennially downtrodden franchise: The Detroit Lions.

With Cincinnati and their Golden Boy Quarterback no longer having to sweat big January wins, the spotlight centers on the Detroit faithful—now the leaders of the losers with pro football’s longest playoff-win drought at a frigid 31 years.

For a frame of reference, the last time the Lions won a playoff game, the No. 1 movie of the box office was Hook, not exactly Robin Williams’ magnum opus, and the top song was Michael Jackson’s “Black and White.” Woof. (To be clear, both being decidedly less cool than Michael J. Fox and Mr. Collins, near their respective peaks.)

Time will tell whether the Lions can exorcise their demons in the coming years. After a 3-13-1 season under first-year head coach Dan Campbell, it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen any time soon.

We can assure you, everyone’s knee caps are safe.

Suffice to say: Barry Sanders is not walking through that door, and Calvin Johnson is not walking through that door. And if the Lions expect them to walk through that door, well, they’ve got bigger issues than we all thought. That would be quite the accomplishment for the already hapless Lions.

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Erroneous whistle on Bengals touchdown sparks controversy in NFL wild card game

The Bengals got a touchdown despite an early whistle, the Raiders fumed, and a playoff game may have shifted in the balance.

The NFL playoffs kicked off on Saturday afternoon with the Bengals and Raiders leading off the festivities. And so far, it really couldn’t be going any better for Cincy, a franchise notorious for postseason failure. A sterling first half—where the Bengals scored on each of their first four possessions—seemed as if they wanted to exorcise all the demons of Dalton, Palmer, and Esiason’s past.

And they appeared to have a little help from the referees, too.

With Cincy looking to pad a lead during a two-minute drill, Burrow rolled to his right and fired a dart to Tyler Boyd in the end zone. There was just one problem: An official on the sideline blew his whistle early because he thought Burrow stepped out of bounds before he threw the ball.

Oops.

Here’s another angle, in slo-mo glory (or agony, if you’re a Raiders fan).

While the replay shows that Burrow was clearly in-bounds, and thus the play (and touchdown) would count under normal circumstances, the rules are not as kind. And rules are rules.

As dug up by ESPN’s Kevin Seifert, the official NFL rulebook states that if a pass is in the air and a whistle happens to go off, the play should be blown dead, no questions asked. NBC’s Mike Tirico also confirmed on air that “by rule, they cannot have a touchdown on that play.”

Uh, that did not happen. While there may have been a second or third thought about the decision, the officiating crew gave the Bengals the touchdown anyway. A ruling that might prove to be pivotal in a neck-and-neck game.

With the touchdown, the Bengals’ spread moved to -16.5, and their moneyline jumped to -2500, at Tipico Sportsbook .

While there’s still a lot of ballgame to go, relevant bettors, and Raiders fans everywhere, have a bone to pick with the officials. Especially as the Over/Under 48.5 comes into play.

Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO).

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NFL Wild Card: From the Chiefs’ generosity to Jimmy G., every team’s fatal flaw

The Chiefs are very generous with the ball, the Rams need Robert Woods, and other reasons why this year’s Wild Card teams aren’t playing deep into January.

As much as we can learn to appreciate every NFL team playing every weekend throughout the fall, there’s something different about playoff football. Aside from the obvious aspects of sudden death glory (ho-hum), January is where every team thinks they have a shot at winning the Super Bowl. Of course, most of those teams’ aspirations will prove to be delusional and utterly misguided in due time. Reality is often disappointing.

But the social media hype videos, the “nobody believes in us” speeches (even when you’ve won your gauntlet of a division)—they all last forever. That’s the magic of the postseason: Truly anything can happen. Plus, you can make up critics who don’t exist—what a dream.

With Wild Card Weekend on the very near horizon, let’s examine the most significant reason, the fatal flaw, that may prevent each of the 12 teams from making a deep playoff run.

Wild Card odds, courtesy of Tipico.

NBA spread outlook: The Grizzlies are streaking. Who can trip them up?

The only thing more impressive than the Grizzles’ winning streak is their run against the spread

No NBA team is hotter than the Memphis Grizzlies right now. Amid an impressive 11-game winning streak—featuring victories over heavyweights like the Suns, Nets, and Warriors—Memphis is doing it all. Ja Morant looks like the NBA’s next great superstar while a third-ranked offense (112.3 points per game) is humming along, unimpeded.

Morant knows his team has got something special cooking.

However, an old adage remains true: Good teams win, but great teams cover. And that’s a test a young Memphis team has also passed with flying colors of late.

In addition to that glowing winning streak, the Grizzlies have covered the spread in eight straight games against the Spurs, Nets, Cavaliers, Pistons, Clippers, Lakers, Warriors, and Timberwolves. It’s actually been so long that Memphis has not failed to cover a spread since last year (get it?).

What’s been particularly eye-opening is how few and far between the close calls have been. Save for a narrow 110-106 road win over the Cavaliers where they just barely covered a +3.5 spread; the Grizzlies have paced themselves so far ahead of everyone else. Even big underdog bets like +6.5 on the road against Brooklyn simply haven’t mattered.

But, as they tend to do, all good things must eventually end. There will come a time in the coming days where the Grizzlies, as good as they are, do fail to cover the spread. Morant might have an off night. An opposing sixth man might go nuclear. It happens, especially in a night-to-night league like the NBA. And while the Grizzlies will still undoubtedly be a good team, we might have to, at least temporarily, revoke that coveted “great” label.

Such is the nature of the sports betting beast.

The main reason the Grizzlies’ exceptional eight-game cover streak might soon come to an end? A daunting upcoming schedule. It starts tonight at home against Luka Doncic’s Mavericks (-2.5 at Tipico.)

At 22-19, Dallas has been far from what anyone would call a juggernaut this season. But the Mavs are always dangerous as long as they have a talent like Doncic at the helm. With more of a mediocre defense compared to their high-powered offense, it’s quite possible the creative Doncic alone drives a dagger into the Grizzlies’ streak.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t get any easier after Doncic and company leave Memphis because the East-leading Bulls come to town on Monday. Guards DeMar DeRozan and Zach Lavine are playing like sure All-Stars, if not potential starters in the All-Star Game. Factor in an otherwise deep lineup centering around big man Nikola Vucevic, point guard Lonzo Ball, and microwave scorer Coby White, and Memphis should have its hands full there, too.

Two days later, on Wednesday, the Grizzlies go to Milwaukee to play the defending NBA champion Bucks. Now, there are litmus tests and benchmarks to surpass, and then there’s covering a spread against the last team to win the final game of the entire season. Call it a hunch, but one has to think reigning Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo will want to send a message in what could certainly prove to be a Finals preview when all is said and done.

Ja Morant’s Grizzlies have arrived, and then some. If they can somehow continue to cover the spread against one of the league’s best players and two Eastern Conference heavyweights, then they deserve even more shine.

Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO).

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Bills open as favorite over Patriots in wild-card round

#Bills open as favorite over #Patriots in wild-card round:

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The Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots have flipped a few things this season.

First, winning.

The Bills (11-6) and Patriots (10-7) both won one games against the other in 2021.

In terms of being the favorite, both sides have flipped there, too. That has happened again.

Heading into the wild-card round meeting between Buffalo and New England, the Bills have opened as a 4.5-point favorite over the Pats. That line comes to us via Tipico Sportsbook (access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list).

Ahead of the first meeting in Week 13 between these two, Buffalo was the slight favorite by around three points. Then in New England it was the Patriots who were the slight favorites around two points.

As referenced, back to Buffalo being favored in sportsbooks this week.

Of course, there’s also one big thing to consider as well: This one will be in Orchard Park and both times the road team won during the regular season. Edge Pats?

A big factor in that Patriots’ win in Orchard Park this season was the weather. A windy occasion made the setting right for New England on offense and currently the forecast doesn’t have such an outlook.

Still, it’s only a close edge for the Bills in this win or go home scenario.

In addition to the spread, the over/under for the contest in Orchard Park opens at 43.5. The moneyline sits at Bills (-120) and Patriots (+176).

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How to watch, wager, and stream Week 18’s Saints vs. Falcons finale

How to watch, wager, and stream Week 18’s Saints vs. Falcons finale

Will your local FOX affiliate carry Week 18’s New Orleans Saints game? The black and gold are squaring off with their oldest, bitterest rival in the regular season finale. But will you be able to tune in locally?

The latest broadcast map from 506sports has this week’s game with the Atlanta Falcons being broadcast in a broad swath of the Southeast, with coverage running from Houston to Augusta. That includes the home markets for both New Orleans and Atlanta, which you can see below in green:

Mark Sanchez and Kevin Krugler are on the call from the booth for FOX. Remember, kickoff has been rescheduled from noon to 3:25 p.m. CT/4:25 p.m. ET. The Saints will only advance to the playoffs with a win in Atlanta and a Los Angeles Rams win over the San Francisco 49ers out west — a game that’s happening in the same time slot, shown on this map in red (the less-meaningful Seattle Seahawks-Arizona Cardinals matchup is in blue).

If your market isn’t carrying the game, you can stream it online at FuboTV (free 7-day trial).

As for what the oddsmakers are forecasting: the Saints are now 3.5-point favorites at tipico.com, having opened at 4.5 points, though the over/under remains unchanged at 39.5. That suggests a tight win for New Orleans is in store, but the Falcons have surprised us before. Let’s hope the Saints are firing on all cylinders with a playoff berth on the line.

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Lorenzo’s Locks: Riding with the Bucs and Chargers in the season finale

One final push for a winning record has Lorenzo Reyes eyeing a few intense matchups.

At 25-26 on the year, USA Today’s Lorenzo Reyes has some ground to make up if he’s going to finish out the regular season with a winning record. He’s taking Tampa Bay (-7.5), Chargers (-3.5) and the Under 44.5 in Colts-Jaguars for Week 18.

All odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook.

Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO).

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Tipico favors Saints over Falcons and Rams over 49ers, putting New Orleans in the playoffs

Tipico Sportsbook favors the Saints over the Falcons and the Rams over the 49ers, which would put New Orleans in the playoffs:

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There’s only one way the New Orleans Saints will make the playoffs: they’ve got to beat the Atlanta Falcons and hope for a San Francisco 49ers loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 18. If that happens, the Saints will earn the seventh playoff seed in the NFC — and a first-round matchup with the second-seed Rams.

And both scenarios are in the cards at Tipico Sportsbook. Both the Saints and the Rams are favored by 4.5 points in the regular season finale. That would get New Orleans into the tournament with a real shot at advancing further, which is stunning given everything they’ve had to overcome this season.

The Saints-Falcons over/under was set at 39.5 as of 9 p.m. CT on Thursday morning, projecting a final score around New Orleans 22, Atlanta 17. That feels realistic given the low scoring output from both teams last week — the Saints beat the Carolina Panthers 18-10, while the Falcons only put up 15 points on the Buffalo Bills. This shouldn’t be a barnburner, especially if playmaking rookie tight end Kyle Pitts isn’t available for Atlanta due to a hamstring injury.

As for the Rams-49ers matchup: the over/under has been set at 44.5, which would suggest a final tally at Los Angeles 25, San Francisco 20. The Rams were held to just 10 points in their first game with the 49ers earlier this season, but San Francisco has only put up 10 and 23 points in Trey Lance’s first two starts. It can go either way, particularly if the rookie quarterback remains under center (as opposed to an injured Jimmy Garoppolo).

So odds are good, not great, that the Saints can reach the postseason. The tough road they’ve taken to get here has led to a situation where they don’t really control their own destiny. A win alone won’t be enough to get them there. But that’s the challenge. All the Saints can do now is focus on what they can control, which includes grinding the Falcons into a fine dust on Sunday. If they don’t get any help from L.A. and end up finishing the season with a winning record, well, that’s still worth championing. No other team could manage all the hurdles they’ve had to deal with and accomplish that.

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