Sunday's Bookend Games Stealing NFL Bettors’ Attention in Week 6

Bettors are looking at a long day on Sunday. Another game across the pond and a juicy prime-time showdown are two of the most popular games at sportsbooks in Week 6.

Key Takeaways

Broncos-Jets and Lions-Chiefs are receiving a bulk of the Week 6 action and money.

Favorites are seeing a ton of action, but there are still a few intriguing splits for Sunday.

The Bengals made a change at quarterback this week, and bettors have taken a clear side.

The extended Sunday slate and two Monday Night games start with the Broncos taking on the Jets in London as 7.5-point favorites. Sunday ends with the Lions going to Kansas City as 2.5-point underdogs against the Chiefs.

“The Broncos are the flavor of the week, as Denver is our most-bet side by spread tickets and handle, and moneyline tickets, to take down the Jets in London,” Adrian Horton, ESPN BET’s senior director of North American trading, said. “Elsewhere, Lions-Chiefs is our most bet game of the week, with more than 75% of patrons taking the Lions with the points on the road.

“Handle is closer to a 60-40 split but still in favor of Detroit, with the line moving out a point to +2.5.”

Big-game insights

BetMGM said Friday that Denver is getting 67% of the tickets and 61% of the handle, but DraftKings has seen the handle edge go to the Jets, who are the fourth most-bet moneyline underdog at BetMGM.

Meanwhile, the Lions have a decisive edge at all three sportsbooks, with the highest handle percentage (72%) coming at BetMGM.

“The Lions are the most bet team to cover as underdogs on Sunday Night Football,” said Christian Cipollini, BetMGM senior trading manager.

The rest of Week 6, which kicked off Thursday night with the Giants winning outright as underdogs, is highlighted by 10 other games with spreads of 3.5 or higher. It’s no surprise that the public is all over favorites, which hasn’t been a winning strategy the last few weeks.

“Outside of Detroit, nearly every favorite is receiving a majority of bets to cover,” Cipollini said. “This week features 11 spreads greater than a field goal, and, generally, the book is looking for underdogs to cover.”

Public loves favorites

The Colts (-7.5) are one of the most popular favorites, getting at least 90% of the handle at two sportsbooks. Indianapolis is the most-bet team by handle at BetMGM and second in tickets.

Pittsburgh (-5.5) is the third most-bet team at BetMGM when it hosts the Browns on Sunday. The Patriots have seen the fourth-most money in Week 6 as they look to capitalize on that big win over Buffalo last week as 3.5-point road favorites against a Saints team that won for the first time a week ago.

Cowboys-Panthers has seen interesting action so far, with Dallas (-3) getting the bulk of the tickets at multiple sportsbooks, but Carolina has evened the handle and even leads with 58% of the money at DraftKings.

The Broncos, Colts, Steelers, Patriots, and Chargers are the most popular moneyline teams at ESPN BET.

Week 6 Game

DraftKings Splits

BetMGM Splits

ESPN BET splits

Broncos-Jets

DEN 63% bets
NYJ 77% handle

DEN 67% bets
DEN 61% handle

DEN 78% bets
DEN 87% handle

Browns-Steelers

PIT 65% bets
PIT 86% handle

PIT 81% bets
PIT 86% handle

PIT 57% bets
PIT 67% handle

Cardinals-Colts

IND 75% bets
IND 90% handle

IND 87% bets
IND 91% handle

IND 75% bets
IND 82% handle

Chargers-Dolphins

LAC 67% bets
MIA 75% handle

LAC 65% bets
MIA 69% handle

LAC 81% bets
LAC 94% handle

Patriots-Saints

NE 80% bets
NE 72% handle

NE 61% bets
NE 55% handle

NE 82% bets
NE 85% of handle

Cowboys-Panthers

DAL 79% bets
CAR 58% handle

DAL 71% bets
DAL 53% handle

DAL 75% bets
DAL 67% handle

Seahawks-Jaguars

SEA 59% bets
SEA 74% handle

SEA 60% bets
SEA 70% handle

JAX 51% bets
SEA 72% handle

Rams-Ravens

LAR 69% bets
LAR 60% handle

LAR 52% bets
BAL 52% handle

LAR 73% bets
LAR 68% handle

Titans-Raiders

LV 52% bets
LV 82% handle

LV 54% of bets
LV 61% handle

LV 55% bets
LV 82% handle

Bengals-Packers

CIN 67% bets
CIN 73% handle

CIN 73% bets
CIN 75% handle

CIN 69% bets
CIN 72% handle

49ers-Buccaneers

TB 56% bets
SF 66% handle

TB 68% bets
TB 69% handle

TB 62% bets
TB 60% handle

Lions-Chiefs

DET 80% bets
DET 71% handle

DET 75% bets
DET 72% handle

DET 72% bets
DET 60% handle

Bills-Falcons

BUF 82% bets
ATL 51% handle

BUF 83% bets
BUF 73% handle

BUF 82% bets
BUF 69% handle

Bears-Commanders

WAS 58% bets
CHI 63% handle

WAS 68% bets
WAS 62% handle

WAS 59% bets
WAS 64% handle

Split decisions

As much as bettors are targeting favorites, there are a few other intriguing splits in some marquee games. The struggling Ravens are 7.5-point underdogs at home against the Rams, who are only getting 52% of the wagers and 48% of the money at BetMGM.

DraftKings and BetMGM have seen more handle come in on the underdog Dolphins than the 5.5-point favored Chargers. Tampa Bay is a 3.5-point favorite over the 49ers, but San Francisco is leading in handle at DraftKings.

The Seahawks are getting at least 59% of the tickets at two operators, but ESPN BET has seen a slight majority of wagers come in on the Jaguars (+1.5) in a game where the favorite flipped from the opening line.

Taking a shot

The Bengals acquired Joe Flacco from Cleveland during the week, and the quarterback will make his Cincinnati debut in Green Bay on Sunday. The switch and a double-digit spread have led bettors to back a Bengals team that’s lost three consecutive games since Joe Burrow was ruled out for the season with a toe injury.

Cincinnati, a 14.5-point underdog, is getting the majority of bets and handle, including 75% of the money at BetMGM. The Bengals are also the second most-bet underdogs of the week behind the Lions. With odds of +700 to pull off the outright upset, bettors can’t help but take a chance that Flacco bails out a team that entered the season with high hopes.

Totals and props

Lions-Chiefs over 53 is the most-bet total of the week at BetMGM and ESPN BET. Bills-Falcons over 50 is getting a lot of attention at BetMGM, while Chargers-Dolphins is the second most-bet total at ESPN BET and getting 80% of the money.

Pittsburgh running back Jaylen Warren leads the player prop market at BetMGM with his under 49.5 rushing yards, just ahead of Dallas tight end Jake Ferguson’s over 48.5 receiving yards.

Cooper Kupp (+250), Amon-Ra St. Brown (+110), Romeo Doubs (+200), Michael Mayer (+310), and J.K. Dobbins (-130) are leading BetMGM’s anytime touchdown scorer market. Jahmyr Gibbs, Josh Jacobs, Jonathan Taylor, Javonte Williams, and Dobbins are the top five in ESPN BET’s TD market.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

Sunday’s Bookend Games Stealing NFL Bettors’ Attention in Week 6

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