Intro by Doug Kezirian
On the heels of their first losing weekend this NFL season, sportsbooks are bracing for what could be another winning weekend for the betting public. Eight of the 13 remaining games feature road favorites, and only one of those eight favorites is laying more than 6.5 points.
"We usually just need one thing to unscramble the puzzle. That's all. If you get that, then you're usually okay, even if some of the other stuff gets there. But when it all gets there, that's when you're in deep doo-doo," DraftKings sportsbook director John Avello told ESPN. "It was Christmas last week."
The public will likely flock to the road favorites, backing what they perceive as the better team laying a short number. The Chiefs are 6.5-point favorites in Washington and figure to be used in several teasers and money line parlays. And some bettors have already opened up teasers and money-line parlays with Tampa Bay, which defeated Philadelphia, 28-22 to begin Week 6.
Additionally, the Dallas Cowboys are the only undefeated team against the spread and are laying 3.5 points in New England. Caesars Sportsbook shared that Dallas represents 93% of this game's tickets. However, the Patriots are 15-4 as a home underdog under Bill Belichick, including the Oct. 3 reunion with Tom Brady and the Bucs.