Latest news from November 8, 2024, at 02:17h. 

Last updated on: November 8, 2024, at 02:17h.

During an interview in late September, Sports Betting Hall of Famer Johnny Avello shared insights on early season NFL wagering, highlighting the atmosphere of joy among sportsbooks due to the unexpected upsets in Week 3.

Avello, Director of Race & Sportsbook Operations at DraftKings, described the beginning of the NFL betting season as “weird”, but predicted a return to equilibrium. And indeed, things have settled since then.

Lions Bad for the Book

Highlights of the NFL season so far include the dominance of the Kansas City Chiefs (8-0), the surprising performance of the Washington Commanders (7-2), the MVP potential of Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, the consistent Detroit Lions leading the NFC and North Division (7-1), and possibly the underwhelming San Francisco 49ers (4-4).

Assessing the state of the NFL betting market as Week 10 approaches, Christian Cipollini, BetMGM Trading Manager, commented: “We have observed a 13% year-over-year growth in NFL betting at the midseason mark. ‘Anytime touchdown scorer’ remains our most popular prop bet, with Derrick Henry being the most bet player. The Lions, despite their strong performances at 7-1 against the spread, continue to be a challenging outcome. As we enter the second half of the season, we are actively cheering against the Lions for improved results.”

Bills-Jets Most Bet Game

BetMGM has seen year-over-year increases in NFL betting, with a 31% rise in female bettors from the U.S. and Canada, as well as a 76% increase in first touchdown bets attributed to the Second Chance promotion. The most bet game was the Bills versus Jets matchup on a Monday night in Week 6, marked by a thrilling game resulting in a Bills victory of 23-20 after an Aaron Rodgers Hail Mary touchdown at halftime.

Commenting on the matches in October, Oliver Vickers, a trader at 888 Sport in the UK, stated, “The week commencing 14th October saw significant losses across all brands, one customer even won $75k from a total points accumulator parlay. Receiving yards is gaining traction as a popular bet builder market beyond the usual lines. Canada leads in turnover for American football wagers.”

Allen for MVP?

At PointsBet Canada, a spokesperson from the trading team mentioned: “The public has been successful in picking winners this season, likely due to more favorites winning compared to past seasons. Same game parlays are growing in popularity, and the future bet on Josh Allen for MVP has been among the most popular throughout the season.”

Notably, Josh Allen of the Bills has led his team to a strong 7-2 start and is excelling with a 105.8 passer rating, minimal interceptions, 17 touchdowns, and 2,001 passing yards.

“Nine weeks into the season, the most popular teams for winning punters in spread parlays are the Commanders, Lions, Chiefs, and Vikings,” shared Neil Gibson, a trader at BetVictor. “These teams have a combined record of 25-7 against the spread, which has influenced clients’ weekly wagers. Conversely, underperforming teams like the Cowboys, Dolphins, Jets, and Houston, despite leading their division, are collectively at 10-23 versus the spread.”

Headlines so far

Other insights from Gibson include:

• Ante Post favorites like the Bills, Ravens, Texans, Chiefs, and Lions have been popular in Division parlays and are performing well.
• The 49ers are also receiving significant attention in future bets, and their performance in the NFC West will be crucial for various firms.
• Despite a slow start, the Eagles have been the most favored team in the NFC Conference, indicating punters’ confidence in their potential. The Vikings were early favorites in the NFC with a 5-0 record.
• In the AFC, the Chiefs and Rodgers’ Jets were popular picks. Rodgers was backed for the comeback player of the year along with Darnold at Minnesota after McCarthy’s injury.
• The Chiefs are the top choice for Super Bowl bets, followed by the Lions, Bengals, and Packers.
  
• Kevin O’Connell is a popular pick for Coach of the Year, with most bets placed on Dan Campbell of the Lions.
• Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry are leading bets for Regular Season MVP.
• Business has been active through nine weeks, with Week 6 being particularly successful for punters, as 12 out of 13 favorites emerged victorious, with only Tennessee falling to the Colts.