Week 6 of the NFL season showcased a strong performance from favorites, as gamblers favored several teams heavily. At BetMGM, six teams received over 60% of the bets and each managed to cover their spreads. These teams included the Pittsburgh Steelers (-3, 81% of bets), Detroit Lions (-3, 81% of bets), Atlanta Falcons (-6, 75% of bets), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-3.5, 72%), Green Bay Packers (-5.5, 66%), and Houston Texans (-6.5, 64%). Remarkably, road favorites went a perfect 8-0 against the spread throughout the week.
One standout game from Sunday featured the Buccaneers’ decisive victory over the New Orleans Saints, ending with a score of 51-27. The Saints showcased a fierce offense by scoring 27 points in the second quarter, but Tampa Bay regained control, adding another 20 points in the fourth quarter to secure their win. Bettors were confident in the total over of 42 points, with 81% of the money backing it, which was realized at halftime with the Saints leading 27-24.
In addition to the teams’ success, the individuals placed bets on to score touchdowns also delivered impressive results. Four of the five most popular selections to score touchdowns came through on Sunday: David Montgomery (-145), Terry McLaurin (+175), Ja’Tavion Sanders (+500), and Derrick Henry (-300). However, Philadelphia Eagles’ running back Saquon Barkley (-190), who was also highly bet, was unable to cross the goal line against the Cleveland Browns.
In Major League Baseball, the Los Angeles Dodgers dominated the New York Mets 9-0 during Game 1 of the NL Championship Series. Interestingly, the Dodgers attracted only 36% of the bets and 42% of the total money wagered. Bettors showed strong interest in the over for eight runs, with 73% of the money being placed on that outcome.
While the NFL found favorites thriving, the same could not be said for college football on Saturday, as the three most bet teams fell short of covering their spreads, leading to a couple of upsets. Notably, Ohio State (-3.5) lost at Oregon, Oklahoma (+14.5) succumbed to Texas, and Penn State (-3.5) was defeated by Southern California.
On the golf front, Matt McCarty pulled off an incredible win at the Black Desert Championship in only his second tour appearance, entering the tournament with +5500 odds. He garnered a mere 1.3% of the pre-tournament bets, but was able to secure the victory.
Looking ahead, the Major League Baseball playoffs have entered the championship series, leaving just four teams in contention. In the race for World Series odds, the Dodgers hold the favorites’ position at +110, with the New York Yankees closely trailing at +175. The Cleveland Guardians and the Mets are positioned well behind at +550 and +700, respectively.