Week 8 of the NFL season was filled with surprises and excitement, highlighted by a dramatic Hail Mary touchdown thrown by Jayden Daniels that secured a last-minute victory for the Washington Commanders against the Chicago Bears.
The weekend in sports showcased several trends, particularly from insights gleaned through BetMGM Sportsbook.
Among the notable betting trends, the top three teams that attracted the most money did not meet expectations in their respective games. The Baltimore Ravens, favored by 8.5 points, suffered an unexpected defeat to the Cleveland Browns. The Green Bay Packers, who were favored by 3.5 points, narrowly defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars by just three points. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Eagles had an impressive performance, easily beating the Cincinnati Bengals, who were favored by 2.5 points.
The thrilling conclusion of the Commanders vs. Bears game saw Washington clinch an 18-15 win just as time ran out, which significantly swayed betting outcomes. Chicago was positioned to win and cover the spread after being a 1.5-point favorite, drawing in 53% of the bets against the spread. However, the Commanders emerged as the popular choice for the moneyline, with 75% of the bets placed in their favor and 69% of the overall money, marking them as the most popularly backed underdog of the day.
In the realm of college football, Indiana was the most heavily wagered team on Saturday, with 83% of bettors backing them against the spread as they faced Washington. The Hoosiers delivered a strong performance, winning 31-17, and improved to an unbeaten record of 8-0 this season.
Transitioning to the World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers are currently leading the New York Yankees 2-0. In the second game, the Dodgers had a moneyline of -140 but garnered just 29% of the bets and 39% of the money. In the first game, they were priced at -125 and attracted 38% of the bets, collecting 44% of the stake. The odds suggest a promising outlook for the Dodgers at -450 to win the World Series compared to the Yankees’ odds of +340.
When it comes to significant upsets from the week, the Cleveland Browns stood out by defeating Baltimore 29-24, despite entering the game as 8.5-point underdogs. Interestingly, 69% of the spread bets and 66% of the money were directed toward the Ravens. Cleveland’s moneyline was set at +350, meaning a $100 bet would yield a $350 return for savvy bettors.
In golf, the PGA Tour hosted the Zozo Championship in Japan, where Nico Echavarria celebrated his second career victory. His odds before the tournament stood at a staggering +20000, reflecting his under-the-radar status with only 0.2% of bets and 0.1% of the total money backing him.
Looking ahead, as the college football season reaches its peak, attention turns to the Heisman Trophy race. Travis Hunter of Colorado is currently the most favored candidate, with odds at +250, accounting for 16.8% of the total bets and 31.1% of the money wagered. His odds have noticeably improved from last week when he was listed at +1800. In contrast, Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel holds the shortest odds at +240 but is attracting a modest 4.5% of the bets and 6.4% of the money.