The recent weekend of football was dominated by the expected favorites, showcasing strong performances across both the NFL and college football leagues.
In the NFL, favored teams achieved an impressive record of 13 wins and only 1 loss, while they also performed well against the spread, finishing 10 wins to 4 losses. In the realm of college football, the top three teams that attracted the most betting interest at the BetMGM Sportsbook not only won their matches but also covered the spread, further reflecting the trend of favoring winning teams.
Highlighted games for bettors included Ohio State winning against Penn State with a score of 17-10, covering a spread of -3.5. Another standout game saw Indiana overcoming Michigan State with a spread of -7.5, while Oregon successfully defeated Michigan with a -14.5 spread. Notably, Penn State continues to struggle as underdogs, marking their seventh consecutive loss at home.
In the NFL betting scene, the top three teams that attracted significant betting interest were the Washington Commanders, who faced the New York Giants with a -4 spread; the Detroit Lions playing at the Green Bay Packers with a -2.5 spread; and the Buffalo Bills, who took on the Miami Dolphins at -6. All three managed to secure victories, although only the Lions and the Bills covered their respective spreads, with Buffalo winning a close game against Miami, 30-27.
When it came to individual betting for touchdowns on Sunday, only two out of five players hit the end zone: Chase Brown and Taysom Hill. Other players, including David Montgomery, Brian Robinson Jr., and AJ Barner failed to find the end zone despite having relatively good odds.
In terms of upsets for the week, the most significant was the Carolina Panthers, who rallied to defeat the New Orleans Saints 23-22. New Orleans had entered the game as a 7-point favorite and garnered 76% of the bets along with 79% of the total money wagered against the spread. Following their seventh consecutive loss, the Saints decided to part ways with head coach Dennis Allen. Initially starting the season strong at 2-0, they now find themselves in a challenging position.
In college football, one of the biggest surprises emerged when South Carolina triumphed over No. 10 Texas A&M, winning decisively 44-20 at home. Texas A&M was the -2.5 point favorite and received 59% of the bets and 58% of the money, yet South Carolina’s performance led them to a significant victory.
Looking ahead, the Los Angeles Dodgers have clinched victory over the New York Yankees to claim the World Series title, prompting the release of odds for the 2025 World Series. Currently, the Dodgers lead with odds at +400, closely followed by the Atlanta Braves and Yankees both at +800. Completing the top five are the Baltimore Orioles and Philadelphia Phillies, each at +1100.