Betting news, trends, odds and predictions from various handicappers and websites for Monday 10/15/18
October 15, 2018
By Joe Williams
College Football Recap - Week 7
Overall Notes
National Football League Week 6 Results
Wager Favorites-Underdogs
Straight Up 9-5
Against the Spread 6-8
Wager Home-Away
Straight Up 8-6
Against the Spread 7-7
Wager Totals (O/U)
Over-Under 8-6
National Football League Year-to-Date Results
Wager Favorites-Underdogs
Straight Up 58-32-2
Against the Spread 41-49-2
Wager Home-Away
Straight Up 57-33-2
Against the Spread 50-40-2
Wager Totals (O/U)
Over-Under 50-42
The largest underdogs to win straight up
Dolphins (+7, ML +270) vs. Bears, 31-28 (OT)
Cowboys (+3, ML +150) vs. Jaguars, 40-7
The largest favorite to cover
Vikings (-9.5) vs. Cardinals, 27-17
Falcons (-3) vs. Buccaneers, 34-29
Seahawks (-3) vs. Raiders in London, 27-3
Same Old Song and Dance
-- The Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots did battle on Sunday Night Football in Foxboro, and it might not be the last time we see these combatants face one another this season. The Chiefs and QB Patrick Mahomes are the new kids on the block, the challengers. The Patriots and QB Tom Brady are the prideful veterans not ready give up their throne quite yet. If this were an MMA battle, this would have been a split decision after going the distance. The Pats won, the Chiefs covered...and it was the first game in NFL history to end with a 43-40 score. The sequel, if there is one, might be even more fun.
Paying the Bills
-- The Buffalo Bills do not seem to care being double-digit underdogs. They headed to the Gulf Coast to battle the Houston Texans, and they were tied 13-13 late despite losing their starting QB Josh Allen (elbow) to an injury. A late pick-six gave the home team the win, but the Bills were able to cover as double-digit underdogs. As a single-digit underdog the Bills are 1-3 ATS. As a 'dog by 10 or more points the Bills are 2-0 ATS. Buffalo has been a favorite of total bettors, too, as the 'under' has connected in four straight.
Total Recall
-- There were three games generally in the same neighborhood on the big board. The Jacksonville-Dallas (39.5) battle was the lowest total on the board, and the home team ended up taking care of the 'over' themselves in the 40-7 win. Further south in the Lone Star State, the Buffalo-Houston (40) battle had just 33 points on the board when the dust cleared, and a late defensive score made the difference. The Chicago-Miami (40.5) game was also expected to be a defensive battle, especially once it was determined QB Brock Osweiler would start in placed of the injured QB Ryan Tannehill (shoulder), but it was quite an entertaining battle with 59 total points to easily cash the over.
-- The two highest totals on the board, Tampa Bay-Atlanta (57.5) and Kansas City-New England (59.5) weren't high enough. The Bucs and Falcons combined for 23 points in the fourth quarter to push the total over, while the Chiefs and Patriots hooked up for a total of 83 points. The other two games with totals of 50 or greater, Pittsburgh-Cincinnati (50) and L.A. Rams-Denver (50) ended up cashing 'under'.
-- The 'over' cashed for the L.A. Chargers in their road rout of the Cleveland Browns, and they're the only team in the AFC who hasn't had the 'under' come in at least twice (5-1). In the NFC, the 'over' is a perfect 5-0 for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Atlanta Falcons have cashed in five of their six outings. The 'over' is also 4-1 for the San Francisco 49ers heading into their Monday night battle with the Green Bay Packers, who have also hit the over in four of their five outings.
-- The 'over' finished 2-0 in the first two primetime games with the Monday night contest pending. Overall for the 2018 season the 'over' in primetime games is 9-9 (50.0%). The 'under' had cashed in three consecutive Sunday night battles before the track meet between the Chiefs and Patriots.
Officially, the 'over' finished 25-23-1 (52.1%) in 49 games under the lights in 2017.
In 2016, the 'over' in night games went (52.9%) through 51 games.
In 2015, the over finished 20-28-1 (41.7%) in 49 primetime games.
In 2014, the over went 33-17 (66.0%) in primetime games, and the over was 28-22 (56.0%) in 2013.
Injury Report
-- Bills QB Josh Allen (elbow) left Sunday's game in Houston with an elbow injury, forcing QB Nate Peterman into action. He ended up tossing a pick-six in the final two minutes, costing the team in a 20-13 loss.
-- Falcons WRs Calvin Ridley (ankle) and Muhammad Sanu (hip) were each forced out of the Week 6 battle against the Buccaneers.
-- Jets WR Quincy Enunwa (ankle) turned an ankle in the shootout against the Colts and he was unable to return.
-- Raiders WRs Amari Cooper and Seth Roberts were each forced out of the battle with the Seahawks in London due to concussions.
Looking Ahead
-- The suddenly hot Texans, winners of three in a row, battle the Jaguars in Northeast Florida. The Jags head home from Dallas with their tails between their legs after a sound 40-7 beating. It might get worse, as they're just 2-6 ATS in their past eight home meetings against the Texans. The 'over' has cashed in three of the past four meetings overall, and three straight in Jacksonville.
-- The Titans and Chargers will lock horns in London. The 'under' cashed in the Week 6 battle between the Seahawks and Raiders, and the total has gone under in 50% (11-11) the first 22 contests played in the United Kingdom.
-- The 49ers return from home from Wisconsin to find the Rams waiting for them. That isn't a bad thing for San Francisco, as the Niners have covered five straight in this series, last failing to cover Nov. 1, 2015 on the road. They're 3-2 SU/4-1 ATS in the past five meetings, and the 'under' is 4-1 during the past five meetings in the Bay Area, too.
-- The Cowboys will travel to D.C. looking to take care of their rivals, the Redskins. Lately, they have been a nightmare for Washington. The Redskins are 0-4 ATS in their past four meetings at home against the Cowboys, and they haven't beaten the Cowboys in five tries at FedEx Field since Dec. 30, 2012. The over has also cashed in three of the past four meetings in D.C., and five straight in this series.