Sportsbook Trader: We’re Pulling for the 49ers
Today marks the beginning of what could be the NFL's most thrilling time of year: Wild Card Weekend. There will be six games today afternoon, followed by Sunday and Monday night. The San Francisco 49ers vs. Eagles NFC matchup in Philadelphia is the game to watch from a betting standpoint, according to sportsbook traders.
There is strong support for the Eagles.
“At this point, we’ll be pulling for San Francisco on Sunday, as Philly covering the spread would be one of the biggest results of the weekend,” said Adrian Horton, Sr. Director, North American Sports Trading, theScore Bet. “The Eagles are by far the most-bet spread market by handle out of the six games, and we’ve moved them out two points to -5.5.”
The NFL playoffs are quite open this year, according to Christian Cipollini, Senior Trading Manager at BetMGM.
"The NFL Playoffs are wide-open this year,” he said. “Any team could lift the Lombardi Trophy this year and we wouldn’t be surprised. The Chargers or Jaguars winning it all would be the best outcome for the sportsbook.”
NFC, (5) Los Angeles Rams vs. (4) Carolina Panthers (Fox, 4:30 p.m. EST today)
RG Kevin Dotson will not play for the Rams due to an ankle injury. CB Josh Wallace (ankle), TE Terrance Ferguson (hamstring), and WR Jordan Whittington (knee) all doubtful. G Chandler Zavala (calf) and G Robert Hunt (biceps) are listed by the Panthers as questionable.
ML, Rams -600, Panthers +440; Spread, Rams -10 (-115), Panthers +10 (-105); O 45.5 (-115), U 45.5 (-105)
ML, Rams -620, Panthers +460; Spread, Rams -10.5 (-110), Panthers +10.5 (-110); O 46.5 (-104), U 45.5 (-118)
NFC, 7 Green Bay Packers vs. 2 Chicago Bears (Today, 8 p.m. EST, Prime)
The Packers are without wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks due to a concussion. LB Nick Niemann (pectoral), DL Warren Brinson (foot), QB Malik Willis (right shoulder/hamstring), OL Zach Tom (back/knee), and S Javon Bullard (knee) are all doubtful.
The Bears are missing DB Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, LB Amen Ogbongbemiga, and DL Joe Tryon-Shoyinka due to concussions. Both DB Kyler Gordon (groin) and OL Braxton Jones (knee) are doubtful.
ML, Packers -130, Bears +110; Spread, Packers -1.5 (-115), Bears +1.5 (-105); O 44.5 (-112), U 44.5 (-108)
ML, Packers -126, Bears +108; Spread, Packers -1.5 (-114), Bears +1.5 (-106); O 44.5 (-115), U 44.5 (-105)
AFC, Buffalo Bills (6) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (3) on Sunday at 1 p.m. EST on CBS
The finest game of the weekend ought to be this one. Josh Allen, the quarterback for the Bills, is under a lot of pressure to win a Super Bowl. Although Allen is currently the MVP, Trevor Lawrence of the Jaguars is currently the NFL's most attractive quarterback.
The Bills have suffered severe injuries thus far; LB Terrel Bernard (calf), CB Maxwell Hairston (ankle), and S Damar Hamlin (pectoral) are all sidelined. LB Shaq Thompson (neck), RB Ty Johnson (ankle), WR Josh Palmer (ankle), and K Matt Prater (right quad) are all doubtful. The only player the Jaguars are considering questionable this morning is LT Cole Van Lanen (knee).
Where do the majority of bettors place their wagers? According to Johnny Avello, Sportsbook Director at DraftKings, this is the one game where they are witnessing the greatest level of balance.
ML, Bills -105, Jaguars -115; Spread, Bills +1.5 (-118), Jaguars -1.5 (-102); O 51.5 (-112), U 51.5 (-108)
ML, Bills -108, Jaguars -108; Spread, Bills -1.5 (+100), Jaguars +1.5 (-122); O 51.5 (-115), U 51.5 (-105)
NFC, (6) San Francisco 49ers vs. (3) Philadelphia Eagles (Fox, Sunday, 4:30 p.m. EST)
WR Jacob Cowing (hamstring), DE Keion White (groin/hamstring), LB Luke Gifford (quadricep), LB Dee Winters (ankle), CB Renardo Green (ankle), WR Ricky Pearsall (knee/ankle), and OT Trent Williams (hamstring) are among the 49ers' injured players. The Eagles have concerns about RT Lane Johnson (foot), OL Brett Toth (concussion), and LB Azeez Ojulari (hamstring).
ML, 49ers +215, Eagles -265; Spread, 49ers +6 (-112), Eagles -6 (-108); O 44.5 (-108), U 44.5 (-112)
FanDuel: O 44.5 (-105), U 44.5 (-115); ML, 49ers +210, Eagles -255; Spread, 49ers +5.5 (-108), Eagles -5.5 (-112)
AFC, (7) Los Angeles Chargers vs. (2) New England Patriots (NBC, Sunday, 8 p.m. EST)
The Chargers have two injured players: S Kendall Williamson (ankle) and WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith (hamstring). Questionable players include RB Omarion Hampton (ankle), TE Tucker Fisk (ankle), RT Austin Deculus (oblique), OLB Bud Dupree (hamstring), LB Del'Shawn Phillips (hamstring), and S Elijah Molden (hamstring).
DL Khyiris Tonga (foot), WR Kayshon Boutte (hamstring), OT Thayer Munford Jr. (knee), and LB Harold Landry (knee) are all out for the Patriots.
DraftKings: O 45.5 (-115), U 45.5 (-105); ML, Chargers +160, Patriots -192; Spread, Chargers +3.5 (-112), Patriots -3.5 (-108)
FanDuel: Spread, Chargers +3.5 (-110), Patriots -3.5 (-110); O 45.5 (-114), U 45.5 (-106); ML, Chargers +164, Patriots -196
AFC, Houston Texans (5) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (4) on Monday at 8:15 p.m. EST on ESPN/ABC
For the Steelers, TE Jonnu Smith (glute) is doubtful. The Texans have concerns about OT Trent Brown (ankle/knee), CB Kamari Lassiter (ankle/knee), DE Denico Autry (knee), RB Jawhar Jordan (ankle), and OT Tytus Howard.
DraftKings: O 38.5 (-105), U 38.5 (-115); ML, Texans -155, Steelers +130; Spread, Texans -3 (-102), Steelers +3 (-118)
FanDuel: Spread, Texans -3 (-105), Steelers +3 (-115); O 38.5 (-105), U 38.5 (-115); ML, Texans -158, Steelers +134
Games with the Highest Bet
Packers vs. Bears, Bills vs. Jaguars, and Rams vs. Panthers are the most popular bet games (tickets), according to BetMGM. The Patriots (-3.5), Bears (+1), and Texans (-3) have the highest bet spreads (tickets). The Chargers (+3.5), Eagles (-5), and Packers (-1) have the highest bet spreads (handle).
The 49ers vs. Eagles (under 44.5), Packers vs. Bears (under 44.5), and Rams vs. Panthers (under 46) had the highest bet totals (tickets).
Luke Musgrave (GB) under 2.5 receptions made -130, James Cook (BUF) under 80.5 rushing yards -140, and Dalton Kincaid (BUF) are the most popular bet props (tickets) this morning. Receiving yards over 39.5 -110, Quentin Johnston (LAC) under 39.5 Jauan Jennings (SF) Over 3.5 Receptions made -140, and receiving yards -115. The most likely player to score a touchdown at any time is Puka Nacua (LAR) at -130.
