Late field goals led to some wild NFL gambling swings

It was another wild Sunday of NFL betting, and a mixed day for sportsbooks and public bettors. Favorites ending up going 8-7 against the spread, but many Unders came through as well (11-4 on the day).

The biggest win of the early games for sportsbooks was the Miami Dolphins (+7) covering against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs won 33-27, but a Miami field goal with 16 seconds left got Dolphins backers the cover. The game was the most-bet early game at PointsBet sportsbooks (80 percent of bets, 91 percent of spread money on Kansas City) and had the most money and bets of the early games at William Hill US books. The Chiefs have won but not covered their last five games, becoming the first team since the 2007 New England Patriots to accomplish that feat.

Sportsbooks also did well on the Chicago Bears (+1) dominating the Houston Texans, 36-7. Despite the Texans having multiple offensive skill-position players out, the public flocked to back Houston, with 77 percent of bets and 88 percent of handle on the Texans at PointsBet. It was the second-most bet game at PointsBet, and the best result of the day for the book.

The public also was upset to see a late Detroit Lions (+8.5) field goal give Detroit the cover in a 31-24 loss to the Green Bay Packers. A whopping 89 percent of spread handle at BetRivers books was on Green Bay -7.5 and 86 percent of bets and 83 percent of handle at William Hill sportsbooks were on the Packers to cover. The Lions were the biggest afternoon need for PointsBet. One fortunate BetMGM bettor cashed his wager of $225,000 on Green Bay -6.5 at -180 odds, after buying two points.

The biggest upset of the day — the Philadelphia Eagles beating the New Orleans Saints 24-21 as 7-point home underdogs — was a huge result for books. At William Hill US sportsbooks, a massive 85 percent of the bets and 91 percent of the money were on New Orleans to cover. At BetMGM, the action included a huge $192,000 bet on Saints -7, which failed to cash. In terms of the total, more than 90 percent of the money at William Hill was also on Under 42.5 points, which failed to come through. At BetRivers sportsbooks, only 8 percent of moneyline bets were on the Eagles.

“In the early games, we were really hurt on the teasers since a lot of people had teased the Chiefs and the Buccaneers together,” Thomas Gable, sportsbook director at The Borgata in Atlantic City, said. “Luckily for us the Eagles beat the Saints outright and eliminated a lot more teaser liability.”

One of the best games for bettors was the Tennessee Titans (-7.5) beating the Jacksonville Jaguars, 31-10. At multiple sportsbooks, more than 80 percent of bets and money were on the Titans to cover.

Bettors also did well on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-7) beating the Minnesota Vikings, 26-14. It was the worst result of the early games at The Borgata and the third-most bet game at PointsBet sportsbooks on the day, with 68 percent of the bets and 70 percent of the money on Tampa Bay to cover.