It might be a good idea to stay away from Green Bay when they venture out of Lambeau Field and hit the road. The Packers were 1-3-1 against the spread when they were the visiting team going into last week.
Sunday night’s game in Minnesota didn’t reverse that trend. They came in getting 3.5 points and lost, 24-17. The Packers are also now 0-6 straight up when on the road.
More importantly, it realistically ended the Packers chance at a playoff berth. The team is 4-6-1, and third in the NFC North. They would have to win out in their next five games to even have a chance, and two of those games are on the road.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, though, was still optimistic about the postseason.
“I know I’ve got to play better,” Rodgers said. “But I will. And we’ll put ourselves in position.”
Moneyline Tempts Dolphin Fans
Miami was at Indianapolis on Sunday and a 9-point underdog. Betting on the moneyline was a +330 for the Dolphins, and some gamblers found it too tempting to pass up.
It almost paid off for those willing to bet it. The game was tied late in the fourth, but Colts quarterback Andrew Luck got the team in field goal range, and kicker Adam Vinatieri nailed a 32-yard field goal was time expired.
Miami is now 2-6 when they are the underdog.
New Orleans Barely Covers
The hottest team in the NFL is also the owner of the best record against the spread. The New Orleans Saints are 9-2 ATS, after failing to cover the first two games of the season.
Thanksgiving’s contest against Atlanta, however, almost broke the nine-game win streak. The Saints were favored by 12.5 and were leading comfortably 31-10 with 3:39 remaining when Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan started marching down the field.
Ryan found Tevin Coleman for a 4-yard touchdown pass with 1:51 left to cut the score to 31-17. Fortunately for New Orleans’ backers the onside kick was recovered by the Saints and they ran out the clock to cover.
It was the first time in nine games New Orleans was the favorite and failed to cover by five or more points. The two prior contests the Saints covered by 34 and 31 points.
The Saints are putting up points, but the under has come in five of the nine games.
Bad Beat of the Week
This one affected sportsbooks more than it did gamblers. Most of the Las Vegas and offshore books took huge money on New England to cover the 12.5 points they were laying against the New York Jets.
William Hill reported that 89 percent of the bets they took were on the Patriots. The Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook said that 97 percent of the money was on New England.
The Patriots had the line covered late in the fourth quarter, but the Jets mounted a drive and ended up on New England’s 4-yard line with 1:54 to play. Quarterback Josh McNown threw to Jermaine Kearse in the end zone but the usually sure-handed receiver dropped the pass, ending the threat of the sportsbooks winning. Instead they got a multi-million dollar loss.
It brought the Patriots’ record to 7-4 ATS.