This week there is one marquee game, but while the line has remained at 3.5 points in favor of Kansas City hosting the Los Angeles Chargers, several other contests have seen some significant movement with the odds.
The biggest one has been Detroit at Buffalo. The game opened as a pick ’em, but in the last two days the Bills have emerged as a 2.5-point favorite. Buffalo is on a two-game losing streak, both straight up and against the spread. Last week they let one get away, when they were beaten by the New York Jets, 27-23.
Bills coach Sean McDermott was critical of his special teams and defense and said they must improve.
“I expect more from the standpoint in terms of what we talk about all the time,†McDermott said. “There’s a formula to win in this league and it starts by taking care of the football and giving yourself a chance with good field position. Defensively, we gave up big plays that we haven’t done in first half and prior games.”
No Double-Digit Lines
This marks the first time since Week 7 that there hasn’t been a team favored by 10 or more points. The streak almost was kept alive by Atlanta. The Falcons opened as 10-point picks against Arizona, but the line has been bet down to 8.5.
Atlanta is 2-10 against the spread this season. They have not been a double-digit favorite this season. The most points they have given away this season was 5.5 twice, and they covered on one of those occasions.
The first time was against the Carolina Panthers the second week of the season. They won, 31-24. The second time was at Cleveland on Nov. 11 and they lost outright, 28-16.
Miami Moving Spread
The Miami Dolphins are fresh off their upset win over the New England Patriots, where they were 9-point underdogs and won outright, 34-33. The team opened getting 9.5 from Minnesota, but saw the sharps load up on the Bills, bringing the number down to seven.
The Dolphins have been an underdog by nine or more points three times this season, and are 1-2 straight up, and 2-1 ATS.
The Vikings have only handed out nine or more points once this year, Oct. 14 to the Arizona Cardinals. Minnesota covered, winning 27-17.
Saints Still Best ATS
Despite losing ATS two weeks ago, the New Orleans Saints continue to be a bettor’s best buddy. Drew Brees and the boys are 10-3 ATS, and have won 10 of their last 11.
This week they are at Carolina for their third consecutive road game. It is difficult to win the second of two road games, much less three. The Saints are favored by 6.5, after opening at seven.
The Panthers have lost five straight ATS, and are 5-8 on the season ATS. The 6.5 points is the most the team has gotten all season. They did get 5.5 when they faced the Atlanta Falcons in the second week of the season, and lost 31-24, failing to cover.
Texans Look to Rebound
After seeing their nine-game win streak snapped, the Houston Texans opened as a 6.5-point pick on the road against the New York Jets, but have seen the line move to six.
The only question with the Jets is whether rookie quarterback Sam Darnold is 100 percent. Of course the first-year signal caller was listed as probable in last week’s game against the Bills, and won.