Las Vegas residents have embraced their new silver-and-black home team, but gamblers? Not so much, especially in NFL Week 5 betting. The sportsbooks were the big winners on Sunday, after the Las Vegas Raiders upset the Super Bowl-favorite Kansas City Chiefs.
William Hill reported 60% of the tickets on the game were on the Chiefs, as was 68% of the money. Jeff Stoneback, director of trading at the Mirage, said the majority of money was on the Chiefs, including parlays.
The Raiders were underdogs of 10.5 to 11 points, depending on the sportsbook, and anywhere from +400-450 on the moneyline.
When the Raiders upset the Chiefs, 40-24, it blasted a bunch of parlay cards and moneyline bets. John Murray, executive director for the SuperBook, told Covers.com it was a big win for them.
“One of the biggest wins of the season in the NFL to date,†Murray said. “Maybe the biggest.â€
Murray added to ESPN: “Very high-volume game, with so many moneyline parlays and teasers to the Chiefs.”
BetMGM also reported a $70,000 bet on a two-team moneyline parlay involving the Chiefs. The bettor had the Baltimore Ravens as the second team.
Big Underdogs Statistically Superior
BetLabs data suggested wagering against an underdog of 10 or more points is often a losing proposition. Since 2003, NFL favorites of 10 or more points are 273-305-13 against the spread.
That figure is even worse against division opponents, where the record is 100-126-7 ATS. In the first five weeks of the season, heavily favored division opponents went 18-37-2 ATS.
Not all of the bets were losers, however. One gambler put down $20,000 on the Raiders at South Point, and walked away $18,181 richer.
Chiefs are AFC West Champs?
Before the Kansas City-Las Vegas game, BetOnline put out a tweet proclaiming the Chiefs as the AFC West Champions, and claiming anyone holding a ticket was a winner. The defending Super Bowl Champions opened the season at -350 to win the division. Now they are -4500.
The other teams in the division — the Broncos, Chargers, and Raiders — are still live, so those holding tickets have a chance if they somehow win the division. The Raiders are next at +1500, followed by the Chargers at +2500, and the Broncos at +4500.
Teddy Bridgewater Money as Underdog
Going into the Carolina-Atlanta game, Panthers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was 20-5 against the spread when he was an underdog. Carolina settled as a two-point dog just before kickoff.
Bridgewater easily led the Panthers over the Falcons, 23-16. Carolina also cashed as a +165 on the moneyline.
The money, however, was on the Falcons. At William Hill 54% of the tickets were on Atlanta, as was 57% of the money.
At South Point someone gave away the two points and put $33,000 on the Falcons.
Stat of the Week
Pittsburgh wide receiver Chase Claypool is the first Steelers rookie with a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown in the same game since Hall of Famer Franco Harris did it in 1972. He’s also the first Steelers wide receiver with a rushing and receiving score in the same game since Hines Ward in Week 9 in 2004.
Claypool was anywhere from 40/1 to 50/1 going into Sunday to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year. Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow was the favorite at 5/2.