Sportsbooks Start NFL Regular Season With Week 1 Win
Scott Morris | September 12, 2017
Week 1 of the NFL is in the books and sportsbooks have a smile on their faces. After a very tough 2016 NFL season sportsbooks started the 2017 season off well.
For sportsbooks last year it was the worst ever NFL season, but Week 1 of the season was nearly perfect for them.
The week began well for sportsbooks on Thursday when Kansas City won straight up against the best team against the number last season the New England Patriots.
With Houston, a very popular public bet losing straight up Sunday’s start for sportsbooks was strong as well. Add to that the Browns at +10 and the Bears at +7 both covering and the early Sunday games gave the books a good beginning to the day.
Jacksonville was +6 on the road in Houston and the Texans were getting loads of public support especially due to the recent hurricane that helped bring the city together in relief efforts.
Jacksonville was strong early and kept the pressure on the entire game winning easily 29-7
Chicago nearly won late, but was able to cover 23-17 against the popular Atlanta Falcons who at many sportsbooks were on over 80% of the tickets written.
Most sportsbooks also had 75% or more of their tickets on the Steelers over the Browns, but the Browns battled the entire time and finally fell 21-18.
After winning big early, the books did give some back late when Carolina and Green Bay both covered. The books however, were still up strong when the Cowboys -5.5 hosted the Giants.
Carolina -5 was able to shut down any offense thrown at it by San Francisco easily covering the as 5-point chalk 23-3. Green Bay -3, was down at halftime 3-0, but rallied in the second half to win 17-9 and cover.
Sunday night, Dallas -5.5 easily covered at 19-3 by shutting down Eli Manning and an anemic Giants offense.
The UNDER was the big word of the day with 10 of 12 Sunday games cashing UNDER. Four underdogs were outright winners
On Monday, the Vikings covered at home against a lackluster Saints, while the Broncos beat the Chargers by three. For many the Broncos-Chargers matchup was a push as the line remained at Broncos -3 right up to kickoff.
However, overall books won in that game as the public had bet the spread up to Denver -3.5 on several sportsbooks only to see the Chargers score 10 fourth-quarter points to cover by a ½ point.
