[h=1]Week 7 NFL betting line moves[/h]
Dave Tuley
ESPN Staff Writer
ESPN INSIDER
Editor's note: This column appears each week to give ESPN Chalk readers a first look at the next week's NFL lines. The Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook also puts out the advance lines on the prior Tuesday (so Week 8 lines will be posted this upcoming Tuesday), and we'll examine how the weekend action affected those lines from the openers on the Don Best odds screen. We'll also look at which lines were the first to be bet by the professional bettors in Vegas (traditionally, those are the bettors most likely to fire away on these openers, though it's not the exclusive club that it used to be).
LAS VEGAS - The marquee matchup of NFL Week 7 was expected to be the New England Patriots visiting the Pittsburgh Steelers, but the game was conspicuously off the betting board at the Westgate SuperBook on Sunday afternoon.
QB Ben Roethlisberger was injured in Pittsburgh's 30-15 loss at Miami in the early games on Sunday and it was later learned that he had a torn meniscus and would undergo surgery on Monday. The game stayed off the board until Monday morning, and with oddsmakers certain that Landry Jones would be starting for the Steelers, the line was posted with the Patriots favored by 7 or 7.5 points depending on the sports book. The Westgate went with New England -7.5 (EVEN) and it stayed there most of the day on Monday before being bet down to 7 late Monday afternoon.
It's interesting to note that in the advance line at the Westgate last week, the game was set at pick 'em. After the Steelers' loss (and before the full extent of Roethisberger's injury was learned, especially since he finished the game), CG Technology actually opened Pittsburgh -1 and early bettors took New England and bet the Patriots to -2.5 before it was taken off the board.
Let's take a look at the Week 7 lines and how they've been bet into place (lines in parentheses are from the Westgate SuperBook as of the kickoff of the Monday Night Football game):
Thursday: Chicago at Green Bay (-9): The advance line at the Westgate last week was Green Bay -10.5, but after the Packers lost to the Cowboys, the Westgate adjusted the line down to 8.5 (the Bears also lost, but by just 1 point after closing as 2.5-point favorites, so that didn't affect the line as much). Most other books opened the Packers between -8.5 and -10 with CG Technology on the high end, and the line has settled in between at -9 or -9.5.<offer style="box-sizing: border-box;"></offer>
New York Giants (-3, EVEN) vs. Los Angeles (in London): The Giants were -2.5 last week on the advance line. The Giants beat the Ravens while the Rams lost to the Lions and the line was re-opened as a split between -2.5/-3 with the Westgate opting for New York -3. The line has continued to waver between -2.5/-3, meaning there's usually extra vig of -120 attached to the side that bettors are looking to play at the number.
Minnesota (-2.5, -120) at Philadelphia: The Eagles were actually a 1-point favorite on the Westgate's advance line, but after the Eagles lost to the Redskins on Sunday, the Westgate re-opened at Minnesota -2. Other books varied between Minnesota -1 and -2.5, and early bettors have sided with the Vikings. This line was up to -2.5 (-120) at most books here and offshore with Boyd Gaming the first to go to Minnesota -3 (EVEN).
New Orleans at Kansas City (-7, EVEN): This line was Chiefs -7 last week, and after both teams won Sunday that's just where the Westgate posted it. Other books opened with a mix of -6.5/-7, and the Westgate got bet down to -6.5 within an hour of posting their openers but then went back to -7 on Monday morning. As of the Monday night kickoff, we were still seeing a split between -6.5/-7.
Washington at Detroit (-1): The Lions were -2.5 last week and after both teams won on Sunday, the Westgate lowered it to Detroit -2. The Wynn also opened -2 but most other books went with -1 and -1.5 (probably because the Redskins' win over the Eagles was more impressive than the Lions' over the Rams), and the line was mostly at 1 on Monday night.
Cleveland at Cincinnati (-10): The Bengals were -10.5 last week but the Westgate adjusted the line down to 9.5 after both teams lost Sunday. Several Vegas books (CG Technology, William Hill, MGM, Stations, Boyd Gaming) went with -10, and the Westgate joined them there on Monday afternoon.
Buffalo (-3, EVEN) at Miami: This line was -2.5 last week and after both teams won Sunday, the Westgate increased it slightly to Buffalo -2.5 (-120). It was split between -2.5/-3 at the rest of the books that opened Sunday night, and the Westgate flipped to -3 (EVEN) after half an hour of betting and stayed there through Monday afternoon.
Oakland at Jacksonville (-1): The Raiders were actually a 2.5-point favorite on the advance line, but after the Jaguars beat the Bears and the Raiders lost to the Chiefs, the Westgate adjusted it to pick 'em. Most other books went with Jacksonville -1. The Westgate was bet to -2 but has settled back at -1.
Indianapolis at Tennessee (-3, EVEN): The advance line had this game at pick 'em but after the Titans beat the Browns on Sunday, the Westgate opened the game at Tennessee -2.5. The game was taken off the board during the Sunday night game in which the Colts dominated but blew a 14-point lead to the Texans and lost in overtime. The game was re-posted right back at Tennessee -2.5 on Monday morning and early bettors took it to -3 (EVEN).
Baltimore at New York Jets (PK): This was pick 'em last week and stayed right there when the Westgate posted it after the Ravens lost to the Giants. It was taken off the board when the Jets' Monday night game kicked off, and I would expect the Ravens to be a small favorite on Tuesday morning after the Jets' blowout loss at Arizona.
San Diego at Atlanta (-6.5): The Falcons were -5.5 on the advance line and after the Chargers upset the Broncos on Thursday night and the Falcons lost by only 2 points at Seattle (and covered), the Westgate put it right back up at -5.5. Most other books here and offshore increased Atlanta to -6 or -6.5, and that's where the early money showed at the Westgate. It was bet to Atlanta -6 right away and then -6.5 on Monday.
Tampa Bay (-1.5) at San Francisco: This is yet another game that was pick 'em on the advance line. The Buccaneers were on their bye, so after the 49ers were blown out by the Bills, the Westgate re-opened with Tampa Bay -1. Most other books adjusted further at -2 or -2.5 and the market has mostly wavered between -1.5 and -2 as of Monday night.
New England (-7) at Pittsburgh: The moves are detailed above. Most books were still split at -7/-7.5 at the kickoff of Monday Night Football.
Sunday night: Seattle at Arizona (-1): The Cardinals were -1.5 last week and it was posted at -1 after the Seahawks' close win over the Falcons. It was taken off the board when the Monday night game kicked off, and I would expect it go back up at -1.5 or -2 on Tuesday morning.
Monday night: Houston at Denver (-7.5, EVEN):This advance line was Denver -6.5 and even after the Broncos lost to the Chargers last Thursday, the Westgate put it back up at 6.5 on Sunday afternoon. It was taken off the board when the Texans' Sunday night game started, and after they were outplayed most of the game but rallied to win by 3 in overtime, the Westgate kept it right at 6.5. Other books went with a mix of -6.5/-7, and all the books here and offshore were bet to Denver -7 during Monday's wagering, and it went to -7.5 (EVEN) by kickoff of the Monday night game.
Dave Tuley
ESPN Staff Writer
ESPN INSIDER
Editor's note: This column appears each week to give ESPN Chalk readers a first look at the next week's NFL lines. The Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook also puts out the advance lines on the prior Tuesday (so Week 8 lines will be posted this upcoming Tuesday), and we'll examine how the weekend action affected those lines from the openers on the Don Best odds screen. We'll also look at which lines were the first to be bet by the professional bettors in Vegas (traditionally, those are the bettors most likely to fire away on these openers, though it's not the exclusive club that it used to be).
LAS VEGAS - The marquee matchup of NFL Week 7 was expected to be the New England Patriots visiting the Pittsburgh Steelers, but the game was conspicuously off the betting board at the Westgate SuperBook on Sunday afternoon.
QB Ben Roethlisberger was injured in Pittsburgh's 30-15 loss at Miami in the early games on Sunday and it was later learned that he had a torn meniscus and would undergo surgery on Monday. The game stayed off the board until Monday morning, and with oddsmakers certain that Landry Jones would be starting for the Steelers, the line was posted with the Patriots favored by 7 or 7.5 points depending on the sports book. The Westgate went with New England -7.5 (EVEN) and it stayed there most of the day on Monday before being bet down to 7 late Monday afternoon.
It's interesting to note that in the advance line at the Westgate last week, the game was set at pick 'em. After the Steelers' loss (and before the full extent of Roethisberger's injury was learned, especially since he finished the game), CG Technology actually opened Pittsburgh -1 and early bettors took New England and bet the Patriots to -2.5 before it was taken off the board.
Let's take a look at the Week 7 lines and how they've been bet into place (lines in parentheses are from the Westgate SuperBook as of the kickoff of the Monday Night Football game):
