Simon Noble from Pinnacle this week:
"For this weekend’s playoff games, you might want to take a closer look at teasers before pulling the trigger, as these can be treacherous during the first week of the playoffs. For the last 15 years, the average margin of victory in the regular season has been 11.4 points. One would think that the playoffs would be closer, since the wildcard round has relative parity, but this isn’t the case. Instead of having closer games, the average margin of victory goes UP to 13.2 (and stays above 13.2 for all rounds of the playoffs and the Super Bowl). When the margin of victory goes up, points you get from a teaser become less valuable.
There is another surprising trend in this world of relative parity – home field advantage during the playoffs. Since 1990, home teams have covered the spread 58% of the time in the first round and 76% of the time when teased. As you may recall from earlier Pulse articles, you need to add at least 20% to your win-rate to make playing a teaser worthwhile.
For this weekend’s wildcard games, consider this information and how to play or tease them.
Washington (+2.5) at Tampa Bay
Washington finished the season with five straight wins to snatch a wildcard in the NFC. They did this with a balanced offense and defense that, while neither was dominant, both were above average. Tampa Bay won its division by winning four of its last five games. The Bucs did it with the #1 defense in the NFL allowing just 278 yards per game. Their offense was conservative, which relied on a low-risk running attack to eat up time and shorten games.
We initially opened the Redskins at +3 -121 and saw heavy two-way action. The sharps are divided on this game, but seem to slightly favor the Redskins. The public also favors Washington, which caused this line to nudge down. We’re also taking moderate volume on Washington teasers, but this is not from our sharper players.
Jacksonville (+8) at New England
After starting at 4-4, New England won four of its last five games to clinch its division. They did this despite being the only playoff team with a negative turnover differential (at -6 for the season). Jacksonville finished at 12-4, 2 games better than the Patriots, but thanks to sharing a division with the 14-2 Colts, the Jaguars could only win a wildcard, and are on the road.
After opening at Jacksonville +7.5, we saw heavy balanced two-way action. The sharps are split on this game as well, taking the points or playing the Patriots bought down to -6.5 and -7. Some sharps are also playing teasers on the Patriots from -8 to -2. By moving the line to New England -8 +101, we are dealing about the same price as -7.5 -104, but it makes teasing less attractive.
Carolina (+2.5) at New York Giants
After having the inside track to the NFC South title, Carolina lost two home games in December and yielded the title to Tampa Bay. Consequently, the Panthers begin their playoff journey on the road in New York. The Giants managed to win four of their last five games, but Eli Manning has had difficulties. In December, he’s thrown 7 interceptions to just 4 touchdowns and his passer rating was an abysmal 64.9%. Tiki Barber has stepped up for the offense in that same time period, netting 742 yards in those 5 games.
This is our highest volume game of the week. After opening with Panthers +3 -120, the sharps drove the line to +2.5. This is a classic money duel between the sharps on Carolina, offset by public money on the Giants. Money continues to pour in on both sides, with the sharps matching the public bettors dollar for dollar.
Pittsburgh (-3) at Cincinnati
It is rare that a home team is an underdog in the first week of the playoffs. In the last 10 years, it has only happened 5 times. How have the home dogs fared? 5-0 against the spread, and 5-0 straight up.
Our opener of Steelers -2.5 -113 saw heavy two-way action. Once again, the sharps were split evenly on this game, taking Pittsburgh at -2.5 and Cincinnati at +3. The public is also evenly split, but slightly favors the Steelers."
"For this weekend’s playoff games, you might want to take a closer look at teasers before pulling the trigger, as these can be treacherous during the first week of the playoffs. For the last 15 years, the average margin of victory in the regular season has been 11.4 points. One would think that the playoffs would be closer, since the wildcard round has relative parity, but this isn’t the case. Instead of having closer games, the average margin of victory goes UP to 13.2 (and stays above 13.2 for all rounds of the playoffs and the Super Bowl). When the margin of victory goes up, points you get from a teaser become less valuable.
There is another surprising trend in this world of relative parity – home field advantage during the playoffs. Since 1990, home teams have covered the spread 58% of the time in the first round and 76% of the time when teased. As you may recall from earlier Pulse articles, you need to add at least 20% to your win-rate to make playing a teaser worthwhile.
For this weekend’s wildcard games, consider this information and how to play or tease them.
Washington (+2.5) at Tampa Bay
Washington finished the season with five straight wins to snatch a wildcard in the NFC. They did this with a balanced offense and defense that, while neither was dominant, both were above average. Tampa Bay won its division by winning four of its last five games. The Bucs did it with the #1 defense in the NFL allowing just 278 yards per game. Their offense was conservative, which relied on a low-risk running attack to eat up time and shorten games.
We initially opened the Redskins at +3 -121 and saw heavy two-way action. The sharps are divided on this game, but seem to slightly favor the Redskins. The public also favors Washington, which caused this line to nudge down. We’re also taking moderate volume on Washington teasers, but this is not from our sharper players.
Jacksonville (+8) at New England
After starting at 4-4, New England won four of its last five games to clinch its division. They did this despite being the only playoff team with a negative turnover differential (at -6 for the season). Jacksonville finished at 12-4, 2 games better than the Patriots, but thanks to sharing a division with the 14-2 Colts, the Jaguars could only win a wildcard, and are on the road.
After opening at Jacksonville +7.5, we saw heavy balanced two-way action. The sharps are split on this game as well, taking the points or playing the Patriots bought down to -6.5 and -7. Some sharps are also playing teasers on the Patriots from -8 to -2. By moving the line to New England -8 +101, we are dealing about the same price as -7.5 -104, but it makes teasing less attractive.
Carolina (+2.5) at New York Giants
After having the inside track to the NFC South title, Carolina lost two home games in December and yielded the title to Tampa Bay. Consequently, the Panthers begin their playoff journey on the road in New York. The Giants managed to win four of their last five games, but Eli Manning has had difficulties. In December, he’s thrown 7 interceptions to just 4 touchdowns and his passer rating was an abysmal 64.9%. Tiki Barber has stepped up for the offense in that same time period, netting 742 yards in those 5 games.
This is our highest volume game of the week. After opening with Panthers +3 -120, the sharps drove the line to +2.5. This is a classic money duel between the sharps on Carolina, offset by public money on the Giants. Money continues to pour in on both sides, with the sharps matching the public bettors dollar for dollar.
Pittsburgh (-3) at Cincinnati
It is rare that a home team is an underdog in the first week of the playoffs. In the last 10 years, it has only happened 5 times. How have the home dogs fared? 5-0 against the spread, and 5-0 straight up.
Our opener of Steelers -2.5 -113 saw heavy two-way action. Once again, the sharps were split evenly on this game, taking Pittsburgh at -2.5 and Cincinnati at +3. The public is also evenly split, but slightly favors the Steelers."
