In late September, Casino.org had a chat with Johnny Avello, a Sports Betting Hall of Famer and Director of Race & Sportsbook Operations at DraftKings. He mentioned that the NFL betting season had a strange start, but things would eventually even out. As we reach the halfway point of the NFL season, some interesting betting trends have surfaced.
The Kansas City Chiefs have been dominating with an 8-0 record, while the Washington Commanders have surprised many as underdogs with a 7-2 record. Lamar Jackson is a frontrunner for MVP, and the Detroit Lions are leading the NFC and the North Division with a 7-1 record. On the other hand, the San Francisco 49ers have underperformed with a 4-4 record.
Christian Cipollini, the BetMGM Trading Manager, noted a 13% year-over-year growth in NFL betting interest at the midseason mark. Bettors have been particularly interested in the ‘anytime touchdown scorer’ prop, with Derrick Henry being the most bet player. The Lions, with their league-best 7-1 record against the spread, have been a tough outcome for bookmakers.
BetMGM has seen an increase in women betting on the NFL by 31% year-over-year, along with a 76% rise in first touchdown bets thanks to the Second Chance promotion. The most bet game was the Bills and Jets matchup in Week 6, which ended in a 23-20 victory for the Bills.
At PointsBet Canada, the public has been successful in picking winners straight up, possibly due to more favorites winning compared to previous seasons. There has been a growing interest in same-game parlays, with Josh Allen for MVP being a popular future bet.
Throughout the season, winning punters have favored teams like the Commanders, Lions, Chiefs, and Vikings, who have a combined 25-7 record against the spread. On the other hand, underperforming teams like the Cowboys, Dolphins, Jets, and Houston have a 10-23 record against the spread.
Futures betting favorites like the Bills, Ravens, Texans, Chiefs, and Lions have been popular choices. The 49ers’ performance in the NFC West will be crucial, while the Eagles are seen as potential contenders in the NFC Conference. The Chiefs are the most bet team for the Super Bowl, followed by the Lions, Bengals, and Packers.
Kevin O’Connell is a popular choice for Coach of the Year, while Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry are top contenders for Regular Season MVP. Despite some underwhelming moments, business has been steady through the first nine weeks of the season. Week 6 was particularly good for punters, with 12 out of 13 favorites winning, with only Tennessee losing against the Colts.
