Seeing that favorites covered in nine of the first 14 NFL games this season, the oddsmakers at Las Vegas Sports Consultants didn’t want to get caught short on the chalk teams.
So we’ve got some big favorites going in Week 2. These favorites could climb higher, too.
Anybody in the market care to back Atlanta, Oakland and Kansas City? Didn’t think so. So welcome to double-digit land.
The Chiefs made the playoffs last year, but they’ve already been exposed as frauds this season under Herm Edwards, managing just three points against Houston this past Sunday. Now they are 12-point opening underdogs to the Chicago Bears.
“This game has to close 14,” said Mike Seba, senior linesmaker for LVSC. “If Kansas City gets 10 points, it almost would be a miracle. If it (the line) makes it to 14, it might force some people to take Kansas City.”
Jacksonville is minus 10 hosting the Michael Vick-less Falcons. Joey Harrington’s leash may just have gotten shorter following his miserable road performance against Minnesota.
“This is the kind of line you (bookmakers) don’t want to be short on,” Seba said. “I agree with the spread because the Jaguars lost. So you know they are going to be ready.
“Who is going to want to play Atlanta? That’s why we wanted to stay high on Jacksonville.”
The total is just at 34 ½ or 35 setting up a ‘dog and ‘under’ or favorite and ‘over’ parlay. The question is making a case for either of these teams. The Falcons not only don’t have Vick, but also are missing their best defensive player, nose tackle Rod Coleman. The Jaguars can’t be trusted laying such a big number without a passing attack and off their worst defensive run performance.
The Raiders seemed improved during preseason (so what else is new?), but gave away a home game to the Lions. So even though Denver isn’t impressive at this stage, the Broncos are 9 ½-point home favorites.
This is another matchup that could reach double-digits.
“I don’t think anybody is going to back the Raiders,” Seba said. “Not with the way they lost to the Lions.”
Actually the Raiders covered both times against Denver last season, holding the Broncos to a combined 30 points. Denver has failed to cover eight of its past nine games.
Another high pointspread is Pittsburgh minus 9 ½ hosting injury-wracked Buffalo.
“Pittsburgh is looking good and again we don’t want to get short on a favorite,” Seba said about the high line.
The Bills have covered eight of their past 10 games. However, they could be down mentally and physically. They lost on the final play Sunday against the Broncos and also sustained several bad injuries.
“It was a devastating loss for the Bills all the way around,” Seba said. “They are a crippled team and have trouble scoring.”
Philadelphia opened either minus 6 ½ or 7 for its Monday night home game against Washington. The Eagles lost to Green Bay because of shoddy special teams play on punts and won’t have injured cornerback Lito Sheppard.
“Seven is the right number,” Seba said. “The Eagles are only going to get better. They’re home on Monday night in a division game. The Redskins look exactly like they did last year.”