Week 17 in the NFL was a good one.
Division titles and playoff spots were clinched, and a few games came down to the final play.
Here’s a look at how things played out from a sports betting perspective:
Trends of the Week
Favorites went 7-3 straight up Sunday at the BetMGM online sportsbook. That came after three of five underdogs won straight up on Christmas Day and Saturday (Vikings, Chargers and Ravens).
On Sunday, three of the four most bet teams against the spread covered. Those teams were Giants (-2.5 at Raiders), Jaguars (-5.5 at Colts) and 49ers (-3.5 vs. Bears).
Sunday Night Football between the 49ers and Bears came down to the final play, when the 49ers stopped the Bears inside the 10-yard line for a 42-38 win. San Francisco took in 63% of the bets and 71% of the money.
Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (-105) was the most bet player to score a touchdown but ended a three-game TD streak in Philadelphia’s 13-12 win over Buffalo.
Upsets of the Week
The biggest upset in the NFL on Sunday was the Browns beating the Steelers 13-6 as 3.5-point underdogs. The loss by Pittsburgh sets up a winner-take-all game next Sunday night against the Ravens for the AFC North and a playoff spot. The loser is eliminated.
While the Bears lost to the 49ers on Sunday, they won the NFC North on Saturday thanks to the Packers falling to the Ravens. Going into Week 1, the Bears were +625 to win the division.
Coming Up
With the NFL playoff picture coming more into focus, here are the Super Bowl odds as of Dec. 29:
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This column was provided to The Associated Press by BetMGM online sportsbook.
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