NFL, CFB Weekend Betting Recap: 'Blended Bag of Outcomes' for Books, Bettors

[ad_1] Ravens-Steelers supplied an exciting finish to the regular-season battle between bookmakers and bettors.

However very similar to the remainder of the NFL Week 18 odds market, outcomes had been blended.

A number of sportsbooks wanted the Steelers on Sunday night time and received them in wild trend, as Pittsburgh received 26-24. Nonetheless, Caesars Sports activities wanted the Ravens.

"The purchasers received large on the final recreation of the common season, on the most important recreation of the day," Caesars vice chairman of buying and selling Craig Mucklow mentioned.

Extra on the weekend that was, as a number of oddsmakers recap NFL betting in Week 18, together with the Faculty Soccer Playoff quarterfinals.

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Sunday Evening Lights

The Steelers had been 4.5-point dwelling underdogs to the Ravens in Sunday’s winner-take-all contest. By means of three quarters, it was a usually defensive contest, with Pittsburgh up 13-10.

It stayed that method till halfway by the fourth quarter. Then, within the last 8:42, 28 factors went on the board, 14 for every workforce:

Lamar Jackson 50-yard landing go to Zay Flowers, placing the Ravens up 17-13. Kenneth Gainwell 2-yard TD run, giving the Steelers a 20-17 edge. Jackson-to-Flowers 64-yard TD go, as Baltimore went forward 24-20. Aaron Rodgers 26-yard TD go to Calvin Austin III to place Pittsburgh up 26-24. The Steelers missed that last further level, with 55 seconds left. Positive sufficient, Jackson drove the Ravens into area aim vary, however kicker Tyler Loop was large proper on a 44-yarder as time expired.

Caesars took a beating from bettors totally prepared to again the Steelers, even after they had been down 10-0 early within the second quarter.

"Pittsburgh was well-bet pregame and once more on the comeback with in-play betting," Mucklow mentioned. "The profitable kick was delivered by the shoppers, in the most effective results of Week 18 for them."

On the flip facet, BetMGM received some aid from the Steelers. Pregame, buying and selling supervisor Tristan Davis mentioned betting motion was one-way visitors on the favored Ravens.

"So we received one thing out of the sport. However the excessive scoring noticed the bettors get one thing out of it, too," Davis mentioned, noting the Over noticed loads of motion, because it usually does in prime-time standalone video games.

Ravens-Steelers complete closed at 42, and with simply 23 factors by almost three-and-a-half quarters, it appeared the Below would get there. However the explosive last 8:42 made the Over a winner for the general public betting plenty.

Added SuperBook danger supervisor Casey Degnon: "It’s a small profitable day for the guide. We would have liked the Steelers outright."

Tremendous Saturday, So-So Sunday

Oddsmakers just about unanimously praised the outcomes of the 2 Saturday NFL video games. A key cause why: Each matchups noticed little scoring.

The Buccaneers held off the Panthers 16-14, however Tampa didn't cowl as a 3-point dwelling favourite. Then the 49ers, a well-liked 2.5-point dwelling underdog, misplaced to the Seahawks 13-3.

Carolina-Tampa had a complete of 42.5, and the Seattle-San Francisco complete was 48.5.

"Saturday was incredible. These had been each nice outcomes," South Level sportsbook director Chris Andrews mentioned. "For Sunday, we’re barely forward. The Chargers-Broncos recreation actually killed us, and we wanted Miami."

Los Angeles was a 15-point highway underdog at Denver and misplaced 19-3 however almost coated on its last drive. Two landing passes had been negated, the primary by penalty and the second on video overview.

The Dolphins had been additionally 15-point highway ‘canine vs. the Patriots, however got here up far shorter than the Chargers in a 38-10 loss.

Caesars Sports activities head of soccer buying and selling Joey Feazel echoed Andrews’ factors.

"Saturday was good for the guide," Feazel mentioned. "Sunday was a blended bag of outcomes, with lots of meaningless video games going down."

Feazel mentioned bettors did effectively to the Giants’ 34-17 rout of the Cowboys, with New York a classy 3-point dwelling underdog. The general public additionally received paid on the Payments’ 35-8 rout of the Jets and the Rams’ 37-20 win over the Cardinals.

Playoff Payoff

Faculty Soccer Playoff quarterfinal odds noticed two upsets, a lot to the chagrin of the general public betting plenty.

On New Yr’s Eve, No. 10 Miami was a 7.5-point Cotton Bowl underdog to No. 2 Ohio State. However the Hurricanes ousted the defending nationwide champion 24-14.

"A heap of parlays died with Ohio State shedding. So 2025 went out with a bang for the guide. It was probably the greatest faculty soccer outcomes of the season for us," BetMGM buying and selling supervisor Seamus Magee mentioned.

Then on New Yr’s night time, No. 6 Ole Miss — a 6-point underdog — rallied for an exciting 39-34 victory over No. 3 Georgia.

"We had an important New Yr’s Day. Ole Miss outright killed a ton of parlays and actually led to an important general day for the home," Magee mentioned.

Patrick Everson is a sports activities betting analyst for FOX Sports activities and senior reporter for VegasInsider.com. He's a distinguished journalist within the nationwide sports activities betting area. He’s primarily based in Las Vegas, the place he enjoys {golfing} in 110-degree warmth. Observe him on X: @PatrickE_Vegas.

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