Bettors Bullish on Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills in NFL Week 2

Posted on: September 18, 2020, 06:53h. 

Last updated on: September 18, 2020, 07:11h.

Bill Huber Read More
Expertise: Sports Betting, Sports.

The betting public expects the Kansas City Chiefs to crash the Los Angeles Chargers’ housewarming party.

Kansas City Chiefs Patrick Mahomes
Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Los Angeles Chargers twice last season. (Image: Jay Biggerstaff/USA TODAY Sports)

The Chargers will play their first game at $5 billion SoFi Stadium against the defending Super Bowl champions in a Week 2 NFL game on Sunday. Almost all bettors expect the Chargers to be gracious hosts. At William Hill, Kansas City has received 96 percent of the tickets and 98 percent of the total money wagered on the spread. Those marks led all teams as of Friday afternoon.

It’s the same story at FanDuel, with 96 percent of the bets and 98 percent of the money on spread bets on the side of the Chiefs. According to Pro Football Reference, the Chiefs are 9-0-1 in their last 10 games against the spread. Kansas City has won 11 of the past 12 in the series.

With that, the spread has surged from the Chiefs being 6.5-point favorites, all the way up to 8.5 at FanDuel and nine at William Hill.

Everyone Loves the Bills

The betting public was impressed by the Buffalo Bills’ performance in Week 1. The Miami Dolphins? Not so much. Buffalo, which beat the New York Jets 27-17 in the opener, is getting the overwhelming majority of the bets against Miami, which lost to New England, 21-11.

Buffalo has captured 91 percent of the tickets and 95 percent of the total dollars wagered at William Hill, sending the line from 3.5 points to 5.5 points. At FanDuel, 90 percent of bets and 92 percent of the spread money has gone on Buffalo, which is now a six-point favorite.

The public expects defense, with 83 percent of the money on the under of the 41-point total.

As of Friday, Buffalo has attracted the biggest bet of the week at William Hill, with a Nevada bettor placing $11,000 on the Bills at -5.5 (-110) for a total potential payout of $21,000.

More Heavy Favorites

Bettors expect the San Francisco 49ers to bounce back from last week’s upset loss at home against the Arizona Cardinals. Facing the Jets, the 49ers have attracted 92 percent of the tickets as seven-point favorites. At Fan Duel, where the Niners also are -7, they’ve received 94 percent of the bets and 95 percent of the money on the spread.

In a battle between huge Week 1 disappointments, the Indianapolis Colts are three-point favorites over the Minnesota Vikings. Minnesota, after being blown out at home by their NFC North rival Green Bay Packers in the opener, has received 79 percent of the total bets and 74 percent of the spread money at FanDuel.

If Minnesota was playing a team off of a big win last week that looked really good, that would really be painted into the line. But they’re playing the Colts, who somehow lost to Jacksonville,” said Ed Salmons, the vice president of risk management at Westgate SuperBook, to Casino.org.

At FanDuel, the Baltimore Ravens are seven-point favorites over the Houston Texans. Baltimore, which crushed the Cleveland Browns in the opener, has received 89 percent of the bets and 93 percent of the spread money. At SuperBook, the line is up to 7.5.

Finally, Green Bay is a six-point favorite over the Detroit Lions at FanDuel and -6.5 at SuperBook after a blowout win over Minnesota. The Packers have received 89 percent of the bets and 88 percent of the spread money at FanDuel. Plus, 92 percent of the over/under money has come on the plus side of the 49.5-point total.

The total on that game started at 46 at DraftKings, according to Johnny Avello, its director of race and sportsbook operations.

That’s a pretty big move on the over,” Avello told Casino.org. “Any doubters for (Aaron) Rodgers, I think he put that to rest.”

At BetMGM, the Atlanta Falcons-Dallas Cowboys game is +400 to be the highest-scoring game of the week. That total has been set at 54.5 points.