Andrews: Inside the betting action for NFL Week 14 games

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Week 14 began with a backup quarterback leading his team to victory in the final minutes as Baker Mayfield and the Rams rallied to beat the Raiders on Thursday night.
How many backup quarterbacks do we have in action this week? Brock Purdy.Tyler Huntley. Mike White. Deshaun Watson isn’t exactly a backup, but he’s played in only one game this season. It will be interesting to see how these guys handle these games as we are at a time in the season where there is a lot on the line and a lot of pressure on some of these new guys. I’m curious to see how they perform as each one of their teams is trying to make a push toward the playoffs.
Here are the games in official Nevada rotation order.

Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions (-1.5, 51.5)

 

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We opened the Lions -1. They laid me the 1, they laid me the 1.5, laid me the 2, and I went to 2.5. Then they took the 2.5 for a pretty big whack. I went back to 2 and they took that as well. They played the Vikings on the money line pretty strong, too, at +125. I’m down to 1.5 on the side and -130/+110 on the money line. There has been sharp action both ways, walking me up the ladder initially and then on the dog at +2.5 and +2. Lotta action on the total, too. I opened 53.5. They bet me Under 53.5, Under 53, Under 52.5 and I went to 51.5. Now they bet me back Over 51.5 but that is where I still am currently.

New York Jets at Buffalo Bills (-10, 43)

I opened 9. They laid me the 9, laid me the 9.5, so I’m now at 10, which is pretty much market-wide.There was sharp play on the favorite to begin with but I am now getting some buy-back on the +10. Looks like mostly people trying to take a good number. We opened the total 44, they bet me Under, and I’m at 43.

Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers (-1.5, 36.5)

We did open this game 2. They laid me the 2, laid me the 2.5, and I went to 3. They took back the 3, took the 2.5, and they are taking the 2 as well. I see some 1.5s out there, so I am going to go to 1.5 as I write this report. This is another game where I have a lot of money on the Ravens money line as well. They took +135 and +125 and I’m now at -130/+110. The total is low, so this is one of those games in which points will be at a premium. I opened it 37.5, they bet me Under and I’m at 36.5.

Philadelphia Eagles (-7, 44) at New York Giants

I opened 7 and the sharp guys took the +7. I went to 6.5 and another sharp outfit laid it back and I’m back to 7 with the game. The public is on the Eagles, too. I opened the total 45.5, they bet me Under 45.5 and I moved it a full point because I’m a little worried about the weather. They bet me Under 44.5 and now I’m at 44.

Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals (-5.5, 46.5)

I opened the Bengals -6.5. They took the 6.5, I went to 6, they took the 6, so now we’re at 5.5 on the game. The public is definitely on the Bengals. I think we’ll be back to 6 at some point before game time. We opened the total 47, they bet me Under and I’m at 46.5.

Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans (-4, 41)

We opened this number 4 and I do have some sharp play on the Jags plus the 4, but not enough to move me. There are some 3.5s in other spots but I haven’t gotten enough to move me down yet. So I opened 4 and I’m still hanging 4. I opened the total 41.5, they bet me Under and I’m at 41.

Houston Texans at Dallas Cowboys (-17.5, 44.5)

As crazy as it sounds, we have a lot of business on this game. We opened 17 and a regular customer of ours took a really big whack on the dog at +17. We went to 16.5 and they laid it right back to me, and then they laid the 17, so I’m at 17.5 now on the game. The total opened 45, they bet me Under and I’m at 44.5.

Kansas City Chiefs (-9.5, 44) at Denver Broncos

We opened 9. They laid me the 9, but it looks like more recreational play than anything else. I went to 9.5 based on volume and also for teaser protection purposes. We’re getting some play both ways, but no sharp action at all either way. Now we do have sharp action on the total. We opened 43 and one of my sharp players bet me Over. I’m now at 44.

Carolina Panthers at Seattle Seahawks (-3.5, 44.5)

I opened the Seahawks -4. They took the 4 and I went to 3.5. We’re writing pretty even business at the 3.5 and I think we’ll be back to 4 by post time. The public is on the Seahawks and the sharp money is on the Panthers. We opened the total 43.5 and a sharp guy bet me Over, so I’m at 44.5.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at San Francisco 49ers (-3.5, 37.5)

This is the big action game of the week. It’s been back and forth. I opened 3. They laid me the 3, then they laid me the 3.5, I went to 4. They took the 4, took the 3.5, and now I’m back to 3 with the game. It is sharp and recreational action both ways. Not much, however, on the total. Hasn’t budged. I opened 37.5 and that’s where I still am.

Miami Dolphins at Los Angeles Chargers (-3, 53)

This is the other big action game of the week. I opened 3, they laid it, and I went to 3.5. Then they took it back. This is one of those games where it’s either 3 with juice on the favorite or 3.5 with juice on the dog – of course, we don’t do that here. We’re always at -110 on NFL sides, and in this case, I prefer to hold the whole number but I have a feeling that I will get back to 3.5 with this game. Same thing here, the wise guys and the public are all over both sides of the game. We opened the total 52, they bet me Over and I’m at 53.

New England Patriots at Arizona Cardinals (-1.5, 44)

It seems hardly anybody cares about this game at all. It’s Patriots -1.5, I haven’t moved it at all. It is unbelievable how little money I have on this game this late in the week. Of course, nothing on the total either. I’m sure we’ll get there come Monday, but it’s embarrassing how little business I have on this game.

Chris Andrews is the sportsbook director at South Point Hotel in Las Vegas, a member of the Sports Betting Hall of Fame, and has been a Nevada bookmaker for over 40 years.