notes from wk one so far
Biggest Favorite to Cash
Philadelphia (-10) defeated Jacksonville, 34-17
Biggest Underdog to Cash
Buffalo (+7, +250 ML) defeated Chicago, 23-20 (OT)
-- Three public favorites were on their way to cashing easily, but the Steelers, Saints, and Patriots failed to cover. Pittsburgh managed a last-second field goal to edge Cleveland as six-point home favorites, 30-27, as the Steelers squandered a 27-3 lead before the Browns rallied to tie the game at 27-27.
-- New Orleans and New England weren't as lucky in the road 'chalk' role. The Saints blew a 13-0 advantage in a 37-34 setback to the Falcons in overtime, as Atlanta tied the game with a last-second field at the end of regulation. Atlanta cashed as three-point home favorites, while avenging a pair of losses to New Orleans last season.
-- The Patriots threw away a 17-7 edge at Miami, as the Dolphins outscored New England, 26-3 in the final 32 minutes of a 33-20 loss at Sun Life Stadium. New England closed as 3 ½-point road favorites, as Bill Belichick's team lost its season opener for the first time since 2003.
-- The Raiders were totally outclassed by the Jets in Week 1, getting outgained 402-158. However, Oakland managed to cash as six-point road underdogs in a 19-14 defeat at New York thanks to a Derek Carr touchdown pass in the final two minutes.
-- So you think you were sharp by taking the Jaguars and 10 points. Things looked good for Jacksonville backers with a 17-0 halftime advantage, but Philadelphia scored the final 34 points of the game, capped off by a fumble return for a touchdown with 1:23 left to cover the double-digit line. Fair to say (after the fact) that taking the Eagles -7 ½ in the second half was probably the easiest second half bet of the week.
Barking Dogs
-- Nine underdogs cashed on Sunday afternoon, including four road teams that won outright. Cincinnati and Minnesota weren't that shocking, but how many people had Buffalo winning at Chicago? The Bills built a 17-7 halftime lead at Soldier Field as seven-point underdogs, but Chicago rallied to tie the game and force overtime. Following a Chicago punt on its first possession of overtime, Buffalo drove for the game-winning field goal to shock the Bears, 23-20.
-- The Titans opened as six-point underdogs at Kansas City, but that line moved all the way down to three at kickoff. Tennessee rolled at Arrowhead Stadium, 26-10, knocking off the defending AFC West champions by limiting Kansas City to 245 yards of offense. For the second straight season, the Titans won their season opener on the road in the underdog role, as Tennessee stunned Pittsburgh last season in Week 1.
--the 49ers took care of the business with a 28-17 victory at Dallas as 3 ½-point road favorites. and for those who wanted to fade Carolina after news broke that Cam Newton was inactive. The Panthers played very well without their starting quarterback as Anderson led Carolina to a 20-14 triumph at Tampa Bay as four-point 'dogs, while the two touchdowns by the Bucs came in the fourth quarter.
