Football betting trends: Steelers the house's side vs. Chargers? Can PSU cover huge number?
Adam Bittner / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Looking to place a wager on some football games this weekend? The Post-Gazette has all the information you need to make picks in key contests, locally and nationally. Here’s the outlook for games Sept. 19-23.
Los Angeles Chargers at Steelers
Spread: Steelers, -1.5
Moneyline: Steelers -122, Los Angeles +102
Over/under: 35.5
Trends: The Chargers are a strong public side, with 78% of the bets and 82% of the cash in the spread market backing them. This signals possible value on the Steelers as the house’s preference. … Big bettors are hammering the under, which is attracting 49% of the cash in the total market on just 17% of wagers. … The under has cashed in each of the Steelers first two games in 2024 and in three of their last four going back to last season. … The Steelers have covered in five of their last six outings. … The under has also cashed in eight of the Chargers last 10 contests.
Kent State at No. 10 Penn State
Spread: Penn State, -49
Moneyline: Unlisted
Over/under: 56
Trends: The public is all over the Golden Flashes and the voluminous points, backing them with 83% of the bets and 79% of the spread cash. So the house is squarely in Penn State’s corner. … Penn State is 8-2 against the spread in its last 10 games as a favorite of 10 points or more. … The Golden Flashes have dropped 11 of their last 12 games against the spread.
Youngstown State at Pitt (odds via FanDuel)
Spread: Pitt, -25.5
Moneyline: Pitt -3500, Youngstown State +1280
Over/under: 62.5
Trends: Big bettors are expecting points, with 75% of the cash in the total market landing on the over on just 50% of the wagers. … With the Backyard Brawl win against West Virginia, the Panthers have now covered in four of their last five games. … The over has cashed in five of the Panthers’ past seven non-conference games.
Kansas at West Virginia
Spread: West Virginia, -2.5
Moneyline: West Virginia -135, Kansas +114
Over/under: 56
Trends: Another popular under with big bettors, who are backing that market with 84% of the cash on 60% of the bets. … The Mountaineers have dropped four of their past five contests against the spread, including all three this season. … The over has cashed in five of West Virginia’s last seven games.
Thursday Night Football - New England at New York Jets
Spread: New York, -6.5
Moneyline: New York -285, New England +230
Over/under: 38.5
Trends: Big bettors are in on this under as well, backing it with 53% of the cash on 24% of the wagers in the total market. … Four of the six meetings since the start of 2021 have gone under a total of 38.5 points. … The Jets have covered in just three of their past 13 contests.
Sunday Night Football - Kansas City at Atlanta
Spread: Kansas City, -3.5
Moneyline: Kansas City -175, Atlanta +145
Over/under: 46.5
Trends: Sharps are slightly bullish on the over here. It’s drawing 68% of the cash on 54% of the totals market bets. … There may be some value on the Falcons as the house side with 80% of the spread bets and 72% of the cash backing Kansas City. … The under has cashed just once in the Chiefs’ last five games.
Monday Night Football - Jacksonville at Buffalo
Spread: Buffalo, -5
Moneyline: Buffalo -238, Jacksonville +195
Over/under: 45.5
Trends: The Jaguars are a slight favorite with big bettors, drawing 58% of the cash on 46% of the spread bets. … The over has cashed in five of the Bills’ past seven games. … The Jaguars have covered in just two of their past seven outings.
No. 11 USC at No. 18 Michigan
Spread: USC, -5.5
Moneyline: USC -218, Michigan +180
Over/under: 46.5
Trends: Big bettors are all over yet another under here with 81% of the cash landing on that market on just 41% of the bets. … USC has covered in four of its last five games. … The Wolverines have failed to cover in four of their last five homes games.
No. 24 Illinois at No. 22 Nebraska
Spread: Nebraska, -7.5
Moneyline: Nebraska -305, Illinois +245
Over/under: 43
Trends: Big bettors are fading the public here, backing the Cornhuskers with 46% of the handle on just 21% of the spread wagers. … Ditto in the total market, where they’ve put 58% of the cash on the under on just 32% of the bets. … The under has cashed in five of Nebraska’s past six contests, including all three in 2024.
No. 6 Tennessee at No. 15 Oklahoma
Spread: Tennessee, -7
Moneyline: Tennessee -270, Oklahoma +220
Over/under: 57.5
Trends: Tennessee is a massive public side with 90% of the spread cash backing it, so there could be value on the Sooners as the house’s preference. … The Volunteers have dropped four of their last five conference games against the spread. … The over has cashed in seven of Tennessee’s past 10 games.