2024 NFL Week 9 betting recap reveals a challenging day for sportsbooks, as many favorites, including the Detroit Lions, dominated the point spread.
The Detroit Lions have proven to be a reliable choice for bettors over the last two years. With their recent performances, they have become a favorite among the betting public.
In NFL Week 9, the Lions continued their trend of success, emerging as a reliable option for those placing bets. Many bettors found their wagers paying off handsomely.
When the Lions teamed up with other popular teams like the Washington Commanders, it resulted in a profitable day for many bettors while causing headaches for the sportsbooks.
“Too many favorites winning and covering. It was a good Sunday for the public,” remarked John Murray, executive director of The SuperBook.
Sportsbook operators from across the nation reflected on the weekend’s betting outcomes in both NFL and college football.
Detroit Diesel
Since the latter half of the 2022 season, betting on the Lions has been straightforward and rewarding. Jared Goff and his teammates hold an impressive 30-8 record against the spread (ATS) in their last 38 games.
In their latest game, the Lions traveled to Green Bay as 2.5-point favorites and secured a 24-14 victory. This win contributed to a remarkable 10-4 ATS record for favorites during Week 9.
This led to comments from sportsbook operators reflecting on the day’s challenges:
“Awful. Brutal afternoon and an even worse evening,” expressed Zachary Lucas, director of retail sports at TwinSpires Sportsbook.
The Lions’ victory was part of a series of late Sunday NFL games. Other notable performances included the Los Angeles Rams, who edged out the Seattle Seahawks 27-20 in overtime as 1.5-point favorites, and the Minnesota Vikings, who defeated the Indianapolis Colts 21-13 as 6-point home favorites.
Although the Philadelphia Eagles didn’t cover their 7.5-point spread against the Jacksonville Jaguars, their win kept many moneyline parlays intact, with Detroit and Minnesota helping bettors stay hopeful for Monday Night Football.
“The public had a good day, and I’m sure they will roll over into the Chiefs on Monday night,” predicted BetMGM senior trader Tristan Davis.
Kansas City is set to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a 9-point home favorite.
In Command, In Demand
The Washington Commanders have surprised many by achieving a strong 7-2 straight-up record this season, surpassing their anticipated win total of 6.5. Even better for bettors, the Commanders are 7-1-1 against the spread, tying them with the Lions for the best ATS record in the league.
On Sunday, Washington triumphed over the New York Giants 27-22, covering the spread as 4-point road favorites by stopping a late 2-point conversion attempt from the Giants.
Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels has quickly gained popularity among bettors, adding to the excitement surrounding the team.
“Our biggest need of the day was the Giants. Just super one-way action on the Commanders,” said Murray. “It’s unusual to see the Commanders as such a public team.”
At BetMGM, Washington attracted the most point-spread tickets and money on the NFL Week 9 oddsboard, a trend mirrored at DraftKings Sportsbook.
Giving Back
Despite the success of several favorites, sportsbooks found some relief through unexpected outcomes. The Carolina Panthers, considered underdogs at 7 points against the struggling New Orleans Saints, pulled off a surprising 23-22 victory, stopping a late 2-point conversion attempt.
The Buffalo Bills, another favorite, fell short of covering their -6 spread against the Miami Dolphins, winning narrowly with a last-minute field goal, 30-27.
“The Dolphins covering was one of our most needed outcomes,” remarked BetMGM trader Christian Cipollini.
South Point sportsbook director Chris Andrews added, “Miami was good for us, Carolina was really good. And the Ravens were actually good for us.”
On Campus
As for college football in Week 10, most sportsbooks were rooting for Penn State, but bettors favored Ohio State in their Big Ten matchup. The Buckeyes, closing as 3-point favorites, covered the spread with a 20-13 victory.
At BetMGM, the three most-bet teams on the point spread—Ohio State, Indiana, and Oregon—all won and covered. Indiana, a 7.5-point road favorite, recovered from an early 10-0 deficit to dominate Michigan State 47-10. Oregon, favored by 14.5 points at Michigan, cruised to a 38-17 victory.
While many bettors celebrated their wins, BetMGM managed to secure profits from other outcomes.
“The Florida cover was a great result,” noted BetMGM trading manager Seamus Magee. “And we had a great finish to the night. Louisville, South Carolina, and SMU made it a profitable day for the book.”
Georgia, favored by 14.5 points against Florida, faced a tough match, trailing 13-6 at halftime and ultimately losing 34-20, covering by just half a point.
Clemson, a 10.5-point favorite against Louisville, suffered an upset, losing 33-21, while Texas A&M, a 3-point favorite at South Carolina, was beaten 44-20. The popular 7-point underdog Pitt also fell to SMU, losing 48-25.
