2024 NFL Week 11 betting recap: Books content with ‘a good end to a solid day.’ As Sunday transitioned into night, numerous sportsbooks reported a generally favorable outcome thanks to the NFL Week 11 odds. However, Joe Brennan Jr. from Prime Sportsbook approached the upcoming Cincinnati Bengals vs. Los Angeles Chargers matchup with a sense of caution.
He even referenced a classic Thanksgiving moment as the holiday draws near.
“The only disaster bigger than the WKRP turkey drop would be to give everything back from a solid NFL Sunday,” Brennan remarked, echoing the infamous Les Nessman quote. “As God is my witness, I thought the Chargers could cover.”
Despite being 1-point favorites, the Chargers struggled to maintain their lead, surrendering a 21-point advantage in the second half. Yet, they managed to secure the victory, much to the dismay of the betting public.
Sportsbook oddsmakers across the nation reflected on the previous weekend’s NFL and college football betting results.
Down To The Wire
The Chargers entered halftime with a commanding 24-6 lead and extended it to 27-6 with a field-goal drive. However, the game took a turn reminiscent of the infamous WKRP turkey drop episode.
The Bengals rallied, scoring 21 consecutive points to tie the game at 27. Both teams had chances to score but failed, with Cincinnati missing two field goals that ultimately sealed their fate.
In a thrilling finish, Los Angeles executed an 84-yard drive in just four plays to clinch a 34-27 victory, capped off by J.K. Dobbins’ 29-yard touchdown run.
Before the game, Brennan expressed hope: “We’re rooting for the Chargers to break our month-long streak of Sunday Night Football disasters.”
After the game, he shared a sigh of relief: “For the first time in ages, our Prime Sportsbook team can rest easy instead of worrying about another disappointing SNF decision ruining our NFL Sunday results. It was a satisfying conclusion to a solid day.”
Late-Games Lift
The early Sunday games presented a mixed bag for bookmakers and bettors alike. Many recreational bettors backed the Detroit Lions, who were favored by 13.5 points against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Lions delivered a stunning performance, winning decisively with a score of 52-6.
Conversely, the Green Bay Packers, another popular pick as 6-point favorites, barely escaped Chicago with a narrow 20-19 victory.
Key late-window matchups, including the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Buffalo Bills and Seattle Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers, proved significant for The SuperBook in Las Vegas. Buffalo, a 2.5-point favorite, secured a late touchdown drive for a 30-21 win.
Meanwhile, Seattle, a 6-point underdog, pulled off an upset against San Francisco with a thrilling 20-17 victory, highlighted by Geno Smith’s 12-yard touchdown run in the closing moments.
“Seattle’s victory was a great outcome for us, and the Bills’ win added to the positive afternoon,” remarked SuperBook executive director John Murray.
BetMGM senior trader Tristan Davis added, “The 49ers’ loss definitely contributed to a successful day.”
Blocked-Kick Blues
Another outcome that favored the oddsmakers but could have been even better was the Packers’ narrow 20-19 win over the Bears.
Chicago had a potential game-winning opportunity. With just seconds left, the Bears attempted a 46-yard field goal to clinch victory but were thwarted by a Packers block.
“We would have preferred that kick to go through. While the Bears covering was still a win for us, an outright win would have been even better,” Cipollini commented.
Murray from The SuperBook added, “If the Bears had pulled off an outright victory, it would have been a monumental day for us.”
The Good and The Bad
Before the Chargers’ victory brought relief, Brennan highlighted the key ups and downs in the NFL Week 11 odds landscape.
“The good: New Orleans’ win was significant. Pittsburgh’s outright victory was another positive, and Indianapolis winning outright was a big boost,” Brennan noted.
“The bad: Miami’s easy win, Minnesota covering, and Detroit’s explosive performance were tough for us,” he added.
For those unfamiliar, cricket’s scoring system leads to high totals. The Lions, as previously mentioned, scored an astonishing 52 points against Jacksonville, with seven touchdowns and a field goal.
Miami also faced a late scare against the Las Vegas Raiders. The Dolphins, favored by 8 points, found themselves ahead 24-19 after the Raiders scored a touchdown with 4:23 left. However, Tua Tagovailoa connected with Jonnu Smith for a 57-yard touchdown pass, and the Dolphins sealed the win with a field goal, covering the spread at 34-19.
Minnesota, as a 6-point favorite at Tennessee, secured a 23-13 victory.
On Campus
The highly anticipated Tennessee vs. Georgia clash highlighted college football Week 12 odds, and BetMGM got the outcome they desired.
Trading manager Seamus Magee stated before the game: “We really just want Georgia to win this game.”
Magee was not concerned about Georgia covering the 8.5-point spread; avoiding an outright upset by Tennessee was the priority.
At halftime, the score was tied at 17. However, the Bulldogs dominated the second half, shutting out the Vols for a 31-17 victory.
Another SEC matchup proved more favorable for the sportsbooks than the bettors, as LSU, a 3.5-point favorite at Florida, lost 27-16.
Magee remarked, “That was a significant result for us.”
In another SEC showdown, Texas defeated Arkansas 20-10 but failed to cover as a 13.5-point road favorite.
Magee concluded, “We needed Arkansas to perform well. Texas was one of the most heavily bet teams of the day.”
