NFL opening lines, Week 3: Odds see monster spread on Seattle
Seattle faces the biggest point spread in years and history tells us that the underdogs usually cover these odds. Jacksonville is the biggest underdog in Week 3 NFL betting.
Can you say “huge point spread,” boys and girls?
The Seahawks opened as 19.5-point home favorites, which is the biggest spread since New England closed as a 20-point favorite against the Colts in December 2011, according to the do-it-yourself NFL database at OddsShark.com. Before that, no team approached that number since the 2007 Patriots went on a spree of point spreads of 20-plus.
But here’s a cautionary tale for bettors who like to back big favorites. Five of the six biggest underdogs since 1980 all covered the spread.
And in the 11 times that a point spread closed at 19.5 points or higher, the favorites covered the spread only three times (3-8 ATS).
| Date | Fave | Dog | Spread | Score |
| Nov 25 2007 | Patriots | Eagles | -24 | 31-28 |
| Dec 5 1993 | 49ers | Bengals | -23.5 | 21-8 |
| Dec 23 2007 | Patriots | Dolphins | -22 | 28-7 |
| Oct 13 1991 | Bills | Colts | -20.5 | 42-6 |
| Dec 19 1992 | 49ers | Bucs | -20.5 | 21-14 |
| Dec 16 2007 | Patriots | Jets | -20.5 | 20-10 |
| Nov 11 2001 | Rams | Panthers | -20 | 48-14 |
| Dec 4 2011 | Patriots | Colts | -20 | 31-24 |
| Nov 1 1992 | Bills | Patriots | -19.5 | 16-7 |
| Nov 29 1998 | Packers | Eagles | -19.5 | 24-16 |
| Oct 24 1999 | Rams | Browns | -19.5 | 34-3 |
| Sept 29 2002 | Eagles | Texans | -19.5 | 35-17 |
Its the biggest of many significant Week 3 spreads. Denver is favored by 15.5 points at home to Oakland, and that line has been climbing.
San Francisco is favored by 11.5 at home to the Colts and both the Saints and Patriots opened near double-digit chalk before getting bet down a bit.
Check out the full list of opening lines, courtesy of OddsShark.com.
| Teams | Line | Total |
| Kansas City | 3.5 | 50.5o |
| Philadelphia | -3.5 | 50.5u |
| Houston | -1 | 45o |
| Baltimore | 1 | 45u |
| NY Giants | PK | 45.5o |
| Carolina | 45.5u | |
| Green Bay | -1 | 48o |
| Cincinnati | 1 | 48u |
| St. Louis | 3.5 | 47o |
| Dallas | -3.5 | 47u |
| Cleveland | 5.5 | 41o |
| Minnesota | -5.5 | 41u |
| Tampa Bay | 9 | 44.5o |
| New England | -9 | 44.5u |
| Arizona | 9 | 49o |
| New Orleans | -9 | 49u |
| San Diego | 3 | 44o |
| Tennessee | -3 | 44u |
| Detroit | 1 | 49.5o |
| Washington | -1 | 49.5u |
| Atlanta | 1 | 44o |
| Miami | -1 | 44u |
| Buffalo | 1.5 | 39o |
| NY Jets | -1.5 | 39u |
| Indianapolis | 11.5 | 46o |
| San Francisco | -11.5 | 46u |
| Jacksonville | 19.5 | 40.5o |
| Seattle | -19.5 | 40.5u |
| Chicago | -1.5 | 40o |
| Pittsburgh | 1.5 | 40u |
| Oakland | 15.5 | 49o |
| Denver | -15.5 | 49u |
