It was another strong week for the favored teams as they won 12 of the 16 games straight up on the final regular season Sunday. It marked the second straight week teams laying points on the final NFL betting line went 12-4, closing out the regular season with a record of 165-86-2. Covering the spread proved to be more of a challenge, however. The Week 17 games were split evenly against the line at 8-8, giving the underdogs five straight non-losing weeks against the line. Overall during the 2018 season, dogs went 133-108 against the closing line with 11 games pushing the final spread.
The Bears upset Minnesota on Sunday as a 6-point dog for their fourth straight cover win and ninth in their last 10 games. Chicago was the most profitable team this season with a 12-4 ATS record. The Niners and Falcons were the biggest losers during the season with each finishing at 5-11 ATS.
The games were split on the closing total as well with the over/under going 8-8 on Sunday. It was the most over wins on the total since a 9-6 tally in Week 6. Despite points and touchdowns being scored in bunches this season, playing below the total proved profitable with the under going 135-117 against four pushes.
NFL Week 17 Betting Summary
| WAGER | Favorite/Underdog |
| Straight Up | 12 - 4 |
| ATS | 8 - 8 |
| WAGER | Total (O/U) |
| Over/Under | 8 - 8 |
Biggest Week 17 Upsets
It was an odd closing week to the regular season with teams already locked into a playoff spot sitting some starters, other teams expected to rest players not doing so, and the lines were adjusted to reflect that. Dallas clinched the No. 4 seed in the NFC a week ago and it was expected that they would sit some starters. Ezekiel Elliott was in street clothes and the Giants were pegged a 7.5-point favorite.
It looked like the right move until Dak Prescott played the entire game and tossed the last of his career-high four touchdown passes with just over a minute left in the fourth quarter. He also converted the 2-point conversion to give the Boys the upset 36-35 victory.
Even without Drew Brees playing, the Saints were 8-point chalk against the Panthers, who were without Cam Newton and backup Taylor Heinicke. Kyle Allen, the Panthers’ third quarterback in as many weeks, played well to end the misery of a seven-game losing skid that cost Carolina any hope of getting back to the postseason. It also helped that the Saints were not even interested in playing after locking up the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
A pair of NFC North teams capped hugely disappointing seasons with upset losses. Faced with a must-win as a 6-point favorite against the division champion Bears, Kirk Cousins will be skewered the entire offseason after pissing down his leg in a 24-10 loss. Cousins was guaranteed a lot of money to get the Vikings to the Super Bowl. Instead he couldn’t get them to the playoffs.
The Packers were already eliminated from the playoffs, but were looking to close the season on a high under interim coach Joe Philbin. Unfortunately, we saw just how bad they are when Aaron Rodgers isn’t quarterbacking. Rodgers was knocked out with a concussion and the team did nothing with DeShone Kizer at the helm, bringing back memories of the lost season with Brett Hundley behind center. The Packers were 7.5-point favorites but totaled just 175 yards in the 31-0 loss.
Biggest Week 17 Spreads
Double-digit spreads were common this season and the final week was no different. Five teams were laying at least 10.5-point on the closing line and all five won straight up while going 3-2 against the spread. The biggest line on the board belonged to the Seahawks, who were giving 15 points to the Cards. A last-second field goal allowed Seattle to escape with a 27-24 victory. The Steelers were laying 14-points to the Bengals and barely squeaked by with a 16-13 win. Pittsburgh needed a win and some help to reach the postseason, and while they did their part, they still fell short.
The Rams, Patriots and Chiefs all covered their double-digit lines and did so rather convincingly. Needing a win to secure a first-round bye, the Rams ( -10.5 ) pasted San Francisco, 48-32. Not to be outdone by their Bay Area neighbor, the Raiders lost 35-3 to the Chiefs as a 14.5-point dog. And New England sealed the fate of Todd Bowles by routing the Jets 38-3, covering the 14-point spread by halftime.
Teams favored by at least 10 points went 28-6 SU and 15-18-1 ATS this season.
NFL Betting Odds
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