With four spots up for grabs in the Championship games of the 2020 NFL Playoffs, here’s how BetRivers and SugarHouse bettors wagered on the weekend’s games.
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Divisional Round Saturday Betting Recap
Packers 32, Rams 18:
The Packers (-345 ML) never trailed in the game, which was great news for Green Bay ML backers (88% of ML handle). The Rams (+7, +285 ML) made things interesting when Cam Akers (+100 Anytime TD Scorer) scored to make the game 25-16 followed by a 2-point conversion to make it 25-18 late in the third quarter. With the over/under settling at 45.5 before kickoff, Over 45.5 backers (70% of handle) hit their bets once Aaron Rodgers found Allen Lazard (+325 Anytime TD Scorer) for a 58 yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
DaVante Adams scored his 19th touchdown of the season for the first touchdown of the game, and he was the most popular bet to score the first touchdown with the odds of +500.
Bills 17, Ravens 3:
This game started slow with only 6 points in the first half, easily hitting the under 18.5 points in the first half (45% of tickets). The Bills (-135 ML) scored on their opening drive of the second half as Josh Allen hooked up with Stefon Diggs (+850 First TD Scorer) to take the lead 10-3 and never looked back. The Bills covered the closing spread of 2.5 points while receiving 58% of spread tickets. The under 49.5 was never in question for 44% of bettors with both teams struggling to score in the windy conditions of Buffalo.
Buffalo will now head to Kansas City for the AFC Championship, after the Chiefs (-9.5, -455) beat the visiting Browns.
Divisional Round Sunday Betting Recap
Chiefs 22, Browns 17:
The Chiefs (-8, -350 ML) never trailed in the game, but faced a scare when star quarterback Patrick Mahomes left the game with a concussion. The Chiefs opened this game at -10 and stayed that way most of the week, but late line movement towards the Browns had the game close at an 8-point spread. The Chiefs still received 92% of tickets on the ML and 72% against the spread.
Patrick Mahomes was +1800 to score the first touchdown of the game and did so on a speed option early in the first quarter. The Browns fell down 22-10, but Kareem Hunt (+145 Anytime TD) scored early in the fourth quarter to bring the Browns back to covering the spread. With the over/under settling at 55.5 before kickoff, under backers (40% of handle) won their bets relatively easily. Travis Kelce scored his 12th touchdown of the season to the delight of many bettors as he was the second most popular anytime touchdown scorer behind teammate Tyreek Hill. Kelce was -160 to score.
The Chiefs will now host the Bills in the AFC Championship. Even with the uncertainty regarding Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs still opened as 2.5 point favorites and -155 on the moneyline.
Buccaneers 30, Saints 20:
In what is now rumored to be Drew Brees’ last game in the NFL, Tom Brady led the Buccaneers (+2.5, +145 ML) to an outright win and a date with the Green Bay Packers next Sunday. The Buccaneers forced 4 turnovers, the first leading to Mike Evans scoring the first touchdown of the game (+1000). The Buccaneers finished with 45% of spread and 40% of moneyline tickets as bettors favored the Saints to improve to 3-0 against the Buccaneers on the season. The Over/Under 51.5 came down to the wire, with the Buccaneers being able to run out the clock and preserve the under for 56% of bettors.
Tampa Bay will head to Green Bay to take on Aaron Rodgers and the Packers next weekend for the right to go to the Super Bowl. The Packers have opened at -4 and -190 on the moneyline.
