In a season that’s seen the public betting masses do quite well and a divisional round in which the sportsbooks regained some ground, NFL conference championship odds had something for everyone. Sunday’s two games featured a ton of scoring, which is always good for the betting public. But with both underdogs getting a lot of attention, having both favorites win and cover helped some bookmakers.
The AFC Championship Game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills was a mostly favorable result for bookmakers. The Chiefs got a field goal with 3:33 left to break a 29-29 tie, then forced the Bills to turn it over on downs, securing a 32-29 victory.
The NFC Championship Game between the Washington Commanders and Philadelphia Eagles was a blowout in favor of the Eagles, with a 55-23 win as 6-point home favorites. The total on that game closed at 47, and anyone who bet the Over cashed their ticket relatively early in the third quarter.
The day was a mixed bag for sportsbooks. BetMGM senior trader Tristan Davis said, “We did well, considering the high scoring. I think we will find some bettors who also had a good day. I think both we and the bettors as a collective will look for that.”
Not all sportsbooks were as lucky. BetMGM Nevada’s Scott Shelton said, “We got smashed on both the game and on conference futures,” while Prime Sportsbook’s Joe Brennan Jr. noted, “One of the most bittersweet moments in bookmaking is getting blowtorched on a big game by the team you’ve been a fan of you’re entire life.”
The Super Bowl matchup between the Chiefs and Eagles is set for February 9, with the Chiefs as 1.5-point favorites. The total is at 49.5, which is expected to get bet higher.