Not only have the Pittsburgh Steelers become the favorites among online sports betting fans from West Virginia, but they have also won the hearts of the entire NFL.
As the Dallas Cowboys face off against football’s sole undefeated team on Sunday, both enthusiasts and bettors anticipate a thrilling showdown. Let’s delve into some notable Week 9 observations.
WV Sportsbooks feature a lopsided Pittsburgh-Dallas game
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been established as the early favorites by DraftKings WV Sportsbook, with a 13.5-point advantage against the struggling Cowboys. The Cowboys, facing a shortage of quarterbacks, are now relying on their fourth- and fifth-string options. The Steelers are all too familiar with the challenges brought by quarterback injuries, as they struggled last season when Ben Roethlisberger was sidelined. However, they managed to finish with an 8-8 record, showcasing their resilience. This season, the Steelers have taken great measures to protect Roethlisberger, implementing a strong ground game and strategic pass plays that allow him to release the ball quickly. As a result, they are currently enjoying a remarkable and magical season.
Regarding this game:
According to Jerry Jones, the owner of the Cowboys, quarterback Ben DiNucci struggled to keep up during their 23-9 defeat against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. As the Cowboys prepare to face the Steelers, who currently hold the top spot in the league for sacks and hurries, they are contemplating the potential of Cooper Rush and Garrett Gilbert, who are relatively unknown in terms of their performance.
If the over-under of 41 holds true, it indicates that the Steelers are expected to establish a significant lead in the early stages of the game. Consequently, Dallas may struggle to score, leading Pittsburgh to substitute their starting players with benchwarmers in the fourth quarter. In such a scenario, would bettors have the opportunity to place a wager on the regular players with a 13.5-point handicap, considering they would only be playing for three quarters?
Pittsburgh boasts an impressive 6-1 record against the spread, whereas Dallas remains the sole team lacking a spread cover and a quarterback.
The spotlight is on Pittsburgh’s league-leading number of sacks and pressures, which brings attention to various betting props. This includes the possibility of defensive touchdowns and safeties, once they are made available for betting. Dallas allowed a defensive score against the Eagles, resulting in a payout of almost +450 across major sportsbooks. This play also influenced the outcome of the Eagles’ cover.
However, the reason why props only make up a small portion of one’s budget is because they serve as an additional game within the main game.
JuJu Smith-Schuster’s odds of scoring at any point during the game against the Baltimore Ravens were +225 according to DraftKings. In the second half, he came extremely close to reaching the end zone with a pass, but unfortunately, he was halted just shy of the goal line. Bettors came agonizingly close to a satisfying payout but were ultimately unable to cash in.
This occurrence is a common sight in almost every game on a weekly basis. While props can be highly rewarding, they tend to be more unpredictable compared to other types of bets.
Ravens’ offense raising questions in NFL Week 9
Similar to how you enjoy purchasing stocks when their prices drop, bettors discovered an enticing opportunity with the Baltimore Ravens at a favorable -2.5 point spread against the home team, Indianapolis Colts, on Wednesday for their upcoming game on Sunday. This betting line had remained stagnant at -3 for a few days prior.
Despite being a favorable opportunity, the Ravens have sparked worries among their supporters as they transition from being an outstanding team to merely above average. Moreover, there is a noticeable flaw in their foundation. In their recent match against the Steelers, reigning MVP Lamar Jackson’s performance was marred by a Pick 6 and a second interception that resulted in a touchdown. Additionally, he failed to lead the Ravens to a late-game touchdown, contributing to their 28-24 defeat.
The Ravens must expand their offensive strategy to counter opponents’ tactics. Despite a solid offensive line, teams are effectively pressuring Jackson to rely on long passes for success. Notable teams such as the Tennessee Titans in last year’s playoffs, the Kansas City Chiefs, and now the Steelers in the current regular season have successfully limited Jackson’s impact. If opponents manage to contain him, the Ravens’ chances of winning diminish significantly.
Despite not being targeted much last week, tight end Mark Andrews continues to be a reliable scoring threat. It is only a matter of time before quarterback Jackson looks his way again.
Niners hampered by injuries
During their previous encounter, the San Francisco 49ers welcomed the Green Bay Packers and swiftly obtained a commanding 27-0 advantage, ultimately securing a victorious NFC championship game.
Why are the Niners suddenly considered heavy underdogs when they face off on Thursday night? According to DraftKings and FanDuel Sportsbook, they are now 5.5-point underdogs, which is a two-point increase from Wednesday morning. This change in odds is due to the absence of key players Jimmy Garoppolo and George Kittle, causing bettors and oddsmakers to anticipate a significant decline in performance at those positions.
Washington Football Team alive in the NFC Least
The Washington Football Team, with a record of 2-5, has an opportunity to narrow the gap to half a game behind the first-place team as they prepare to face the New York Giants in the NFC East (or Least) division on Sunday.
Yes, go figure, they lost five consecutive games at one point.
The sportsbooks have Washington as the favorite, with a slight advantage of about a field goal. Quarterback Kyle Allen has brought new energy to the team, as evidenced by their crushing 25-3 victory over the Cowboys prior to the bye week. Given the forgiving nature of the division this year, a win in this game will keep Washington right in the mix.
After experiencing a defeat, Washington falls 1.5 games behind the leading Philadelphia Eagles. However, Washington is currently on a two-week winning streak and displaying their finest performance of the season.
The allure of this game lies in the chance to start fresh by winning.
In Week 6, New York secured a narrow victory over Washington, with a final score of 20-19. This season, they have an impressive record of 5 wins and 3 losses against the spread.
In-game betting nuggets for WV sports betting fans
At BetMGM WV Sportsbook, prop bets for scoring first are available. The Cowboys gained a first-score field goal on Sunday in a game they ultimately lost, resulting in a +500 return. However, the Detroit Lions have excelled in this area, as they have consistently scored first in all their games this season. Gamblers can earn a favorable price by successfully combining scoring first with a specific method such as a field goal, touchdown, or even a safety.
Will the Lions be able to replicate their success this week against the Minnesota Vikings? A portion of their triumph can be attributed to the fortuitousness of winning the coin toss and gaining possession first. Additionally, the efficiency of their offense has played a significant role. The Lions have shown precision in their initial drives of the game.
Bettors are often driven by their contrarian instinct, which suggests that this streak will eventually come to an end, yet its impressiveness cannot be denied. Alternatively, one can approach this bet by selecting a scoring method for each team as the initial score of the game. While this approach may yield a smaller profit, it enhances the likelihood of winning.
What about the Green Bay Packers’ performance in the early game? Throughout this year, Green Bay has successfully scored on their opening drive in every game. Can we expect this trend to continue when they face the 49ers on Thursday?
It is truly remarkable that the New Orleans Saints, set to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in an exciting Drew Brees versus Tom Brady contest, have managed to score a touchdown in four consecutive games with less than two minutes left in the first half.
Intangibles
After their impressive win against the Tennessee Titans with a score of 31-20, the Cincinnati Bengals maintain their reputation of rewarding the WV sports betting crowd by holding a league-leading record of 7-1 against the spread.
The Joe Burrow era is well underway, as the Bengals’ top draft pick led them to their second victory of the season, matching their total from the previous year. Throughout their games, the Bengals have been competitive and have consistently received favorable point spreads.
After their bye week, they will face the Steelers in the upcoming game.
Next week, the Cleveland Browns, who are also highly favored by bettors in the Mountain State, have a game against the Houston Texans at home.
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