Last week’s NFL Draft brought football back to the forefront. And thanks to Pennsylvania’s sportsbooks, gamblers can get into the action now.
Many PA sportsbooks have posted betting lines for big games in the upcoming NFL season, as well as Super Bowl odds and some over/unders on season win totals.
Steelers are underdogs in Week 1
At the Rivers Casino Sportsbook in Pittsburgh, the Steelers are +6.5 in their Week 1 showdown with the Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots. In their home opener, the Steelers are 3-point favorites against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2. In futures bets, Pittsburgh is +2000 to win next year’s Super Bowl and +1000 to win the AFC.
The Steelers season win total has been set at nine.
Eagles are favorites in season opener
At the Parx Casino Sportsbook across the state, the hometown Philadelphia Eagles are +1600 to win the Super Bowl and +700 to capture the NFC. Philadelphia is an 8.5-point favorite in its Week 1 home opener against the Washington Redskins. The Eagles are 1.5-point underdogs a week later in their first road game in Atlanta.
Philadelphia’s season win total has been set at 9.5.
NFL regular season starts in September
The 2019 NFL regular season kicks off on Sept. 5 with the Chicago Bears hosting quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. The Bears have opened as a 3.5-point favorite.
The defending champion New England Patriots and the Kansas City Chiefs are the current favorites to win the Super Bowl. Both teams have opened as +750 to win Super Bowl LIV.
The Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans Saints follow at +900. The Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts are next at +1400. The Cincinnati Bengals and Arizona Cardinals are viewed as the league’s weakest teams with odds of +12,500.
PA betting action available on many top games
USA Today selected its picks for the top 10 games of 2019 and some of them have lines posted at PA sportsbooks. Thus, betting action is available far beyond the Steelers and Eagles.
PA online sports betting will also arrive before the NFL season, giving fans another avenue to their football wagers.
Mobile betting will begin testing in May and will launch for the 10 casinos with licenses in July. That development should lead the PA sportsbooks to record profits once the season kicks off.
Parx also offering college football odds
If NFL action isn’t enough, the Parx Casino Sportsbook has also posted some early numbers for college football. Alabama and Clemson, who played in last year’s championship game, are the favorites to win the national title. Both teams carry +200 odds. Ohio State follows at +700.
In other futures, Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence (+225), Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (+250), and Ohio State transfer quarterback Justin Fields (+900) are the favorites for the Heisman Trophy award.
Football action returns in four months
The college football season and the NFL opener are still a few months away. But for those interested in wagering on them, the odds are already live.
And here in Pennsylvania, the betting windows are open and the online betting apps will be live.