Maybe the biggest news from NFL Week 1 was off the field, not on, though it set off ripples on the odds for future weeks starting with Week 2.
We’re talking about the release of temperamental but talented receiver Antonio Brown from his short-term home with the Oakland Raiders and his addition to the defending the Super Bowl Champs, the New England Patriots.
And as if that wasn’t enough, there was the civil court accusation of rape against Brown and his lawyer’s threat to countersue her.
As a USA Today columnist put it: “Antonio Brown is going to spoil all those grand plans the NFL had for its 100th birthday.”
Brown’s move to the Pats the odds for the season and Week 2
While drama seems to follow Brown, the book at PlaySugarHouse.com had already moved the Raiders from 40-1 to 100-1 to win the Super Bowl on the news and the Patriots odds improved from 6-1 to 4-1.
At FanDuel, Patriots odds had from +700 to +550 to win the Super Bowl.
This week, New England is currently favored by 18.5 points playing away against the Dolphins in Miami at FanDuel. SugarHouse has moved it to -18.5.
That looks to be the largest spread of Week 2 at Pennsylvania online sportsbooks. And it is the largest a team has been favored by on the road since 2007.
Here is a look at all the Week 2 lines (Last updated Sept. 14)
| GAME | FanDuel spread | SugarHouse spread | FanDuel total | SugarHouse total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TB vs. CAR | CAR -7 | CAR -7.5 | 49.5 | 49.5 |
| ARI vs. BAL | BAL -12.5 | BAL -12.5 | 46.5 | 46.5 |
| BUF vs. NYG | BUF -2 | BUF -2.5 | 43.5 | 43.5 |
| DAL vs. WAS | DAL -6 | DAL -6 | 46.5 | 46.5 |
| IND vs. TEN | TEN -3.5 | TEN -3.5 | 43.5 | 43.5 |
| JAX vs. HOU | HOU -8.5 | HOU -8.5 | 43 | 43 |
| LAC vs. DET | LAC -1.5 | LAC -1.5 | 46.5 | 47 |
| MIN vs. GB | GB -2.5 | GB -2.5 | 43 | 43 |
| NE vs. MIA | MIA -18.5 | MIA -19 | 48.5 | 48.5 |
| SF vs. CIN | CIN -1 | CIN -1 | 46 | 46 |
| SEA vs. PIT | PIT -4 | PIT -3.5 | 47.5 | 47.5 |
| KC vs. OAK | KC -7.5 | KC -7 | 53.5 | 53.5 |
| CHI vs. DEN | CHI -2.5 | CHI -2.5 | 40 | 40 |
| NO vs. LAR | LAR -1.5 | LAR -2 | 51.5 | 52 |
| PHI vs. ATL | PHI -2 | PHI -1.5 | 52.5 | 52.5 |
| CLE vs. NYJ | CL -6.5 | CL -6.5 | 44 | 44.5 |
Boos and believers for the Eagles
Of interest to Pennsylvania gamblers, the Eagles drew boos from their Philly fans for their lackluster first half play in Week 1, before turning the game around.
They narrowly beat the Washington Redskins 32-27 even with a home-field advantage. Pregame odds with FanDuel had favored the Eagles by 10.5 points. In the end, though, the final score was enough for Washington to cover the spread.
The Eagles’ upcoming game against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2 in Georgia is on the board at -1 with FanDuel and -2.5 at SugarHouse. Nearly 90% of bets with SugarHouse favor the Eagles to cover the spread.
And their fans remain believers for the long haul.
At the start of Week 2, the Eagles account for 17.2% of the total bets made on teams to win the Super Bowl and 26.6% of the total handle wagered to date, according to FanDuel. The Patriots, on the other hand, account for just 6.1% of the total bets and 8.1% of the handle for Super Bowl wagering.
Steelers stumbled and Week 2 looking weak
While the Pittsburgh Steelers hoped that with Brown gone from their roster they would put their losing behind, the Pats drubbed them, 33-3, when most sportsbooks had them listed as just 5.5-point underdogs.
This coming week, FanDuel puts the Steelers behind by 4 .5 points against the Seattle Seahawks despite playing at home and SugarHouse also has them at -4.5.
The Steelers do not factor into much Super Bowl wagering at this point.
No Luck for some Colts bettors
Andrew Luck‘s abrupt retirement changed odds last week in the Los Angeles Chargers game against the Indianapolis Colts.
Before the news, the Chargers were favored by 3.5 points. After the trade, the line closed at LAC -6.5 points according to SugarHouse. The Colts lost 30-24 and the Chargers covered.
Bettors who picked the Chargers before the Luck news won their bets in overtime, while wagers made after the news couldn’t quite hang on for a win.
For now, the lines at both books favor the visiting Colts over the Tennessee Titans in their upcoming game. FanDuel put the Titans behind by -3 and SugarHouse pegs them at -3.5 point favorites.