The NFL regular-season opener against the Patriots on a Wednesday night, an unusual kickoff for sure, is already generating massive buzz, with DraftKings Sports director of operations Johnny Avello calling it one of the “bigger starts to any season” in terms of betting. Forget what day the league kicks off, Avello says, “Whatever day they start, there’s gonna be a huge audience, and it’s gonna be a heavily bet game.” And with our Seahawks taking on the Patriots in a Super Bowl 60 rematch, you know the Emerald City is hyped, and the money is flying.
The Line’s Moving, And It Ain’t All For Our Hawks
Our Hawks opened as 3.5-point home favorites back in mid-May for this 8:20 p.m. ET kickoff, and that spread sat solid all summer long. Avello noted there was “absolutely no movement for months,” but don’t get it twisted, the action was still heavy. Then, everything shifted this week. As of Monday, DraftKings moved the line to Seahawks -3 (-118). Why the drop? It’s simple: more and more bettors are putting their money on the Patriots, not just on the moneyline for the upset, but also taking them with the points. Avello admitted, “I knew bettors would take the Patriots on the moneyline. Now, they’re taking the Patriots with the points.” He’s “almost certain” the Patriots will continue to get bet on the moneyline, where they are currently +142 for an outright upset, and he doesn’t expect to see that 3.5-point spread again. It just shows you how much folks are buying into the Pats, even against our squad at home.
Vegas Is Dreaming of a “Super Bowl Middle” Against Our Hawks
So, what does this all mean for the folks running the books? They’re now hoping for what’s called a “Super Bowl middle.” That’s when the favorite, our Seahawks, still wins the game, but the underdog, those Patriots, covers the spread. Picture this: a nail-biting 23-21 victory for Seattle. That’s the dream scenario for bookmakers like DraftKings, where they make out big. Avello pretty much confirmed it: “We find ourselves in that situation quite a bit.” Talk about high stakes, right? They want our Hawks to win, but just barely, to maximize their take. Meanwhile, the game’s total has been locked at 44.5 all offseason, with pretty even action so far on straight bets. But don’t be surprised when the public goes all-in on the Over by kickoff, especially with parlays. Avello doesn’t think the books will need the Over either, because everyone’s gonna jump on it. It just proves how much anticipation there is for this game and how much cash is going to be on the line.
Get ready for that Wednesday night kickoff, 12s! Every point will matter, not just for the win, but for what it means to the betting world. Let’s make sure our Hawks give them nothing but L’s!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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