NFL Wild Card Sharp Report: How Pros Are Betting Chargers-Ravens, Eagles-Bears

NFL Wild Card Sharp Report: How Pros Are Betting Chargers-Ravens, Eagles-Bears article feature image
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Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports. Pictured: Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky

  • Sharp bettors are playing both of Sunday's NFL Wild Card games, including Chargers-Ravens (1:05 p.m. ET, CBS) and Eagles-Bears (4:40 p.m. ET, NBC).
  • Using The Action Network's betting tools, we examine how professionals are betting these two games.

Saturday's NFL Wild Card games provided quite the rollercoaster for bettors. The Indianapolis Colts got off to a smoking hot start against the Houston Texans and easily covered the spread (+2), but gave the 64% of bettors who took the over false hope by failing to score a point after midway through the second quarter.

The late game between the Seattle Seahawks and Dallas Cowboys provided one of the craziest backdoor covers in recent memory after Seattle, trailing by 10 points, scored a touchdown with less than two minutes remaining in the game.

But with kicker Sebastian Janikowski unavailable to kick the extra point due to an injury suffered earlier in the game, the Seahawks were forced to attempt the two-point conversion, which they successfully converted, covering the 2.5-point closing spread despite ultimately losing, 24-22.

While yesterday's games were certainly exciting, there wasn't much of a consensus regarding how professional bettors were playing those matchups.

However, according to The Action Network's betting tools, we can quickly see how wiseguys are betting both Chargers-Ravens and Eagles-Bears.

Los Angeles Chargers at Baltimore Ravens

1:05 p.m. ET | CBS

Sharp angle: Under (moved from 42 to 41.5)

Oddsmakers opened this over/under at 42 and, at first glance, it appears that sportsbooks are heavy on over money as 65% of tickets are on that side of the total.

However, The Action Network's public betting data reveals that 62% of actual dollars wagered have played the under.

This means that while the majority of tickets are on the over, the bigger bets are banking on a low-scoring game.



Sportsbooks have reacted by dropping the total down to 41.5 across the betting market.

Sharps are likely eyeing a few different factors: The Chargers play at the slowest pace of any team in the league, the Ravens' run-heavy scheme tends to drain the clock, and — not to be overlooked — the weather.

Forecasts call for steady 12 mph winds throughout the game. According to our Bet Labs data, NFL games played in double-digit breezes have gone under the total 55.9% of the time since 2003.

Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears

4:40 p.m. ET | NBC

Sharp angle: Bears (-4.5 to -6.5)

Market-setting sportsbooks opened Chicago as a 4.5-point favorite over Philadelphia and money has steadily flowed on the Bears throughout the week.

While 53% of tickets wagered on the spread are taking the points with Philly, the majority (54%) of real money wagered has come in on Chicago, indicating that the Bears are attracting larger amounts from respected bettors.



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