The NFL season kicks off Thursday with Pittsburgh at New England. The opening lines have been available for months, and with less than a week before kick off, there have been plenty of lines that have moved significantly since those lines were released.
The most turbulent line has been the opening night game. Before quarterback Tom Brady’s suspension dilemma, the line opened at 6.5 points in favor of the Patriots, but immediately moved to 2.5 points once the NFL announced Brady’s suspension.
For the rest of the summer, the line hovered at the 2.5 to 3 point range, according to Oddsshark. Once a judge overturned the suspension, the line jumped to seven points, which it currently stands at days before the game Thursday.
Here are three other games that have featured the biggest line movements since the opening line was released.
Minnesota at San Francisco
Movement: 7 points
When the line was released in late April, it wasn’t as apparent how dysfunctional the 49ers were. That’s likely the reason why San Francisco opened as a 4.5-point favorite.
Now, a week away from when the teams square off on Monday Night Football, the Vikings are favored by 2.5 points. During the offseason, San Francisco has been on the downswing of momentum, while many experts are labeling the Vikings as a dark horse playoff team.
That momentum is helping the Vikings in the eyes of the betting public and oddsmakers. In the coming week, it will be interesting to see if bettors continue to pounce on the Vikings, especially with it being a road game. This could move even further in the direction of the Vikings, so while you’re giving away less than a field goal, now’s the time to bet on the Vikings.
Green Bay at Chicago
Movement: 3 points
In a game that will likely be known as the injured wide receiver match-up, the Packers are gaining steam in the eyes of the betting public.
Green Bay opened as a 3.5-point favorite. Now, the number is at 6.5 points in Green Bay’s favor. There’s not much reason to doubt the Packers in this rivalry game. Green Bay has won nine of the last 10 meetings, and in those games, Green Bay has covered a touchdown in eight of the nine wins.
And while wide receiver Jordy Nelson is out for the Packers, Chicago has been bit by the injury bug several times in the offseason, with its top four wide receivers dealing with injuries. With those injury problems, the betting public is more confident in Aaron Rodgers than Jay Cutler. It’s hard to blame them for that.
At this point, the Packers look like a quality bet, but this game could be tricky as the Packers’ offense may take awhile to warm up to its usual self.
Miami at Washington
Movement: 2.5 points
There’s a growing theme surrounding the biggest line movers in the NFL. Turbulent offseasons are a good predictor of which teams will be a part of the biggest line movements.
Washington, much like San Francisco, had plenty of team drama last season, and after being 1.5-point underdogs in the opening line, bettors have moved Miami to a 4-point favorite.
This is another case of strong momentum going in the direction of Miami, which many experts have pegged as a team on the rise, while Washington has had quarterback controversies and several other issues that have gotten in its way.
The Dolphins should be improved from last year’s team, while the Redskins didn’t seem to get much better in the offseason. This number may continue to go up in the Dolphins favor by the end of the week.
