If there’s one game the betting public think it has a read on in the opening week of the NFL season, it’s the Kansas City Chiefs visiting the Arizona Cardinals. But first, before we get into exactly what the public thinks, Cardinals fans are going to want to turn away.
Chiefs-Cardinals has been the most bet on Week 1 game at BetMGM, and Chiefs -6 has been the most popular bet by ticket and handle, according to BetMGM’s John Ewing.
The line opened at -3, which means bettors hammered that number and kept hammering the Chiefs even once the line moved to where it is now.
NFL Week 1 betting at @BetMGM
Most bet games (tickets)
1. Chiefs-Cardinals
2. Ravens-Jets
3. Eagles-LionsMost bet teams (tickets)
1. Chiefs -6
2. Ravens -7
3. Broncos -6.5Most bet teams (handle)
1. Chiefs -6
2. Ravens -7
3. Broncos -6.5— John Ewing 🦁 (@johnewing) September 9, 2022
Since opening, 82% of bets and 84% of the money has been on the Chiefs, according to VSiN’s Ben Fawkes. It’s a little surprising considering the Cardinals are a few months removed from a playoff appearance (even if they did crap the bed in said appearance).
The line movement does create a real opportunity for those who think the home-team Cards have a chance for the upset, which I give them a pretty good shot at in my ranking of home underdogs.