Who do the Sportsbooks Need to Win in NFL Week 18?

Sportsbook need a big day and a cover from D'Andre Swift and the Detroit Lions as 3-point underdogs at home vs. the Green Bay Packers.
Sportsbook need a big day and a cover from D'Andre Swift and the Detroit Lions as 3-point underdogs at home vs. the Green Bay Packers. / Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
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On the final NFL Sunday of the regular season, who are bettors targeting most heavily? What about how sharp bettors vs. the public are split? And where do the books have the highest amount of liability?

Let's' go through the latest splits with all odds and updates courtesy of WynnBET Sportsbook:

Highest Liability NFL Week 18 (Subject to Change)

  1. Green Bay Packers (-3) at Detroit Lions
  2. Washington Football Team (-6.5) at New York Giants
  3. Carolina Panthers moneyline (+320) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Green Bay Packers (-3) at Detroit Lions | TOTAL: 44.5 - Packers Starters Will Play

The Packers, despite nothing to play for in Week 18, come in as the highest liability game of the week for WynnBET with reports that the starters will play. Green Bay has already locked up the No. 1 seed in the NFC, the best record in football, and will have a bye in the Wild Card Round next week.

Yet, a ton of the bets are backing the Pack on the road vs. the Lions, who, despite only two wins on the season, are 10-6 this year against the spread. Green Bay is received a whopping 78.4% of the bets, but just 64.4% of the money.

The total has only moved slightly since its opening number of 44, moving up half a point to 44.5.

Green Bay is a -160 moneyline favorite on the road, getting 81.1% of the moneyline bets but only 65.7% of the handle. The Lions, are +130 on the moneyline.

Washington Football Team (-6.5) at New York Giants | TOTAL: 38

The second highest liability game of the day for WynnBET is on the Washington Football Team to cover the 6.5-points on the road vs. Jake Fromm and the sputtering New York Giants.

The Football Team has received 80.2% of the betting tickets so far, with 89.4% of the money backing Washington to cover on the road.

The total, which started at 39, has dropped a full point close to kickoff at 38, with 80% of the money backing the UNDER with 59.5% of the tickets going the same way.

Washington as a moneyline favorite is also a popular bet today, particularly in teasers. 81.3% of the bets are backing the Football Team (-310) to win straight-up, with 92.8% of the money also in agreement.

Carolina Panthers moneyline (+320) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers | TOTAL: 42

Last on the list are the Carolina Panthers, who, despite being 9-point underdogs on the road vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, are the third highest liability for the sportsbook today. This is somewhat surprising considering the Bucs need a victory to attempt to move up in the NFC standings.

The odds indicate that this is very much a "Pros vs. Joe's" type game. 91% of the bets are backing Tampa Bay on the moneyline at -410 odds, while 61.5% of the money is on Carolina.

With Dallas' win yesterday, the Bucs would need both a win over the Panthers along with a L.A. Rams loss at home to the San Francisco 49ers to move up to the 2-spot, so Tampa Bay has plenty to play for this afternoon in the late window. The Rams and 49ers play at the same time in the 4:25 pm ET window.

Most Action NFL Week 18, All Markets (Spread, Total, Moneyline) Combined (Subject to Change)

  1. Tennessee Titans (-10.5) at Houston Texans
  2. Indianapolis Colts (-15) at Jacksonville Jaguars
  3. Green Bay Packers (-3) at Detroit Lions