DraftKings Sportsbook in Illinois is offering a can’t miss promo for new and current users.
The point total opened at 46 in the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills game Saturday night in Orchard Park, New York. But for every 5,000 wagers placed on the over, DraftKings is going to move the total down .5 points.
As this is being written, the total has moved all the way down to 18 points. Regardless of what the total was when a bet was placed, all users who opted into the promo will get the final number it gets bumped down to at kickoff.
A maximum bet of $25 can be made and the total can move as low as .5 points.
In Week 13, the score between the teams was 14-10 in favor of New England in an extremely windy and rainy game. Week 16 provided more regular conditions when Buffalo edged out New England 33-21.
Outside of bets with odds featuring heavy favorites, this is the most sure bet on the board heading into the NFL wildcard playoff round.
Here are some point total bets to consider when placing your bets at Illinois sportsbooks:
Unstoppable force meets immovable object
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs had completely different paths to the playoffs, yet the two will meet at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City this weekend.
Pittsburgh finished 4-4 in its final eight games, limping into the playoffs by a minor miracle when the Jaguars earned their third win of the season over the Colts. Effectively sending Indianapolis home and giving Big Ben Roethlisberger one last chance at a Super Bowl run.
Kansas City finished 7-1 in its final eight games, narrowly missing the opportunity to receive a first round bye. The Chiefs are currently favored by 12.5 points, making it the largest spread in the wildcard era of the NFL playoffs.
Another difference between the teams is their records regarding totals. Kansas City has crushed overs, going 10-7 and finishing the regular season tied for the second best record on overs.
Meanwhile Pittsburgh has gone 6-10-1 on unders and finished tied for fourth in the category.
While it seems apparent that Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs should dominate the game, one may have better luck predicting the outcome of a coin toss rather than the total in this game.
Past results can be indicative of future outcomes
When NFC West rivals Arizona Cardinals and LA Rams meet on Monday night, it will be the third time this season. Arizona could’ve even hosted the game had they won their Week 18 game vs the Seattle Seahawks. Instead, LA won the division and will have the home crowd on their side.
In the previous two games between the teams, Arizona won 37-20 and LA won 30-23. The total for their final matchup of the season is 49.5, leading most sports bettors to take the over.
However, the Cardinals’ and Rams’ records on overs don’t lead to much of a trend. LA is 9-7-1 on overs and Arizona is 8-9.
One thing NFL fans should’ve learned by now is to expect the unexpected. For proof, look no further than the 2007 New York Giants. Eli Manning led the G-Men to the fifth seed in the NFC and later defeated the undefeated New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.
To summarize: anything can happen.
