Chargers have many line-backers
After New England opened the week as a 15-point home favorite over San Diego, the line for Sunday’s AFC championship game has dropped to as low as 13 1/2 on some betting boards as of Thursday night.
The reason behind the slight change is connected to the strong support for the Chargers, who knocked off the defending Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts on the road last week.
According to Wagerline.com’s table, San Diego has picked up 53.21% of the picks against the spread. The Chargers have received even more support on theSpread.com’s betting chart, gaining 55% of the action against the spread.
It’s interesting that backing for New England has dropped compared to how bettors jumped all over the Patriots during the regular season. When San Diego played at New England on Sept. 16, the Patriots were favored by 3 1/2 points and won, 38-14.
On the NFC side, Green Bay opened as a seven-point home favorite over the New York Giants and the line has not changed.
The Packers, who defeated New York at Giants Stadium during the regular season, have received 65% of the picks against the spread, according to both Wagerline.com and theSpread.com.
Green Bay has a couple of trends working in its favor. The Packers are 5-0 against the spread in their last five home games, 7-1 against the spread in their last eight games as a favorite and 4-1-1 against the spread in their last six games against a team with a winning record.
But do not overlook New York, which has won an NFL single-season-record nine consecutive road games and is 4-0 against the spread in its last four playoff games as an underdog.
The Giants are also 7-0 against the spread in their last seven road games against a team with a winning record.
Golf
With the PGA Tour season picking up momentum this weekend with the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in Palm Desert, odds have been posted on players winning a major this year with Tiger Woods listed as a 2-7 favorite at Sportsbetting.com.
Woods, who has won at least one major in three consecutive years and has 13 in his career, has a big edge over Phil Mickelson, who is at 4-1.
Jim Furyk and Ernie Els follow at 6-1 with Vijay Singh next at 7-1.
Sergio Garcia, Adam Scott, Justin Rose and Padraig Harrington are the only other golfers with single-digit odds at 8-1.
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