Presented in partnership with OddscheckerUS

What a week it’s been. We’ve seen the end of the NFL’s regular season, Joe Burrow’s coronation as the next great quarterback, the return of Marshawn Lynch and of course, Christmas Day hoops.

(Oh.. and yet another gameday where Oddschecker’s top handicapper Ben Rolfe goes 4 – 0 with his NFL betting picks!)

The regular season culminated in the Seahawks traveling to San Francisco to face a Niners team that have been one of 2019’s best stories. The story within the story was Marshawn Lynch and his return to Seattle from the comforts of retirement. Injuries had decimated the Seahawks backfield, after Chris Carson and CJ Prosise joined Rashaad Penny in the treatment room, leaving only Travis Homer on the roster.

Looking for the latest NFL odds? Look no further than Oddschecker, the comparison service that displays the odds from all the major sportsbooks – bet smart and make sure you’re always getting the value. 

Beastmode’s return looked like a masterstroke on Sunday night as he led the Hawks in carries, even if his 12 carries only amounted to 34 yards, an average of 2.8 YPC. All that matters is that he turned that into a touchdown, pleasing bettors who had wagered on the returning star at over even money.

Even happier still are those who backed the 49ers, who almost gave up a late safety which would have resulted in the 3.5 favorites winning by just 3 points.

Bad beat…

That wouldn’t have been the worst beat of the day though. No, that belongs to one individual who put down $74,430 with William Hill, for the Patriots to beat the Dolphins. What we’d have given to watch this bettor’s face as Mike Gesicki went full-Gronk to give Miami the lead with just 29 seconds left on the clock. At -1600 that wager would have returned under $5000 but what seemed like a lock turned into what must be the worst beat of 2019.

It wasn’t all bad for William Hill bettors. The firm reported that a lot of people had big wins in week 17, with New Orleans and Tennessee delivering for bettors. The sportsbook reported that 93% and 90% of bets on each game backed the Saints -14 and Titans -9.5 respectively, which won comfortably.

Always shop around for the value..

The Titans win would have pleased one bettor who staked $120k on the Titans -5.5, returning a huge $100,000. Whether you’re wagering 10 bucks or 100,000 bucks it’s important to shop around and ensure you get the best value. Oddschecker showcase the best odds for all NFL games so make sure you’re always getting your bang for your buck!

Shopping around for the best odds was particularly important in week 17, with teams resting stars and line movements changing throughout the week. The biggest move in the week came in the Titans game, with the Titans line dropping from -5.5 to -3.5 when Texans head coach Bill O’Brien said that his team would be “playing to win” despite not needing a result.

Unsure what to wager on? Make sure to check out Oddschecker’s picks section for expert picks and predictions on every sport going. This includes the red-hot Ben Rolfe who’s turning a significant profit on NFL in 2019! 

Wildcards ready..

Wildcard Weekend is now set. The Texans welcome Buffalo, who are 3-point dogs. The only game closer than that, according to the books, is the Hawks trip to Philadelphia, with the Eagles being given 1.5 points.

The Saints, quite rightly are the lock of the week, 8 point favorites against a Vikings side which has failed to match them throughout the year. The Saints are hitting form at the right time with Alvin Kamara finally showing up.

The Patriots sensationally slipped from a bye following that loss to the Dolphins which saw them leapfrogged by the Chiefs. The Patriots punishment for that is to host the Tennessee Titans. With the Patriots offensive woes, the punishing strength of Derrick Henry and AJ Brown’s breakout, this looks like a huge trap for Bill Belichick’s team, who are 4.5 point favorites.

Super Bowl latest odds…

The Patriots fall from grace with the books has been quick. They were still heavy favorites to win the Super Bowl halfway through the season but Tom Brady has struggled with his pass-catchers, who have been injured or not earned his trust. Now, New England finds themselves as the sixth favorite for the title, at a huge +1200. The price with some books is as short as +600, which really highlights the need to compare odds and get the best deal.

Burrow is THE MAN..

We had quite a weekend in college too, with Joe Burrow taking LSU into a Championship game against Clemson in two weeks time. LSU is -5.5 favorites but what’s interesting is that Todd Fuhrman reported that some books, before Burrow’s sensational performance, expected a final between the two to be a pick’em. Burrow’s first-half performance, throwing for 7 TDs, 403 yards and 0 interceptions, was historic and the books have reacted in turn.

None of that will please one bettor though who staked $250 a point on the Buckeyes (+1.5) with PointsBet. All was looking rosy when 16 points up, with the man set to rake in nearly $4.5k, but then Clemson turned it on, eventually winning 29-23.

Whatever happens, be lucky and be smart when picking your bets for this upcoming week.