NFL Totals Betting Week 1 2011 – Reduced Lines Due to Lockout
Oddsmakers have reduced the lines for NFL totals betting during Week 1 of the 2011 regular NFL season. The highest total for the week is 46 on the Saints-Packers game.
From DonBest.com:
The 47-point total is the highest of Week 1. The average total for the 16 opening week games is 40.5 compared to 41.6 last year. Oddsmakers are predicting less scoring with the lockout affecting the offenses more than the defenses.
There were six games with totals set between 30 and 40 including the following games: Pittsburgh-Baltimore, Cincinnati-Cleveland, Tennessee-Jacksonville, Seattle-San Francisco, New York (Giants)-Washington and Carolina-Arizona.
Scoring is likely to be down due to the lack of summer training, last minute player additions that will require some time to gel. The defenses will have a greater edge. There is also a revised kickoff rule that will likely reduce scoring.
That said, the vast majority of those betting the totals were still wagering heavily on the OVER.
- Don Shapiro, Gambling911.com
