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Week Ahead in Sports Betting: Trending Matches, News, and More!
Welcome back to our weekly roundup! Do you feel the thrill of exciting sports action coursing through your veins? If not, stick around as we delve into the most anticipated events, financial happenings, legislative meetings, and industry conferences that are set to captivate the world of sports betting this week. And don't forget to check out our weekly wrap-up, "Get a Grip," where we recap the past week's notable news.
Tuesday, January 3
Ohio Betting Sites Kick Off with Mixed Results
With the Buckeye State's grand entrance into legal sports betting this past Sunday, over a dozen digital operators joined the fray. Alas, the anticipated Ohio State-Georgia CFP national semifinal game left much to be desired, as none of the state's sportsbooks offered in-game odds, resulting in a disappointing loss for the Buckeyes. A handful of the state's books started taking bets on other sports post-midnight.
Ohio made waves as the most populous state to launch online sports betting since New York's debut last January. Interestingly, the opening day of sports betting in Ohio saw the second-most downloads of U.S. sportsbook apps in the age of NFL season commencement, according to JMP Securities analyst Jordan Bender.
Damar Hamlin's Critical Injury Casts Shadow Over Bills-Bengals Game
A tragic turn of events in Monday night's Bills-Bengals game marred an otherwise significant weekend for sports in Ohio. Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered a life-threatening injury during the first quarter. The NFL postponed the game, and as of Tuesday morning, major sportsbooks in Ohio are yet to decide on bet settlements related to the matchup.
"Our thoughts are with Damar Hamlin and his family," tweeted DraftKings Support (@DK_Assist) on Tuesday.
Wednesday, January 4
Investments in Sports Betting, Web3, and the Metaverse Up for Discussion at Consumer Electronics Show
Since the U.S. Supreme Court's repeal of PASPA in 2018, sports betting executives have frequently graced the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) stage. Tomorrow, a panel at CES 2023 will discuss matters related to investments in sports betting, Web3, and the metaverse during a session held at the Aria Resort & Casino. Notable attendees include Audacy Chief Digital Officer J.D. Crowley, Lazard Freres & Co. Managing Director David Higley, and CAA executive Adam Friedman, among others.
Saturday, January 7
Will Georgia Remain Favorite Against TCU for Title Game?
Having edged out Ohio State in a nail-biting semi-final contest, Georgia remains the definitive national title favorite for the upcoming championship game against TCU. Texan Christian University engineered an incredible comeback against Michigan on New Year's Eve, securing their first-ever national title game berth. With a 51-45 win, the Horned Frogs managed to withstand a valiant Michigan comeback, despite the odds of around 200/1 to make the national semifinals at the start of the season.
As of Tuesday morning, Georgia continues to hold a commanding 13-point advantage over TCU at PointsBet. On the moneyline, the Bulldogs have odds of -520 to beat TCU (+380) outright. However, moneyline odds can vary greatly across the market, with Georgia priced at -780 at FanDuel.
AFC South Title on the Line in Jacksonville
Having trailed Tennessee by three games in early December, the Jaguars have rejuvenated their AFC South title campaign with a run of four consecutive victories. One win separates the Jags from the Titans, who have been beset by numerous injuries, despite dropping six straight games. The Titans, however, still have a chance to secure the division with a win against the Jaguars on Saturday night. During their winning streak, the Jags have averaged 31.5 points per game, scoring double-digit wins in three of the four wins.
Sunday, January 8
Nail-biting End to the NFL Season
The final day of the NFL regular season looms, with the last wild card spots in both conferences up for grabs. In the NFC, only one playoff spot remains after the Giants demolished the Colts in Week 17. Remarkably, the Packers are poised to sneak into the last playoff berth despite a dismal 4-8 start to the season. A four-game winning streak, punctuated by a 41-17 rout of NFC North champions Minnesota, has given the Packers new hope.
Should the Packers defeat the Lions on Sunday, they will claim the final NFC playoff spot. Meanwhile, the Seahawks will secure their playoff berth with a win over the Rams and a loss by the Packers. At SI Sportsbook, Seattle is favored by 6.5 over Los Angeles, which has faltered in eight of its last 10 games.
In the AFC, four teams remain in contention for the final playoff spot. A win over Buffalo will secure the Patriots' place in the playoffs for the second consecutive year. however, the timing of the Bills-Patriots game may be impacted by the postponement of Monday Night Football.
Key Injuries and Lineup Uncertainties
- Hurting Philadelphia: Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is expected to play against the Giants on Sunday; however, his shoulder injury has kept him out of the last two games. Philadelphia coach Nick Sirianni is yet to name a starter this week.
- Ravens' Questionable QB: Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is still nursing a knee injury, and his status for a Week 18 game against the Bengals remains uncertain.
- Miami's Tua Question: Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa missed a Week 17 loss against the Patriots due to concussion-like symptoms. As of Tuesday morning, the Dolphins have not revealed their starting quarterback for Sunday's matchup against the Jets.
That's all for this week's roundup! Stay tuned for our "Get a Grip" wrap-up, where we delve into the notable news of the past week. Happy betting, and good luck!
- The upcoming NFL championship game on January 7 will feature the Georgia Bulldogs, who remain the favorite, against TCU, with Georgia currently holding a 13-point advantage at PointsBet on the moneyline, having odds of -520 to beat TCU (+380) outright.
- The Jacksonville Jaguars have rejuvenated their AFC South title campaign with a run of four consecutive victories and trail the Titans by one win, with the AFC South title on the line in their upcoming game on Saturday night.
- In the world of sports-betting, Ohio made a splash as the most populous state to launch online sports betting since New York's debut last January, with the opening day of sports betting in Ohio seeing the second-most downloads of U.S. sportsbook apps during the NFL season commencement.
- Tragedy marred an otherwise significant weekend for sports in Ohio when Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered a life-threatening injury during Monday night's Bills-Bengals game. The NFL postponed the game, and as of Tuesday morning, major sportsbooks in Ohio are yet to decide on bet settlements related to the matchup.
- Monday night's Bills-Bengals game cast a shadow over American football, with investigations underway to understand the exact circumstances surrounding Hamlin's injury. Many in the sports-betting community are hopeful that the game will be rescheduled, offering the chance for bettors to reconsider their moneylines for this pivotal NFL matchup.
