NFL Week 1 Pros vs. Joes: Public riding Chiefs, Vikings in openers

Before you make your NFL bets this weekend, it's worth knowing which side other bettors are backing - especially on games drawing sharp action.

We talked to Jay Rood, Bet.Works' chief risk officer and theScore Bet's head trader, to see how sharps and public bettors are playing this week's slate.

While none of the games Sunday have drawn significant sharp action so far, this contest is one that public bettors have targeted for straight bets and parlay slips alike.

As of Friday night, the Chiefs were the most-parlayed team on the board, drawing four times as many bet slips as the Browns with 13 times as much money wagered. The margins on straight bets aren't as staggering, but it's clear the public is expecting a strong start from the reigning AFC champs.

"Nothing big on the Browns from the sharps yet, but it's definitely lining up to be a key game from a parlay liability perspective for us," Rood said.

The biggest game from a straight-bet perspective is a seemingly ho-hum contest between two teams coming off sub-.500 seasons. Many bettors don't see it that way.

The Vikings have pulled three times as many tickets with a 10-to-1 advantage in money wagered, nudging this line up to 3.5 at times before settling back at 3. It's even more convincing in the parlay market, where Minnesota is drawing 20 times as much money as the Bengals.

"That's definitely going to be a key game for us," Rood said.

Another target for public bettors is the Broncos, who've been a darling all summer and are drawing early money in their Week 1 clash with the Giants.

The parlay activity on this game has seen solid two-way action so far, with a 3-to-1 edge in tickets on Denver but a near-even split on money. That isn't the case in straight bets, where the Broncos are seeing twice as much money wagered and five times as many bet slips.

"The public looks to be lining up on quite a few of these road favorites in Week 1," Rood said.

C Jackson Cowart is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on Twitter (@CJacksonCowart) or email him at cjackson.cowart@thescore.com.

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