Everything that happens in sports has additional context when viewed from a betting perspective. From season-changing injuries to record-setting moments and so much more, the news cycle will constantly and significantly affect the sports betting industry.
Our betting buzz file, with contributions from David Purdum, Doug Greenberg and others, aims to provide fans a look at the sports betting stories that are driving the conversation.
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Betting odds show tight NFC North race
David Purdum: Every NFL division has an odds-on favorite entering Thanksgiving, except one - the NFC North.
Sportsbooks have the Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots, Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens as somewhat commanding favorites in their respective divisions ahead of Week 13. The Indianapolis Colts, at -225 to win the AFC South, have the longest division odds of any of the odds-on favorites.
Things are much tighter in the NFC North, where the division-leading Chicago Bears have the third-best odds at this point. The Green Bay Packers, at +130, are slightly ahead of the Detroit Lions (+150) heading into their Thanksgiving Day showdown. The Bears (+300) are the third choice. The Lions have remained the betting public's choice.
At DraftKings, more bets have been placed and more money wagered on Detroit to win the NFC North than the other three teams combined in November.
The Lions were growing 2.5-point home favorites over the Packers in Thursday's matchup. Green Bay coach Matt Lafleur is 18-14 straight-up as an underdog, the best such record of any coach in the Super Bowl era. The Packers beat the Lions 27-13 in the season opener in Green Bay.
The Bears, winners of four in a row, are at Philadelphia on Friday. Chicago is a 7-point underdog. The Bears and Packers haven't faced off yet this season but will meet twice in a three-week span in December.
