NFL Week 1 betting recap: Inside the week's biggest upsets, best bets and how it all affected the Week 2 lines

Welcome to our Monday review of the NFL weekend from a betting standpoint and a glance at line movements for the upcoming set of games.

Each Monday in this space, we will recognize the most significant outright wins by underdogs, review the baddest of bad beats, glimpse at the games that most impacted how the sportsbooks fared financially and list the matchups whose lookahead spreads were majorly affected by outcomes and injuries. 

Top 'Dogs

It was as rare as laughter from Bill Belichick: Not a single Week 1 game through Sunday carried a spread at kickoff of more than seven points.

Hence, there were no blockbuster upsets by underdogs. Yet three qualified as "say what?" surprises.

Though the line dwindled to five by game time, the Giants' 21-20 ambushing of Tennessee might top the list. New York closed out last season with six straight outright losses. Quarterback Daniel Jones was rusty after having missed the dreadful stretch with an injury. Brian Daboll had never worked before as a head coach.

Another rookie head coach, Matt Eberflus, steered Chicago past San Francisco 19-10 as a 6.5-point 'dog. The Bears contributed to highlight reels not during the rain-drenched game but afterward — celebrating with splashy dives into one soggy end zone.

Pittsburgh, spotted seven points by Super Bowl runner-up Cincinnati, was hardly short of experience at the helm. Mike Tomlin, entering his 16th season as the boss, is the second-longest turned coach after the unsmiling Belichick. He was breaking in a new (to the team, anyway) quarterback, Mitch Trubisky, in place of the retired Ben Roethlisberger. The Steelers pulled a few great escapes and outlasted the Bengals 23-20 in overtime.

Bad Beats

Bettors were spared Michael Jackson-like "Bad" beats, but a "Thriller" or two provided the next worst thing.

Indianapolis, -333 on the money line, marched to Houston's 16-yard line in overtime, only to miss a field goal from 42 yards. A make would not have ended the game but, given that the Texans had not scored since midway through the third period, a Colts victory would have been likely. Instead, a 20-20 tie ensued. 

Pittsburgh-Cincinnati was eerily similar. It, too, was 20-20 after regulation. The Bengals also began -333 on the money line.

Cincy could have avoided OT by converting a point-after with two seconds left. Alas, it was blocked. Then, in extra time, the Bengals reached Pittsburgh's 11-yard line before misfiring on a field goal of 29 yards. The Steelers nailed their subsequent try and survived. 

How The Books Fared

The businesses that accept your hard-earned money and return much of it appeared to emerge from Week 1 in good fiscal shape.

Among the favorites that covered were the Chiefs (85% of the money, 64% of tickets at Caesars Sportsbook) over the Cardinals and the Ravens (86% of tickets) over the Jets.

Caesars did absorb a hit with a few other results, including the Eagles (81% of the handle, 66% of bets) failing to cover against the Lions and the Panthers (79 and 74%) falling straight-up to the Browns. 

Week 2 Line Moves

Here's one for the thumb: Dallas quarterback Dan Prescott's injury to the digit has sent the line against Cincinnati spiraling from the Bengals at -1.5 to -7. The Cowboys thought so little of backups Cooper Rush and Will Grier that both were cut two weeks ago, then brought back.

A significant flip from the lookahead line occurred with Washington-Detroit. The Commanders, despite beating Jacksonville, went from a 2.5-point favorite to an underdog by two against Detroit. The Lions did flex some offensive muscle in a defeat to Philadelphia, and the Commanders lost defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis to injury. 

The Los Angeles Rams' dismal showing against Buffalo last Thursday led to a deflated line, moving from 13.5 to 10.5 against Atlanta. The Falcons frittered away a 16-point lead against New Orleans and fell narrowly.

The Bills-Titans line climbed to 7.5 to 10 as a result of Buffalo affirming its status as Super Bowl favorite and the Titans' out-of-left-field loss.

Perhaps no team delivered a bigger egg than the Jets against Baltimore. Consequently, their line against Cleveland moved from +4.5 to +6.5.

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