Everything to know for betting NFL Week 15: Sharp action, public betting splits and big bets

Week 15 of the NFL season has arrived, and it’s time to get those bets in.

We’ve compiled where the public is betting at BetMGM sportsbooks, along with some notable wagers, and asked around at several other books to find out where the sharp action has come in for this weekend’s games.

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Here is where the betting public has landed on Week 15 games at BetMGM.

Five most-bet games (by total number of wagers)

1. Buffalo Bills -1

2. Denver Broncos +2.5

3. Seattle Seahawks -13.5

4. Los Angeles Chargers +5.5

5. Detroit Lions +6

Five most-bet games (by total dollars wagered)

1. Buffalo Bills -1

2. Carolina Panthers -2.5

3. Denver Broncos +2.5

4. Seattle Seahawks -13.5

5. Miami Dolphins +3

Most-bet totals (by total number of wagers)

1. Cleveland Browns at Chicago Bears Under 39

2. Detroit Lions at Los Angeles Rams Over 55

3. Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots Over 49.5

4. Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals Over 51.5

5. Miami Dolphins at Pittsburgh Steelers Under 41.5

Most-bet underdogs to win (by total number of wagers)

1. Denver Broncos +110

2. Detroit Lions +200

3. Los Angeles Chargers +220

4. Indianapolis Colts +700

5. Cincinnati Bengals +120

From the bookmakers

Joey Feazel, head NFL trader at Caesars Sportsbook: “Right now, we’re sitting at Bills -1, a couple pick-ems out there. So far, one-way traffic on the Bills. Usually tends to be difficult to beat the same team twice. It’s not surprising that we’re seeing Bills action after their big win over the Bengals. Despite the Patriots’ record, when they’re playing good teams public hasn’t been on them. Line is heading the Patriots’ way slightly. We at opened -1.5.”

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Thomas Gable, Borgata sportsbook director: “We opened Bills -1.5, it’s down to -1. Pretty good two-way action right now, I wouldn’t be surprised to see this as a pick-em or a flip of favorites. Total dropped from 50.5 to 49.5.”

Feazel: “A couple of desperate AFC North teams here. Seeing pretty balanced action at the moment, a little bit more money towards the over. I anticipate this being a highly-bet matchup and we’ll need the under. With Joe Burrow back, there will be a lot of Same-Game-Parlays in this one. Ravens and Bengals both coming off tough losses and with their backs against the wall. So far, pretty balanced on the side.”

Gable: “We opened Ravens -2.5 and still there. We took some sharp money on under 52.5, down to 51.5. These teams met on Thanksgiving night and while both aren’t mathematically eliminated, Ravens need to atone for loss to Pittsburgh last Sunday. We’re probably going to need the Bengals here.”

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Feazel: “This might be the first week where we’ve seen significant anti-Chiefs money coming in. Justin Herbert is dealing with the injury on his non-throwing hand. One-way traffic on the Chargers. I expect to see some Chiefs money come closer to gameday.”

Gable: “Chiefs opened -5.5 in this one, we’re down to -4.5 now. We did get to see what the effect was on Herbert with that injured left hand against the Eagles. At least the Chargers were able to come away with a win, forcing five turnovers. Kansas City needs to win out to have any shot to make the playoffs. Total has dropped from opener of 45 to 43.5. Some early Chargers money, but not a ton written on this one yet.”

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Feazel: “So far, action coming in more so on the Broncos than the Packers and with a low total, some money on the over. Green Bay quietly moving up each week, slowly figuring their offense out. I’d expect to see a little more Packers money come in. I anticipate we’ll need the Broncos and maybe the under.”

Gable: “We opened Packers -2.5, and line is still there. Total of 41.5 in opener up to 43. What we’ve seen in early betting is people taking Broncos money line and people willing to lay -2.5 with the Packers. I’m never going to argue with that as a bookmaker.”

Feazel: “Seen a strong move to the over on this one, and that’s where the action is early. Seen some Rams money, which is a little surprising. One of our biggest needs last week was the Lions against the Cowboys. Seeing a little more action on the Rams than anticipated. This total opened 53.5, now up to 55. Expecting Dan Campbell to go all out to keep their playoff hopes alive. Should be a very highly-bet game, probably a little more Lions money coming closer to kickoff.”

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Gable: “We opened Rams -4.5, up to -5.5 now. The story has been the total, gone up 3 points from opener of 52.5 to 55.5. Sharp money on over early, and quite a bit of money on the over. On the spread, not too much of a need right now.”

Sharp action

It’s always notable where respected bettors have landed on this week’s games. While these prices may not currently be available at all sportsbooks, knowing where sharps have wagered can also be instructive for in-game wagering.

Yahoo Sports conversed with several bookmakers over the course of the week, and here is where some sharp action has been (and the numbers it came in at):

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• Rams -4.5, Rams-Lions over 52.5

• LA Chargers +5.5

• Ravens-Bengals under 52.5

Big bets

We’ll be keeping track of six-figure (and larger) Week 15 NFL bets from sportsbooks, as well as if they end up cashing.

• $111,000 on LA Rams -6 (-111) at Caesars