The saying goes that "life is too short to bet the under," but bettors seem to have tired of that mantra.
Coming off last week's 12-2-1 win record for the unders, the best week since 1996, BetMGM data as of early Friday reflected that not a single game had the majority of the bets to the over.
Through the season's first six weeks, unders are 56-37-1, good for an over 60% win rate, the best rate through Week 6 since 1991.
The Dolphins — averaging a league high 37.2 points per game thanks to hanging 70 on the Broncos — are playing the Philadelphia Eagles this week, with a week-high total of 51.5. The Eagles average 25.8 points per game, good for fifth in the league, but the public is skeptical after only the team put up only 14 points against the New York Jets this past week. At BetMGM this week, 62% of the bets for that game is on the under.
The 49ers, second in the league in scoring at 30.7 points per game, are also seeing some skepticism from the public after only scoring 17 and losing as a 9.5-point favorite to the Cleveland Browns. At BetMGM, 55% of the money for the 49ers vs. Vikings game is on the under of 44, with some of those surely putting their money on the stout 49ers defense.
Games with the most bets on the under are Browns vs. Colts (88%), Bills vs. Patriots (78%), Commanders vs. Giants (74%), Steelers vs. Rams (74%), and Falcons vs. Buccaneers (73%) and Chargers vs. Chiefs (73%),
Backup quarterbacks are part of the culprit. Deshaun Watson could be out another week for Cleveland and Tyrod Taylor will be in place of Daniel Jones again for the Giants. And for Raiders vs. Bears, the total has fallen from 40.5 to a league-wide low of 37 after it appears that undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent will replace Justin Fields as the Bears' quarterback and one of Jimmy Garoppolo's backups — Brian Hoyer or rookie Aidan O'Connell — will suit up.
The under is off to a bad start, however. The Jaguars and Saints combined to score 55 points last night on a 41 point total despite two stout defenses and an injury to Trevor Lawrence.
