Sportsbooks Report Record Profits After Sunday of Week 4 in the NFL
- Sportsbooks reported that Sunday of Week 4 was a very good week for them
- Underdogs went 9-4 against the spread yesterday
- See how much money the books claimed from bettors on the weekend
Feeling down about your losses on Sunday? Maybe this article will help you feel better – because, you know, misery loves company and all.
I had the chance to chat with one of our most trusted sportsbooks this morning about their hold – the amount of money they retained from all bets placed after paying out their winners – for Week 4. Before I share some numbers with you, though, please give me the floor quickly to soften your blows by telling you how my Sunday went.
I woke up around 8am feeling fresh on Sunday, September 29. The air was starting to get that crisp fall feel, while the scent of a baking frittata lingered throughout the house. My mind was in one place, though: how can I match my profits from Week 3?
I rode into the early block of games feeling mighty confident after taking the sportsbooks for nearly 20 units a week prior. I was ready to take them for another 20.
After loading up games on four different screens, I cracked into my first beer. It tasted great. It tasted like victory.
But apparently my taste buds are not refined enough to tell the difference between victory and a regular beer. By about 3pm ET, it was clear I was not sipping the sweet nectar of triumph.
.@NICKCHUBB21 GOES 88 YARDS!
His third TD of the game! #CLEvsBAL #Browns
?: CBS
?: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app
Watch free on mobile: https://t.co/lm0vvtP8ei pic.twitter.com/MRXQbKVUXJ— NFL (@NFL) September 29, 2019
Instead, panic had taken over.
I began growing the sinking feeling that Cleveland’s 30-18 lead over Baltimore was insurmountable. Right around that same time, I realized the Titans, who looked like one of the worst teams in the league the last couple of weeks, were up 24-7 over the Falcons.
Pair that with the realization that the Patriots were going to let the Bills hang around all game, and the Chiefs weren’t going to break away from the Lions.
THE MINSHEW MAGIC IS REAL.
He avoids the sack multiple times and throws for the TD! @GardnerMinshew5 #JAXvsDEN #DUUUVAL
?: CBS
?: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app
Watch free on mobile: https://t.co/lm0vvtP8ei pic.twitter.com/WeJVm6WQaI— NFL (@NFL) September 29, 2019
As if that wasn’t enough, the losing continued into the next block of games as the Broncos let a sixth-round rookie come into Mile High and steal a victory; somehow the Rams found a way to lose to the Bucs; and the Cowboys really iced the cake for me when they couldn’t beat the Teddy Bridgewater-led, touchdown-less Saints!
The panic had turned to sorrow as I mourned the loss of each unit that had left my bankroll, each one taunting me on its way out the door. I’m amazed I was even able to fall asleep after the horrors that occurred on Sunday, September 29.
So … that was my Sunday. And it’s clear I wasn’t the only one who went to bed with a lighter bankroll than they woke up with. (Please make us all feel a little better by sharing your story in the comments below.)
Sportsbooks Report Record Profit
Now it’s time to learn just how much the sportsbooks took us for.
Some books average NFL Sunday sees them holding around 6% of all the total money wagered. All sportsbooks wind up around this amount; this is right around the average vig you’ll find at most reputable books.
But this Sunday saw one book hold 26% of all sports wagering money, their best day ever. Yes, I said EVER.
How did this happen? They had some major liabilities heading into the week, which are games where they were unable to even out the money wagered between the two teams. Fortunately for them, they were on the right side of those outcomes.
Which Outcomes Helped Books the Most?
These were the six biggest wins reported from one book.
- Kansas City not covering their 7-point spread vs Detroit
- New England not covering their 7-point spread vs Buffalo
- Dallas not covering their 2.5-point spread vs New Orleans
- Los Angeles (Chargers) covering their 14.5-point spread vs Miami
- Los Angeles (Rams) not covering their 2nd half spread of 8.5 against Tampa Bay
- Denver not covering their 2.5-point spread against Jacksonville
No. 1 makes a lot of sense up there, as we had reported the Chiefs were seeing more money than any other team in Week 4. But apparently the only dog we were all betting this weekend was the lousy Dolphins, as underdogs went 9-4 against the spread on Sunday.
So thanks to all those unforeseen outcomes up there, what could have turned out to be a pretty rough day for the sportsbook, turned into their best day ever.
We just have to tip our caps to them on this one and hope that 26% hold from yesterday helps them stay afloat this season now that we’re all gunning for them, right …
Yeah … they’ll probably be alright.
After working in TV, Matt turned his focus towards numbers, specifically odds. He has been with us since 2016 and serves as SBD's Editor-in-Chief, credited with creating our futures trackers, SBD's score predictor, SBD Sharp, and his own model for calculating NFL SOS, among other products.
