2024 NFL Week 17 Action Report: ‘The NFL’s Rodney Dangerfield Is Getting No Respect’

Forward looking lines can often be quite informative. For those who are unaware, the preview lines are held a week or so before the games.

For example: In NFL Week 17 odds, look-ahead lines are revealed the previous week, before the Week 16 games are played. In the case of the Dallas Cowboys-Philadelphia Eagles clash, Caesars Sports makes Philly an 11.5-point home favorite.

Then Jalen Hurts got hurt in the Eagles’ Week 16 loss at Washington. Now, that line is down to Eagles -7.5. And it could still go down if Hearts is actually declared.

“The speculation is that Hurts will be out. We’re seeing more Cowboys money,” Caesars head of football business Joe Faisal said Thursday.

Oddsmakers and sharp bettors provide their insights on Cowboys vs. Eagles, Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings, and other games with more important matchups. Let’s dive into the NFL Week 17 betting nuggets.

NFL Rocks on FOX

Cowboys vs. Eagles kickoff at 1 PM ET Sunday. It’s part of a solid FOX doubleheader, with the Packers vs. Vikings at 4:25 pm ET.

Caesar Sports opened Minnesota -1.5, went to -1 on Tuesday and then on Wednesday to pick them up. It’s certainly interesting that the line is going away from a team that is 13-2 straight up (SU) and a solid 10-4-1 against the spread (ATS).

Green Bay is 11-4 SU/9-6 ATS.

“The Packers were a sharp game at +1.5,” Feasel said, before noting that the public betting public still isn’t completely sold on Minnesota, despite the evidence. “People are still questioning whether the Vikings are a true powerhouse.”

For Sunday’s kickoff on FOX, with Hurts healthy, Caesars makes the Eagles 11.5-point favorites against a Cowboys team enduring another tough season. In light of Hurts’ confusion, the point spread reopened Monday morning at Eagles -9.5 — which is more of a middle ground, hedging whether Hurts will play.

Heading into Thursday, Philadelphia (12-3 SU/9-6 ATS) was -9. Then came news that the team signed Ian Book off the practice squad, in case Hurts did not clear the concussion protocol. That led the Caesars to go straight from the Eagles -9 to -7.5.

There’s another element, though, beyond the Hurts situation: The Cowboys are still playing hard. In Week 16, Dallas (7-8 SU and ATS) was eliminated from playoff contention before Sunday night’s home game vs. Tampa Bay.

But the Cowboys went all out and hung on for a 26-24 win as 4.5-point underdogs. Bettors are taking note.

“There’s a sense that this Cowboys team isn’t going away,” Faisal said.

Rookie QB Showdown

The Atlanta Falcons vs. Washington Commander game moved to a Sunday night slot this week. Both teams are competing for playoff spots, and QBs Jaden Daniels and Michael Penix Jr. are also somewhat enticing to square off.

But it’s not really a single battle.

Daniels has started all season for Washington (10-5 SU/9-5-1 ATS). He has been very effective, most recently in a 36-33 comeback win over Philadelphia in Week 16. Penix just made his first start in Week 16 against a disappointing New York Giants outfit, and the Falcons (8-7 SU/7-8 ATS). ) Rolled 34-7.

“We’re seeing a lot of commander money. It’s all because of Penix. It’s a rookie QB matchup, but a rookie has a lot of experience,” Faisal said.

NFL Sharp Side

Last week, professional bookmakers Randy McKay The Carolina Panthers were +4.5 vs. the Arizona Cardinals at home. The bet paid off, as Carolina won outright 36-30 in overtime.

McKay is headed back to Carolina well this week, carrying the Panthers +8.5 on the road against Tampa Bay.

“These two teams played a month ago, and Tampa won in OT,” McKay said, alluding to the Bucs’ 26-23 road win. “All that’s changed since then is probably a healthy Mike Evans (for Tampa). But this Carolina team is playing everybody harder.”

Panthers are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games.

McKay also likes the Vikings at the pick against the visiting Packers.

“The Rodney Dangerfield of NFL teams is getting no respect. But I see them finding a way against a Green Bay team that the Vikings beat earlier this season,” McKay said.

In fact, back in Week 4, Minnesota went into Green Bay and won 31-29 as a 2.5-point road underdog.

I love big bets and I can’t lie

There still aren’t many big bettors on the Week 17 NFL odds for the weekend. But the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Pittsburgh Steelers turned out to be an amazing game for the Christmas Day game.

And the bookie cashed big.

A Nevada customer of Caesars Sports won $1.45 million on the Chiefs Moneyline -145. So, as long as the Chiefs won — regardless of the margin — the bettor would make a $1 million profit.

KC did so with ease, outscoring Pittsburgh 29-10.

On the flip side, a Caesars customer put $66,700 on an alternative spread of Steelers +7.5 (-258), speculating that the home underdog could stay within at least a touchdown. But Russell Wilson & Co. could not.

In the Ravens-Texans game on Christmas Day, a bettor placed $50,000 on the Ravens moneyline -178. Baltimore worked with a 31-2 road blowout, netting a $28,089.89 profit for Caesars customers (total payout $78,089.89).

Finally, an interesting futures bet landed on the surging Los Angeles Rams, at Caesars: $25,000 on LA to win the NFC, at +1500 odds. If the Rams keep rolling and win the conference title, the bettor gets a healthy $375,000 profit (total payout $400,000).

Patrick Everson is a sports betting analyst for FOX Sports and senior reporter for VegasInsider.com. He is a popular journalist in the national sports betting space. He is based in Las Vegas, where he enjoys golfing in the 110-degree heat. Follow him on Twitter: @PatrickE_Vegas

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