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The New York Jets vs. Pittsburgh Steelers line has moved off the -3.5 to -4 in favor of the Steelers at most online sportsbooks as of 9:30 am Eastern Standard Time Sunday morning.
“We are seeing that the oddsmakers are trying to encourage betting action on the Jets,” explained Don Shapiro of Gambling911.com.
Throughout much of the week, this line has remained somewhat steady at -3.5 with action 60/40 in favor of Pittsburgh, though some books catering heavy to the New York market had the Jets getting heavier volume.
The Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears line at times seemed a bit more wobbly but by Sunday AM more than 80 percent of online sportsbooks had settled in at -3.5.
Throughout the week, sports bettors were swarming to the Las Vegas sportsbooks looking for some action. All four teams playing in this weekend’s two Conference Championship games enjoy strong fan followings.
New York, in particular, has the Vegas bookmakers cringing. The vast majority of future bets placed early on in the season went towards the Jets to win the 2011 Super Bowl.
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The Green Bay Packers and the NFC Championship game had been getting double the action of the AFC Championship game at some Vegas sportsbooks.
Such was the case at Caesars.
"I'm honestly pretty surprised just because with New York and such a huge metropolitan market," said Todd Fuhrman, race and sports analyst for Caesars, in an interview with the Milwaukee Sentinel Journal. "But I think a lot of people have taken to this game. I think the Steelers and Jets pale in comparison to what the Bears and Packers have from a historical standpoint."
Jay Rood, director for MGM Resorts International's 12 sports books in Nevada, Supported his colleague’s observation.
"Most of the action has been on the Packers," Rood said. "It's been pretty brisk so far. I believe there will be some Chicago money that will show up in the next 48 hours."
- Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher
