Q&A: NFL Playoff Betting Talk With Johnny Avello Of DraftKings

NFL Playoff betting odds still favor the Kansas City Chiefs to win the Super Bowl at +200.
The Pittsburgh Steelers were favored at -250 odds on the moneyline to beat the Cleveland Browns.
Aaron Rodgers’s odds to win the NFL MVP are the shortest among all players at -2000.

TAMPA, Fla. – For those betting on the NFL Playoffs this year, Wild Card Weekend was most certainly a treat. Shocking upsets, hail marys, and big-time plays were littered across the six-game slate. But, the road to the Super Bowl has just begun for some other teams.

Having had a first-round bye, the Kansas City Chiefs still find themselves at the top of the Super Bowl betting odds board at +200. They’re followed by the top team in the NFC in the Green Bay Packers at +400 odds.

But, having seen the performances of every other team left in the playoffs, bettors might be tempted to look elsewhere for their bets.

LegalSportsBetting got a chance to talk with DraftKings Head of Sportsbook Johnny Avello about this past weekend’s games, the DraftKings NFL Playoffs Guide, and some notable bets going forward.

Where Was All The NFL Betting Going Past Weekend?

Wild Card Weekend featured some of the biggest rivalries in the sport as there were two games among divisional opponents and one new rivalry in the Tennessee Titans vs. the Baltimore Ravens. However, there was one game that took the cake.

“The game last weekend that had bettors biggest attention was the Browns-Steelers, because that was our biggest betting game of the entire year. I think the reason for that is it was the last game of the six-game slate, it was the game where all the teasers and parlays and everything fell into, and it was a ‘get-out’ game for bettors to either increase their winnings or if they were down for the day to get out,” said Avello.

The Browns victory in Pittsburgh was the first time Cleveland has won in Heinz Field since Ben Roethlisberger entered the league. Big Ben has dominated the Browns at home his entire career but threw four interceptions against them in the latest Wild Card matchup.

Still, those betting on the NFL are hesitant to hop on the Browns’ odds to win the Super Bowl, and for good reason.

“We still have them at 30 to 1 to win it all. There’s so much to overcome here. Getting by the Chiefs, getting by the Bills, or even getting by the Ravens for that matter, they’ve got a long way to go. As far as money’s concerned, not one of our bigger betting teams in the futures book,” said Avello.

Was The NFL MVP Decided This Weekend

The battle for NFL MVP had been relatively tight for the entire season. However, in recent weeks Aaron Rodgers has cemented his place as the prohibitive favorite to win the NFL MVP at -2000 odds. Still, underdog bettors in Tennessee were high and mighty on their favorite player.

“Derrick Henry was pretty much bet in his jurisdiction. If you look at Tennessee, he took 45% of the handle which is more in an individual jurisdiction than any other player. But I think this is Aaron Rodgers to lose here.”

Despite eclipsing the 2,000-yard mark this season, Derrick Henry’s case for MVP may have ended against the Baltimore Ravens this past Sunday. The Ravens held Henry to just 40 yards rushing and zero TDs. A much different story from Week 11 when Henry ran a 29-yard touchdown to win the game in OT.

Is The Value Gong For Betting On The Super Bowl Winner?

With only eight teams left in the NFL Playoffs, the likelihood of choosing a winner has gotten bigger. But, naturally, the odds have gotten shorter. We asked Johnny Avello if there are any value bets left.

“I don’t know if there is a lot in there right now because you’re chances to get a team at a good price was over the past four months and now that we’re down to the wire there is some ok odds up there. The Rams at 20-1, that’s not too bad but they’re also going to be an underdog in most games. The Browns at 30-1, I don’t know because there is so much to overcome and I’m not sure if they have all the pieces it takes to get there. The value is usually during the season, not now,” said Avello.

Currently, DraftKings have the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the sixth-longest odds to win the Super Bowl at +900 despite having taken in the second most money on the betting line during the season. They’ll have an upward battle for their odds to hit.

But, for the time being, legal sports betting sites have plus odds for every team still alive in the NFL Playoffs.

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Hasan Nabulsi

– In his career, Hasan has worked both local and state government positions—including the Attorney General’s Office in Florida. On top of being familiar with the legislative process, he has also been researching and writing on the legality of sports betting across the US. Outside of work you’ll most likely find him producing or playing music, playing sports, or working on creative writing projects. You’ll also catch him at Doak Campbell Stadium cheering on the Noles.