Cincinnati linebacker Vontaze Burfict caused major uncertainty in regards to the Sportsbook line of the Pittsburgh-Denver Sunday NFL Divisional Round playoff game.
Ben Roethlisberger has a sore right shoulder and Antonio Brown was put in concussion protocol following questionable hits by Burfict during the Steelers' dramatic 18-16 win against the Bengals this past Saturday night.
Not every sportsbook had a line Monday morning on the Steelers-Broncos game. Those who did had Denver either minus 6.5 or seven without a total.
Early word was that Roethlisberger and Brown would be able to play. That at least spares Steelers fans from watching overmatched Landry Jones. But how effective will Roethlisberger be when he admitted he could barely throw the ball more than 10 yards when he returned on the Steelers' dramatic final drive against the Bengals?
It's a question that really could hold up the betting handle on this matchup.
Hot Chiefs Increasing Dogs vs Pats
Kansas City is the hottest team in the NFL at 11-0, 8-3 against the spread (ATS) while surrendering an average of 11.6 points per game during this time span. New England is 2-4 in its last six games. The total is 43. That matches the lowest over/under on a Patriots game this season.
Yet, Tom Brady and Bill Belichick carry so much home mystique the Patriots have gone from 4.5-point Sportsbook favorites up to minus five and 5.5. It should be noted the Patriots have hosted 10 playoff games since 2009 going 5-5 ATS with only four of those games resulting in a Patriots victory of more than four points.
High OVER/UNDER in Packers vs Cards
The highest over/under on the weekend card is 50 in the Green Bay-Arizona Saturday night matchup. The Cardinals are minus 7 with the line headed to 7.5 where it already is at some books. Just three weeks ago, the Cardinals hosted the Packers and won, 38-8, as six-point closing favorites.
Carolina is up to minus three from an Sportsbook of 2.5 hosting Seattle on Sunday with a total of 44. The Panthers upset the Seahawks, 27-23, in Week 6 as seven-point road 'dogs.
