NFL and NCAA Football Teams Receiving Big Money Bets This Week

Context: “Against the public betting” is a popular strategy in sports wagering where bettors intentionally place their wagers on the outcome or team that the majority of casual bettors (the “public”) are avoiding or betting against, capitalizing on the public’s tendency to favor popular, high-profile teams or favorites regardless of value. This approach stems from the observation that sportsbooks shade point spreads and odds to exploit public bias, creating inflated lines on crowd-favored sides, which often leads to those sides underperforming and providing an edge for contrarian bettors. By going against the grain—such as betting underdogs or less glamorous teams—sharp bettors aim to exploit market inefficiencies, as historical data shows the public wins only about 45-48% of the time on straight bets, making “fading the public” a data-backed method to improve long-term profitability in volatile betting environments like Las Vegas or online sportsbooks.