Sports Betting Hall of Famer Avello inducted into NFL Wild Card Games

Posted: January 9, 2025, 06:47 pm.

Last updated: January 9, 2025, 06:49 pm.

Johnny Avello, Popular Las Vegas Strip BookmakersSays the trader desk he oversees for DraftKings has grown from six people to 75 worldwide since he joined the company in 2018. Avello built the trader team there, and now says because the traders are so good at what they do, he doesn't need to be as hands-on as in years past.

nfl betting increases

Betting on the extremely popular NFL is a big reason for that growth. One of the things Avello is referencing is the league has done well recently, depending on scheduling. With games Thursday through Monday, even some Christmas Day games this year, the NFL never loses momentum during the regular season, and that's a boon for sportsbooks.

“And then you can also play some college games on Tuesday,” Avello said from his Las Vegas DraftKings office. ,It's a great time for football fans,

wild card weekend

NFL Wild Card Weekend starts this Saturday, six games in three days, plenty of betting stories.

And there's no better person than Avello, DraftKings' Director of Race & Sportsbook Operations, to weigh in on this weekend's games:

Chargers vs. Texans, Saturday 4:30 PM EST, CBS

• Spread: Chargers -3 (-105), Texans +3 (-115)
• Moneyline: Chargers -162, Texans +136
• Over/Under: 41.5

“In these games, especially on the side, there is not a lot of line movement. There is some absolute motion, but not propagation motion. Now, when I say this, some games have moved forward, but they are back to the initial numbers that we started with. Charger, is one of them. We started this game with 3. We went down to 2.5 sometime yesterday for a short period of time. Now we're back to 3.

It's mostly chargers' moneyIf we are somewhat unbalanced in any of the games – and there is still a long way to go, these games could well change by the time game time comes. But the Chargers have plenty of money for that.

“I think it's the whole Jim Harbaugh and Justin Herbert connection. I think the punters really like it. And Harbaugh, especially, came to the team and took them to this place in his first year (as coach). And Herbert is a good quality quarterback.

“Coming into this year the Texans were viewed as a Super Bowl contender, and they still are. They may still get there, but things haven't gone so well for them. CJ Stroud has struggled a little bit recently, and I think the punters have taken advantage of that, and that's why they're on the Chargers. Now, that being said, it may be a close call. But bettors see it this time as the Chargers coming in with more momentum and playing better football.

Steelers Vs. Ravens, Saturday 8pm EST, Amazon Prime

• Spread: Steelers +9.5 (-108), Ravens -9.5 (-112)
• Moneyline: Steelers +350, Ravens -455
• Over/Under: 43.5

,Lamar Jackson has the numbers to be MVP any yearI mean, that's just off the chart numbers. For this particular game, both these teams are very familiar with each other. They have played twice already this year. Baltimore was a 3-point favorite at Pittsburgh. They lost the game, a low-scoring game, 18–16. Then they're at home, sometime later in the year, we opened them up at 4, and the bet went up to 7 in the game. They really buried the Steelers in that second game.

“Now, when you look at these two teams, they are traditionally close games. They have always been there. It doesn't matter the composition of the roster. They hate each other, that's really all it comes down to. We opened at 9.5, and we're still at 9.5. The total dropped slightly from 45.5 to 43.5.

We are completely loaded with baltimore money lines and baltimore money line parlays. Now you are charging a stiff price. You're betting five to one, but punters like to play these big favorites that way, trying to pick up the payout a little better. So this game will be discussed a lot with the Buffalo game, then some of that will definitely carry over to the Eagles game and then some of the other games as well.

Broncos vs. The Bills, Sunday at 1 p.m. EST, CBS

• Spread: Broncos +8.5 (-112), Bills -8.5 (-108)
• Moneyline: Broncos +340, Bills -440
• Over/Under: 47.5

“The Bills have got home field advantage for a few games, and their home field advantage is one of the strongest in the NFL. It's probably worth two and a half to three points. The weather, the crowd, they just play well out there. It's a tough place to play.

Josh Allen has no problem getting there. In fact, he wanted the wind to blow. Other quarterbacks will struggle. Then you have Bo Nix coming in, who is having a great season. But this is their first time in the playoff field, and you know the Bills. One thing I don't like about the bills – their pass defense is very questionable. Their secondary doesn't seem to have coverage, and they allow teams to score a lot of points on them. But this is their game. Can we score more points than the other opponent?

“We have those favourites. And most people expect them to win this game. But are they going to cover that 8.5? Bookies will probably lay down a money line. Alan is a gamer. His (injury problem) is his left hand. I am not worried about his health. He's one of those guys that goes out and just wants to win, does anything to win.”

Packers vs. Eagles, Sunday 4:30 PM EST, Fox

• Spread: Packers +4.5 (-105), Eagles -4.5 (-115)
• Moneyline: Packers +190, Eagles -230
• Over/Under: 45.5

,You have to talk about the health of Jordan Love (Packers QB) and Eagles quarterback Jalen HurtsHe hasn't come out of concussion protocol yet, though he could be out as early as this morning. But we assumed he was going to play. And this number that we came up with, 4.5, was playing with that, and that number is holding up. I'm 99% sure he'll play. If he doesn't I will be shocked and this number will drop like a rock.

But the Packers issue is that they didn't perform that well late in the year. Love may not be 100%. For me, Christian Watson is a big deal in this team. They always play better with him on the field. The Eagles are a completely complete team. I mean, running back, Saquon Barkley, just a tremendous year. She had a week's vacation last week, so she's definitely ready to go. Good wide receivers, probably the best defense of all the teams in the playoffs this year.

“So, I see him as a real deal, and can probably go very far. But 4.5, I don't know if 4.5 will stick or not. And in my opinion, I think this game probably goes up to a 5, maybe even a 5.5 by the time we get closer to game time. It is just settled and has not progressed much. The total has dropped slightly from 46.5 to 45.5. But, you know, we'll see where the line goes. “I don't see it going down, but I can see it going up as we get more clarity on the quarterback's health.”

Commander Vs. Buccaneers, Sunday 8 PM EST, NBC

• Spread: Commanders +3 (-105), Buccaneers -3 (-115)
• Moneyline: Commanders +145, Buccaneers -175
• Over/Under: 50.5

“If I was betting on the game, I probably wouldn't bet 3. I might have been looking at the dog. I like Baker Mayfield's playing style. This guy is probably the hardest working quarterback in the NFL. He gives his all in every game. He must be completely exhausted, as he puts in all his strength to win the football game. The team is kind of one dimensional. You've got Mike Evans, he's his favorite guy, and Bucky Irving, a good running back. They have some good pieces, but I view them as an above average team. I don't see them as more than that.

And, do you go to the Commanders here with a rookie at quarterback (Jayden Daniels)? I think the end of the season was not as good as the beginning of the season (for the Commanders). It wasn't bad. He is capable of running and throwing the ball downfield. He can do many good things. But again, that's in a playoff environment. Baker Mayfield has been in their environment before, while Daniels has not.

,But I definitely think the 3 points are exactly where the spread should beAnything more than that, which we were at in the opener, 3.5, was taken quickly. People saw it as having value. So it's sitting at 3 o'clock right now, and there's not much movement. “It will probably drop to 2.5.”

Vikings Vs. Rams, Monday at 8 p.m. EST, ESPN/ABC

• Spread: Vikings -1.5 (-108), Rams +1.5 (-112)
• Moneyline: Vikings -118, Rams -102
• Over/Under: 47.5

,We opened the game Vikings 2.5. We have come to 1.5. We're down to even 1. In fact, we even went up to Rams 1 at one point, and now we're back to Vikings 1.5 again. This is a good game for the Rams because it's a good matchup for them. But the concern for the Vikings coming into this game was that they were playing (against the Lions) on Sunday night. They're playing for the No. 1 seed, which means they'll get a bye week. They win the division. Everything was looking positive that they could win that game. Well, they lost that game, and now they're the fifth seed. I don't think the coach did a good job in that game. He should have made field goals when he got the chance instead of playing the Lions game and trying for it all the time.

I don't know if it's on the players' minds, but if Sam Darnold takes this team deep into the playoffs, he becomes the quarterback, and then maybe they'll think about trading the rookie when he comes back next year. I think, trying to get some draft picks. So I don't know whether this is in any player's mind or not. I think we've just got to go in and try to win this football game.

“But (Darnold) has no evidence that he excels at these types of games, and last week was part of that, to show that he doesn't, although I don't blame him entirely. am. I think the Vikings are a quality team. I think it's a tough matchup for them, because the Rams have a quarterback who has won a Super Bowl. They have great receivers.

However, I don't put too much importance on the Rams home field advantageYou go to a Steelers game, or a Ravens game, or a Bills game, or an Eagles game. The fans are completely focused on the game. You go to LA, people are talking about the Golden Globes. And it's indoors, and the Vikings are used to playing indoors.”

Prospects: DraftKings