As is the case every week, injuries are a key factor impacting NFL Week 10 betting odds. As is illness and/or getting well. The Aaron Rodgers-COVID saga appears to be settled, since he’s been cleared to return for Green Bay ahead of Sunday’s home game against Seattle. And the Seahawks will have QB Russell Wilson (finger injury) back under center, as well.
However, another marquee quarterback got some bad ‘rona news Saturday night and will be sidelined Sunday.
Props.com’s Countdown to Kickoff serves as a one-stop-shop for details on injuries, weather conditions, and Pros vs. Joes action. Check back regularly for injury updates, significant weather impacts, and notable contrasts between NFL Week 10 sharp bets and public money.
NFL Week 10 Injuries
Pittsburgh Steelers: On Saturday night, QB Ben Roethlisberger was ruled out Sunday against Detroit after being put on the COVID/reserve list. Lions-Steelers was then taken off the board at The SuperBook before going back up at 8:15 p.m. ET at Steelers -6. The total fell from an opener of 43.5 to 41 — by far the lowest total of the week. Veteran backup Mason Rudolph will fill in for Roethlisberger, but he won’t be throwing to wideout Chase Claypool, who has been ruled out with a toe injury. Prior to the news about Big Ben, Pittsburgh had already fallen from -9 to -8.
Seattle Seahawks: Wilson, who in Week 5 suffered a finger injury on his right (passing) hand that required surgery, will play Sunday at Green Bay. However, running back Chris Carson (neck), out since Week 4, was not activated off injured reserve despite being eligible to return to action. Thus, Wilson will be without his No. 1 tailback at Lambeau Field. Seattle, which opened as a 5.5-point underdog, was down to +3.5 at The SuperBook as of Saturday night.
Green Bay Packers: Rodgers missed last week’s loss at Kansas City after a positive COVID test. However, he passed league protocols on Saturday, the first day he was eligible to be return to the team, and is expected to start Sunday against the Seahawks. Green Bay was sitting at -3.5 at The SuperBook on Saturday night, while the total ticked up from 49.5 to 50 on news of Rodgers’ return.
Arizona Cardinals: Arizona won at San Francisco without QB Kyler Murray (ankle) and wideout DeAndre Hopkins (hamstring). As of Sunday morning, it sounds doubtful that either will play in Sunday’s home game vs. Carolina. Also, running back Chase Edmonds (ankle) was placed on injured reserve Saturday. Late Saturday night, The SuperBook dropped the Cardinals from -10 to -9.5, then went to -9 Sunday morning. The total, which opened at 44.5, steadily dipped from 44 to 42 between Saturday night and Sunday morning.
Carolina Panthers: QB Sam Darnold (shoulder) went on injured reserve this week and will be out four to six weeks. P.J. Walker will start at Arizona, but that was already in The SuperBook’s soup, as Carolina dipped from +10.5 Friday back to the opening number of +10 as of Saturday night. The Panthers on Thursday re-acquired former No. 1 overall pick Cam Newton, who won’t start but could see playing time.
Dallas Cowboys: Dallas wideout Michael Gallup, who has been out with a calf injury since Week 1, has been activated off injured reserve and is expected to start Sunday vs. Atlanta. Three other skill-position players — running back Ezekiel Elliott (knee), and wideouts Amari Cooper (hamstring) and Cedrick Wilson (shoulder) — dealt with injuries this week. Elliott is expected to go, while Cooper and Wilson remained questionable Saturday night. Dallas, which saw its six-game winning streak snapped in last week’s 30-16 loss to Denver as a 10-point favorite, opened -8.5 at The SuperBook and quickly moved to -9. However, the line fell to -8 on Saturday night. The total has been a huge mover, going from 51 to 55.
New Orleans Saints: Running back Alvin Kamara (knee) is out for Sunday’s game at Tennessee. But The SuperBook apparently expected that, as the Saints have been pinned to +3 all week at a price of -120. The total moved from 44.5 to 45, then down to 44 by Friday. As of Saturday night, the side and total remained unchanged.
Tennessee Titans: QB Ryan Tannehill apparently had a late-week illness that kept him out of practice. But he’s got no injury designation and is expected to play vs. New Orleans. Conversely, oft-injured wideout Julio Jones (hamstring) was placed on IR on Saturday. Tennessee has been a 3-point chalk (even money) all week at The SuperBook, and remained as such Saturday night.
Los Angeles Rams: Apparently, the Rams had good timing with this week’s signing of Odell Beckham Jr. Wideout Robert Woods tore an ACL in practice Friday, meaning Beckham could see more footballs Monday night if he’s indeed in uniform. Los Angeles opened -4, got to -4.5, then dipped to -3.5 early Friday, before the Woods injury. That point-spread held firm Saturday night at The SuperBook, with the total sitting at 49.
Cleveland Browns: Running back Nick Chubb is out due to COVID protocols. Two backup tailbacks (John Kelly and Demetric Felton) are out for the same reason, and primary backup Kareem Hunt (calf) remains on injured reserve. So D’Ernest Johnson will line up behind QB Baker Mayfield at New England. The Browns opened +2.5 at The SuperBook and shortened to +1 early in the week, but the Chubb news help push the line back out to +2.5, where it stood as of Saturday night. The total is up, though, sitting at 45 from a 43.5 opener and 45.5 high point.
New England Patriots: Top running back Damien Harris (concussion) was ruled out of Sunday’s game against Cleveland. New England dipped from -2.5 to -1 by Monday at The SuperBook, then returned to +2.5 by Wednesday night and has remained there since. The total moved from 43.5 to 45.5, then to dipped to 45 Thursday.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tight end Rob Gronkowski (back) and wideout Antonio Brown (ankle) on Friday were ruled out for Sunday’s game at Washington. Wideout Chris Godwin (foot) is listed as questionable but expected to play. The SuperBook’s line hasn’t budged off Bucs -9.5 all week. However, the total made a modest move downward Saturday, going from 51.5 to 51.
Washington Football Team: Wideout Curtis Samuel (groin) won’t play Sunday against Tampa Bay. That didn’t impact the number at all, with the line on Saturday night sticking at Washington +9.5 , where it’s been all week.
Buffalo Bills: Running back Zack Moss (concussion) cleared protocols and is expected to play Sunday when Buffalo visits the New York Jets. Tight end Dawson Knox (hand), out since Week 6, was a full participant at Thursday’s practice and appears set to return. The Bills — who, like the Cowboys, lost outright last week as double-digit favorites, falling 9-6 at Jacksonville — bounced between -12.5 and -13.5 this week at The SuperBook Buffalo was sitting at -13 Saturday night. The total is 47.5.
New York Jets: The Jets announced Wednesday that Mike White will remain the starter at quarterback, as rookie Zach Wilson (doubtful) continues recovering from a Week 7 knee injury. Wideout Corey Davis (hip) is questionable for Sunday’s home game against Buffalo, but according to reports is slated to play. New York opened as a 12.5-point home ‘dog vs. Buffalo and was up to +13 on Saturday night.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Running back James Robinson (heel), who sat out last week’s upset of Buffalo, is questionable at Indianapolis. The Jaguars opened +11 at The SuperBook, then spent almost all week at +10, where the line remained Saturday night.
Indianapolis Colts: Wideout T.Y. Hilton, who sat out last week with a concussion and has played in just two games this season, was cleared to play vs. Jacksonville. Indianapolis moved from -11 to -10 Sunday night at The SuperBook, and the number hasn’t moved since.
Denver Broncos: Wideout Tim Patrick (knee) is questionable against Philadelphia, while left tackle Garett Bolles (ankle) and right tackle Bobby Massie (ankle) won’t play. The SuperBook had Denver as a 2.5-point favorite all week, then dropped to -1.5 Friday. The spread remained there Saturday, while the total is sitting at 45.5.
Miami Dolphins: A few hours before Thursday night’s home game vs. Baltimore, QB Tua Tagovailoa (finger) was announced as doubtful. That led The SuperBook to go from Miami +7.5 to +8 to +8.5 and even briefly touch +9, after opening this matchup Miami +6.5 Sunday night. The total is down to 46, from a 47.5 high point and 47 opener.
Baltimore Ravens: Running back Latavius Murray (ankle) is doubtful Thursday night at Miami, and wideout Sammy Watkins (thigh) is questionable. Still, the Ravens moved from -6.5 to -7.5 earlier in the week at The SuperBook. Then, on the Tua Tagovailoa news (see above), Baltimore advanced as far as -9, before ticking back to -8.5. The total went from 47 to 47.5 to 46.5, then to 46 on Tagovailoa’s status.
NFL Week 10 Weather
Saints at Titans: It might be a little breezy Sunday in Nashville, with the forecast calling for 10-15 mph winds. The total got to 44 Friday at The SuperBook, from a 44.5 opener and 45 high point.
Seattle Seahawks at Green Bay Packers: It’s getting to that point in the year when colder weather is starting to impact games. In this instance, Seahawks-Packers will kick off with temperatures in the upper 30s and drop from there, with winds of 10-25 mph. And that’s after a 73 percent chance of light snow in the morning, though well ahead of the 3:25 p.m. CT kickoff. Despite the frigid forecast, the total at The SuperBook was back to the opening number of 49.5.
Detroit Lions at Pittsburgh Steelers: On Saturday night, the Sunday forecast called for a 74 percent chance rain at kickoff and percentage increasing from there. Winds are projected at about 10 mph. The SuperBook opened the total at 43.5 but was down to 41 on Saturday night, in part due to the breaking news that Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger won’t play after being placed on the COVID/reserve list.
Philadelphia Eagles at Denver Broncos: It’ll be a pleasant mid-60s fall day in Denver, but it could be breezy in the first half, with winds approaching 15 mph early on before tapering off. The total at The SuperBook has gone up a full point, from a 44.5 opener to 45.5.
Baltimore Ravens at Miami Dolphins: The Week 10 opener could be a wet one, with a 60 percent chance of rain Thursday night in Miami. The total stands at 46.5 at The SuperBook after opening 47 and initially rising to 47.5.
NFL Week 10 Pros Vs Joes
Seattle Seahawks at Green Bay Packers: TwinSpires Sportsbook trading analyst Zachary Lucas said after the news broke that Wilson would play in Green Bay “sharp money followed on the Seahawks.” TwinSpires is down to Packers -3.5 from a -5.5 opener, with 60 percent of tickets on Green Bay and 58 percent of money on Seattle.
