By The Rex Factor

On paper, nothing seemed too off in Week 7 NFL action. There were 15 games this week, just as there have been the last three weeks since the byes started popping up on the schedule. The favorites went 7-8 against the spread, with half of the dog covers coming as outright winners. Away teams went 7-8 ATS as well, and OVERS went 7-8 against UNDERS. Nothing stands out, except it does.

Through seven weeks of the season, most offices are falling into three traps. One, they’re getting ambushed on the Thursday night game and being behind the 8-ball all weekend. Two, they’re winning most of the day Sunday, then losing the night game to ruin the day. Three, the bettors are bailing themselves out on Monday night for the entire weekend’s losses (or even worse, choppy performance that leads to an overall win).

Notice I mention the prime time games, but it doesn’t take an Einstein to figure out that those are the most popular games on the board because they traditionally take place in stand-alone style. *It will be interesting to see if people bother to even remember the stand-alone game at 9:30 a.m. Eastern time this Sunday morning in London between Detroit and woebegone Atlanta. *

Let’s briefly check at how things have played out on a week-by-week basis for most stores in Vegas and a couple of offshore places where I’ve got connections, as well. Talking to these businessmen has been an exercise in futility. Bookmakers are notorious for crying in their beer and complaining about lousy luck, regardless of the real results. But through almost two months of this season, the figures seem to show that they’ve got the right to feel gloom & doom if things don’t turn at some point.

Week 1: First game of the year, and big public AND sharp side Seattle takes Green Bay to the woodshed on Thursday Night Football. The rest of the weekend was choppy, including the two Monday night games. But on Sunday night, those who backed Denver were rewarded when they blasted the Colts and covered for the loyal Peyton Manning fanbase, those who refused to let the Super Bowl deter them from continuing to back No. 18 at all costs.

Week 2: The Ravens handle Pittsburgh at home on Thursday night, covering easily as a small favorite. The Sunday and Monday night games were both okay for the house, but those wins were frayed by big public sides Dallas, Washington, New England and Cincinnati getting easy covers.

Week 3: The Falcons scored 56 on Atlanta on Thursday night and the public was off and running again. The rest of the weekend was choppy, but the Bears were a public underdog when winning at the Meadowlands against the Jets on Monday night.

Week 4: The one week where the script got flipped. The prime time games (Sunday night, Cowboys thrashing the favored Saints and Monday night, the Chiefs mauling public darling New England) were good for the offices, but the favorites went 7-3 in the 10 games contested Sunday during the daytime.

Week 5: Green Bay annihilates Minnesota on Thursday night, when Christian Ponder was forced to start at QB for the Vikings and sends the public scurrying for the windows looking for Green Bay tickets. The public gives it back when they turn their back on the aforementioned Patriots and New England blasts previously-unbeaten Cincinnati on Sunday night. Never fear, however, as they salvage the week by betting Seattle and getting a late field goal for the 10-point win and cover on Monday night at Washington.

Week 6: Colts go into Houston and handle the Texans on Thursday, hanging on late for yet another favorite covering on Thursday. Eagles bury the Giants on Sunday night, and the 49ers rally from 14-down to complete the trifecta of public favorites getting all the money in the three primetime games.

Week 7: Jets were game in covering at New England on Thursday, and the Steelers covered against Houston on Monday in a good 2-way game, but the Broncos overwhelmed the 49ers as a popular favorite.

As you can see, it’s been a whole lot of the same all season for most bettors and bookmakers, and these results generally are leaving more money in the pockets of the bettor. It’s up to them on how to wisely ensure they can obtain proper payouts and not deal with unscrupulous sportsbook operators. You sure don’t want to have a problem obtaining your money down the road, which is why it’s smart to deal with guys who know the business and can manage their way through the highs and lows. I don’t go out of my way to recommend many offices during my weekly recaps, but you’ll at least want to consider looking at America’s Bookie if you need another “out” and want to ensure you’re able to get paid.

The Rex Factor has been handicapping the NFL for 15 years and has taken it far more seriously in the last five years, as he realizes it’s the one sport that he can get down whatever he wants to bet without it affecting the market, unlike in baseball and in some other sports.

Visit Apex Football Betting to improve your knowledge of how to bet on football.