Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh and quarterback J.J. McCarthy celebrate with the trophy after their win against Washington in the national championship NCAA College Football Playoff game Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, in Houston.
The Michigan Wolverines' defeat of the Washington Huskies to capture the U.S. college football championship brought a smile to the face of many Proline bettors Monday night. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/David J. Phillip
The Michigan Wolverines’ defeat of the Washington Huskies to capture the U.S. college football championship brought a smile to the face of many Proline bettors Monday night.
Michigan capped an unbeaten season with a 34-13 victory over Washington. That win earned the Wolverines their first NCAA title since 1997.
According to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp., 52 per cent of Proline bettors picked Michigan to win the game while 43 per cent took the Wolverines -5.5 points. And 47 per cent selected the total under 56.5 points.
On Sunday night, the Buffalo Bills clinched the AFC East title after rallying to defeat the Miami Dolphins 21-14. The Bills also secured the second seed in the AFC with the victory.
Seventy-three per cent of customers picked Buffalo to win while 81 per cent had the Bills -2.5 points. But only 28 per cent took total under 48.5 points.
The Houston Texans (10-7) clinched a playoff spot Saturday night with a 23-19 victory over the Indianapolis Colts (9-8). Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud was 20-of-26 passing for 264 yards and two TDs, delighting the 59 per cent of bettors who took Houston to win the game/
Another 72 per cent had Houston -1.5 but only 29 per cent took the total under 46.5 points.
It was a disappointing end of the season for the Jacksonville Jaguars, who were eliminated from post-season contention by virtue of a 28-20 loss to the Tennessee Titans. Just 23 per cent of bettors had Titans to win while 47 cent took them +4.5 points.
But 68 per cent took the total over 41.5.
The San Francisco 49ers lead the current top-five picks for the Super Bowl outright at 15 per cent. The remainder includes: Baltimore (14 per cent); Buffalo (12 per cent); Philadelphia (10 per cent) and defending-champion Kansas City (nine per cent).
On Sunday, the Toronto Raptors defeated the Golden State Warriors 133-118. That was a favourable decision for the 52 per cent of bettors who took the Raptors to win while 80 had the total over 238.5 points.
The Toronto Maple Leafs got past the San Jose Sharks 4-1 on Saturday night. A whopping 93 per cent of customers had the Leafs -1.5 while just 37 per cent had the total under 6.5 goals.
A Proline digital bettor earned a $16,135 payout on a $10, 12-pick NFL parlay while a retail customer turned a $20 bet into a $2.367 payday on an eight-pick parlay.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 10, 2024.
