NFL betting market watch – Lines move toward underdog Buffalo Bills, favored Green Bay Packers

The point spread on the Buffalo Bills-Kansas City Chiefs divisional playoff game has been shrinking this week, but not for the reason one might expect.

The Chiefs opened as consensus 2.5-point favorites, but the line dipped to -1.5 at several sportsbooks. Circa Sports, a Las Vegas-based book popular with professional bettors, dropped its line on Kansas City to -1.5 on Tuesday after taking a money-line bet on the Bills +117 from an influential player. Circa reacted to the bet by cutting the money-line price on Buffalo to +107 and moving the point spread down to Chiefs -1.5.

“The move we made on the money line put it at a price that’s appropriate for 1.5 on the point spread,” Chris Bennett, sportsbook director at Circa Sports, said. “We just moved the point spread to coincide with the money line, not because we took a bet [on the Bills] at +2.”

Bookmakers for The SuperBook were trying to stay on the low end of the market and also moved the line toward the Bills this week, from +2 to +1.5 on Wednesday.

“We like the lower number in that game, just because we think Buffalo is better than Kansas City,” John Murray, executive director of the SuperBook, said. “It doesn’t mean that Kansas City can’t beat them in Arrowhead Stadium. But the consensus in our room is that Buffalo is the best team in the AFC.”

In the NFC, injury speculation surrounding San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo sparked bets toward the favored Green Bay Packers. The Packers, who opened as low as 4-point favorites, were 6-point favorites Wednesday at most sportsbooks. Garoppolo is dealing with a “slightly” sprained right (throwing) shoulder, according to coach Kyle Shanahan, who has said he expects his starting quarterback to play.

Rookie quarterback Trey Lance, last year’s No. 1 overall pick, is Garoppolo’s backup. Lance started in place of Garappolo in Week 17 at home against the Houston Texans. The 49ers closed then as 13.5-point favorites and won 23-7, with Lance throwing for two…