Sports betting roundup: NFL playoffs get closer as favorites go 9-3 straight up

The college football season is nearing its end, and the NFL is getting closer to the playoffs.

Last weekend didn’t have as many big college games as in recent weeks, while the NFL had another eventful Sunday of action.

Here’s a look at how things played out from a sports betting perspective:

At the BetMGM online sportsbook, NFL favorites went 9-3 straight up on Sunday, but a few failed to cover the spread, including some of the most popular teams. The three most bet teams in terms of number of bets all failed to cover. Those teams were the Detroit Lions (-13.5 vs. the New York Giants), the New England Patriots (-7.5 at the Cincinnati Bengals) and the Kansas City Chiefs (-3.5 vs. the Indianapolis Colts ).

When it comes to player props, New York Jets running back Breece Hall’s over 17.5 receiving yards was the most bet prop on Sunday. Hall easily cleared this number, finishing with 75 yards. He was New York’s leading receiver in the 23-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

While the Chiefs didn’t cover the spread against the Colts, they did win 23-20 in overtime. Kansas City entered the game as the losers of two straight, and Patrick Mahomes improved to 6-0 straight up in games after losing two straight in the same season.

The total in Notre Dame and Syracuse on Saturday was 50.5. Notre Dame won 70-7 and nearly cashed the over on their own in the first half when the led 49-0 after the first 30 minutes.

As a nine-point favorite against Arkansas, Texas was the most bet team on Saturday. They won 52-37. Going into the game, the Longhorns were 2-7-1 against the spread this year.

The biggest upset on Sunday was the Cleveland Browns’ 24-10 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. Cleveland was a 3.5-point underdog in Shedeur Sanders’ first career start. The Browns took in 60% of the bets and 89% of the money.

Another upset was the Dallas Cowboys beating the Philadelphia Eagles as a three-point underdog. Dallas trailed 21-0 and came back to win 24-21. Dallas took in 40% of the bets and 63% of the money.

The Heisman Trophy race has seen a lot of movement in the odds each week. This past weekend, it was Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love jumping up the oddsboard.

As of Nov. 24, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza leads the odds at -105, followed by Love at +375.

After those two comes Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin at +400, Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia at +600 and Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed at +1300.

This column was provided to The Associated Press by BetMGM online sportsbook.

AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (4) celebrates catch for a two-point conversion with running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (26) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye throws a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) runs against the New York Giants during the second half of an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The death of a nearly blind refugee from Myanmar who was found on a Buffalo street in February — five days after Border Patrol agents left him at a doughnut shop — has been ruled a homicide, authorities said Wednesday.

The Erie County Medical Examiner's Office didn't reach any conclusions about responsibility for Nurul Amin Shah Alam's death, which the agency said was caused by complications of a perforated duodenal ulcer, precipitated by hypothermia and dehydration. Ruling a death a homicide means it resulted from another person's actions — or inaction — but doesn't necessarily mean that a crime was committed.

Erie County officials planned a news conference later Wednesday.

A message seeking comment was sent to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The agency has previously said that Shah Alam “showed no signs of distress, mobility issues, or disabilities requiring special assistance” when agents dropped him off Feb. 19 at a Tim Hortons restaurant north of Buffalo's downtown. The agency said the establishment was chosen as a warm, safe location near his last known address.

The restaurant was closed at the time, Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan has said.

Shah Alam, 56, had been released from a county jail and then briefly detained by Border Patrol, until the federal agency determined he wasn't eligible for deportation. His family, which had been awaiting his release from jail, wasn't informed of it.

Shah Alam’s lawyer ultimately reported him missing to Buffalo police on Feb. 22.

On Feb. 24, he was found dead near the downtown sports arena where the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres play. It was unclear how he got there from the Tim Hortons, several miles away, or when he died.

FILE - This image from body camera video provided by the Buffalo Police Department shows Nurul Amin Shah Alam, center, led by Buffalo Police officers, Feb. 15, 2025, in Buffalo, N.Y. (Buffalo Police Department via AP, File)