The Most Bettable Rivalries in Football

Eagles-Cowboys Draws $1.5 Million in Handle

Those rivalry games become bettable because public behavior is more extreme: more single-game parlays, more "I'll ride my team" tickets, and more overreactions to the last meeting.

The edge for you is often not "pick the right side," but "pick the right time": let the public push the line, then grab the best of the number on the other side if it overshoots.

Why rivalry games are bettable:

• Pull huge handle (Eagles-Cowboys $1,494,947)
• Create predictable public bias (brands, favorites)
• Public behavior more extreme (parlays, "ride my team" tickets)
• Edge is picking right time, not right side

Before Sunday hits, hit the Content Lab. Fast reads. Smarter picks.

Public Behavior Is More Extreme in Rivalry Games

More single-game parlays. More "I'll ride my team" tickets. More overreactions to the last meeting.

That's the public behavior in rivalry games. And that behavior creates line movement you can exploit.

When the public piles onto one side, the line moves. If it overshoots, you take the other side at a better number.

Public behavior in rivalries:

• More single-game parlays (parlays compound edge for books)
• More "ride my team" tickets (emotional betting)
• More overreactions to last meeting (recency bias)
• Line movement you can exploit

Read more: NFL Betting: The Ultimate Guide for the 2025/2026 Football Season

Think you can call this week's chaos? Jump into Gridzy. It's free. It's quick. And it's built for Sunday flexes.

Two Practical Rivalry Angles

1st half and 1st quarter markets when you expect scripted aggression: Rivalry games often start fast emotionally even if they finish tight.

Coaches script aggression early. Both teams want to punch first. That creates value in 1st half and 1st quarter markets.

Totals and props tied to known matchup usage: How a team attacks a rival's coverage rules tends to repeat.

If a team always throws against a rival's weak corner, that usage repeats. If a team always runs against a rival's light box, that repeats too.

Rivalry betting angles:

• 1st half and 1st quarter markets (scripted aggression early)
• Totals and props tied to matchup usage (usage repeats)
• Coaches script aggression early in rivalries
• How team attacks rival's coverage tends to repeat

Don't let the hype win. Check the Content Lab first. We break down the matchups so you don't have to.

Bears-Packers Draws Over $1 Million in Handle

Action Network data: Bears-Packers drew $1,031,019 in tracked handle.

That's over $1 million on a single regular-season rivalry game. The public loves betting these games.

And when the public loves betting a game, the market is less efficient. There's more emotional money, more recency bias, more brand loyalty.

That's where you find edges.

Bears-Packers handle:

• $1,031,019 in tracked handle
• Over $1 million on single regular-season game
• Public loves betting these games
• More emotional money, less efficient market

Waiting for kickoff? Piggy Arcade has this week's top casino picks lined up.

The Bottom Line on Bettable Rivalries

The most bettable rivalries pull huge handle (Eagles-Cowboys $1,494,947, Bears-Packers $1,031,019) and create predictable public bias toward brands and favorites. Public behavior more extreme: more single-game parlays, more "ride my team" tickets, more overreactions to last meeting. Edge is picking right time not right side: let public push line, grab best number on other side if overshoots. Two practical angles: 1st half and 1st quarter markets when you expect scripted aggression (rivalry games start fast emotionally), totals and props tied to known matchup usage (how team attacks rival's coverage tends to repeat).

When the games end, the fun doesn't. Check Piggy Arcade. Switch from spreads to spins in seconds.