The Seattle Seahawks are 18-1 straight up and 14-5 against the spread in their last 19 games at home and a profitable 22-8 ATS as a regular-season home favorite over the past few seasons.
This Sunday's home game is a Super Bowl rematch as the Seahawks host the Denver Broncos, an underdog for the first time since Oct. 15, 2012.
Seattle is a 5-point favorite in the big game according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. Picking against the Seahawks at home is a daunting task, but with revenge on the minds of Peyton Manning and the Broncos, Denver may be the play at +5.
Odds Shark Computer Prediction: 36-34 Seattle
The usually impeccable defense of the Seahawks was surprisingly solved last week by the San Diego Chargers. Seattle gave up only 273.6 yards per game and 14.4 points per game last season but surrendered 377 yards and 30 points against San Diego in a 30-21 loss as a 4.5-point road favorite.
Things don't get easier this week facing Manning and the Broncos, but the fact that the game comes at home instead could make a huge difference.
The Broncos are 2-0 SU and 0-2 ATS after winning their first two games but failing to cover big spreads at home. Denver's offseason acquisitions on defense have paid off in the form of two straight fourth quarter stands for victories over Indianapolis and Kansas City.
The defense will be put to the test on the road against Russell Wilson and the Seahawks on Sunday.
This Denver vs. Seattle matchup will be the first regular season rematch of the previous year's Super Bowl since 1997 and just the sixth of all time. The Super Bowl winners are 3-2 SU in the previous five rematches.
The total has gone UNDER in five of Seattle's last six games at home. This game's total is set at 48.5 at NFLOdds.ca monitored sportsbooks.
The highly anticipated rematch could go a number of ways, ranging from Denver getting its revenge with a road upset to another Seattle blowout victory. But considering how embarrassing the Super Bowl loss was to the Broncos, bettors have to assume that Manning and his teammates are going to be extremely pumped up for this chance at redemption.
Whether they win or lose, the Broncos should keep it close this time around and cover as a 5-point dog.