Monday night delivered a little bit of everything across the NFL, MLB and NHL: a nationally televised blowout, two American League playoff games with massive postseason consequences, and an NHL slate that produced four straight games finishing under the closing total.
For bettors, the biggest story was simple: the favorites did not necessarily dominate, but the totals certainly did.
🏈 NFL: 
Falcons HAMMER 
Saints 45-24
The Falcons turned Monday Night Football into a statement game, destroying the Saints 45-24 at Caesars Superdome.
Atlanta improved to 2-2, while New Orleans fell to 1-3, putting the Saints in a much more difficult position in the NFC South. Atlanta has now won consecutive road games after previously beating Green Bay.
The Falcons dominated the line of scrimmage, rushing for 205 yards compared with only 50 for New Orleans. Atlanta also gained 420 total yards while committing zero turnovers.
Bijan Robinson was the fantasy and betting star
Bijan Robinson was absolutely ridiculous: 19 carries, 145 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns, including a 59-yard score.
Brian Robinson Jr. added three rushing touchdowns of his own, giving Atlanta five rushing scores as a team.
Michael Penix Jr. was efficient rather than spectacular, completing 15 of 20 passes for 223 yards and a touchdown without an interception.
Drake London added five catches for 96 yards, while Jahan Dotson caught Penix's 31-yard touchdown.
Betting recap
The closing market had New Orleans around -1.5 with a total of 47.5. Atlanta won outright and the game finished with 69 total points, making the over a comfortable winner.
Betting winners: Falcons moneyline, Falcons +1.5, over 47.5, Bijan Robinson rushing props, Atlanta rushing-related props.
The biggest lesson: Atlanta's offensive explosion with Penix is not looking like a one-game fluke. The Falcons scored 35 against Green Bay and followed it with 45 against New Orleans.
Saints problems getting bigger
New Orleans had a rough night on both sides of the ball. Tyler Shough threw for 286 yards, but New Orleans managed only 50 rushing yards. Alvin Kamara scored twice but managed just 23 rushing yards.
The Saints also entered the game without defensive starters Carl Granderson and Kaden Elliss, while tight end Noah Fant was a late inactive.
Atlanta was not completely healthy either. Left tackle Jake Matthews left in the first quarter with a groin injury, while defensive end Za'Darius Smith required medical attention after going down but was able to walk off the field.
Bottom line: Atlanta is suddenly relevant in the NFC South. New Orleans is 1-3 and needs answers quickly.
⚾ MLB PLAYOFFS: ALDS GAME 2
Monday was all about the American League Division Series, and both series moved dramatically toward one team.
White Sox 4, 
Guardians 3
Chicago shocked Cleveland again, winning 4-3 to take a commanding 2-0 ALDS lead.
The White Sox are now 4-0 in the postseason, and remarkably, all four victories have come on the road.
Chicago trailed 2-0 early, but Braden Montgomery's two-run double in the sixth inning gave the White Sox the lead.
Sean Burke was outstanding as the starter, throwing 5⅓ innings and allowing only one hit. Grant Taylor closed it out for the save.
Cleveland starter Gavin Williams was excellent statistically, striking out 11 batters over five innings, but the Guardians could not turn the performance into a victory.
Betting recap
The Guardians entered the game as the favorite, roughly -150, with the total around 6.5 runs. Chicago was the underdog.
The White Sox won outright and the game finished with seven runs.
Big betting takeaway: Chicago continues to defy the market. The White Sox were the final Wild Card team into the postseason, swept Houston in the Wild Card Series and have now won four straight playoff games.
The series shifts to Chicago with the White Sox needing only one more victory to reach the ALCS. Game 3 is Wednesday. Cleveland now has to win three consecutive games to survive.
Rays 5, 
Yankees 2
If you are a Yankees fan, this one was ugly.
Tampa Bay defeated New York 5-2 and now leads the ALDS 2-0.
The Rays used a four-run fifth inning to turn the game around, while New York committed four errors.
Ben Rice was basically the entire Yankees offense. He hit two solo home runs, but New York could not generate enough offense around him.
Tampa Bay's pitching staff did the rest. Freddy Peralta allowed one run over 4⅔ innings before the Rays bullpen took control. Ian Seymour pitched three innings and Bryan Baker recorded the save.
The Aaron Judge problem
The Yankees are playing without Aaron Judge, who remains sidelined with a right calf injury and was not placed on the ALDS roster.
That absence is becoming enormous. New York has scored only two runs in the first two games of the series.
Judge is eligible to return if the Yankees reach the ALCS, but first they have to accomplish something that suddenly looks extremely difficult: win three straight games.
Betting recap
The Yankees entered Game 2 as the market favorite, roughly around -125, with Tampa Bay around +105 to +110 and the total at 6.5.
Tampa Bay won outright. The game finished with seven runs, narrowly clearing the 6.5 total.
Big betting lesson: the Rays are proving that pitching, defense and situational hitting can beat the Yankees' much more expensive lineup.
Rays lead Yankees 2-0. Game 3 moves to Yankee Stadium Wednesday. Tampa Bay needs one more win, New York needs three straight. That is a gigantic swing in postseason probability.
🏒 NHL: FOUR GAMES, FOUR UNDERS
Monday night's NHL schedule featured four games, and bettors who played the under went a perfect 4-for-4.
The consensus closing markets had totals of 5.5 or 6.5 depending on the matchup.
Lightning 4, 
Flyers 1
Tampa Bay defeated Philadelphia 4-1.
The Flyers remain winless at 0-2-2, while Tampa Bay improved to 2-1.
Ilya Mikheyev scored his first goal with Tampa Bay and added an assist. Pontus Holmberg and Brayden Point also scored their first goals of the season, while Nikita Kucherov picked up two assists.
Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 13 of 14 shots.
The closing total was around 5.5, making the under the winning side. Philadelphia has now been outscored 17-5 over its first four games.
Rasmus Ristolainen's status was also a concern entering the game after leaving Saturday's overtime loss with an undisclosed injury.
Betting result: Lightning moneyline plus under. Full box score
Senators 4, 
Bruins 1
Ottawa produced one of Monday's biggest NHL surprises, beating Boston 4-1 at TD Garden.
Tim Stützle led the Senators with two goals and an assist, while Michael Amadio had a goal and assist and Drake Batherson also scored.
Boston entered the game 2-1, but the Bruins were completely shut down offensively. Ottawa outshot Boston 24-19 and the Bruins went 0-for-4 on the power play.
Jeremy Swayman stopped 20 shots, but Boston's offense could not generate enough pressure. The Senators improved to 2-0-0.
Injury watch
Ottawa was without defenseman Jake Sanderson, who was ruled out for both Monday's game in Boston and Tuesday's game against Detroit after reaggravating an undisclosed injury.
Betting result: Ottawa upset Boston and the game stayed under the 5.5 total. Full box score
Jets 3, 
Penguins 2
Winnipeg handed Pittsburgh its first loss of the season, rallying from a 2-0 deficit to win 3-2.
The Jets scored three times in just 4:19 during the third period.
Alex Iafallo tied the game, Adam Lowry gave Winnipeg the lead and Cole Perfetti scored the winner only nine seconds after Pittsburgh tied the game.
Perfetti now has five points through three games.
Clay Stevenson made 29 saves for Winnipeg.
Pittsburgh's Ben Kindel and Declan Carlile each recorded a goal and an assist.
The Penguins had entered the game 2-0 and had scored 13 goals through their first two games.
Betting result: Pittsburgh was the favorite around -170 to -175, with Winnipeg around +145 to +150. The Jets won outright. The total was 6.5, and the game finished with five goals. Jets moneyline plus under 6.5. Full box score
Stars 5, 
Sharks 0
The biggest shock of the NHL night may have been the final game.
Dallas shut out San Jose 5-0, giving the Stars their first victory of the season.
Jake Oettinger stopped all 13 shots he faced for his 17th career shutout.
Jamie Benn and Jason Robertson each had a goal and an assist, while Miro Heiskanen, Joel Kiviranta and Mikko Rantanen also scored.
The result was especially significant because San Jose entered the game 2-0 and was looking for its first 3-0 start in franchise history. Instead, the Sharks were shut out.
Macklin Celebrini injury
San Jose's biggest storyline was not the loss itself.
Macklin Celebrini was a late scratch because of a lower-body injury after taking part in warmups. That is something to monitor closely because Celebrini had already recorded five assists through San Jose's first two games.
Betting result: Dallas was roughly a -220 favorite, with San Jose around +180 and the total at 6.5. Dallas won 5-0. Stars moneyline plus under 6.5. Full box score
💰 MONDAY'S BIGGEST BETTING TAKEAWAYS
NFL
Best results: Falcons +1.5, Falcons moneyline, over 47.5, Bijan Robinson rushing props.
Atlanta did not just cover, they destroyed New Orleans.
MLB
White Sox: huge underdog win and now 2-0 in the ALDS. Rays: took advantage of Yankees mistakes and moved within one win of the ALCS.
NHL
The biggest betting trend of the night: all four Monday NHL games finished under their closing totals.
Lightning Flyers: final 4-1, closing total approximately 5.5, result under.Senators Bruins: final 4-1, closing total approximately 5.5, result under.Jets Penguins: final 3-2, closing total approximately 6.5, result under.Stars Sharks: final 5-0, closing total approximately 6.5, result under.
