Since there were so many upsets the first two weeks in the NFL, I got to wondering how the Las Vegas odds makers were faring. Las Vegas is one place with a legal US sports book for gamblers. There are, also, legal online sites…OR you could choose a local guy, but you should understand that doing that is illegal.
I am certainly aware that no one throws an “illegal procedure” flag on the millions of people who play fantasy football, NFL “tickets” or get into “survivor” pools. There is no question that being involved in these weekly competitions makes watching the NFL that much more fun and interesting.
But what if we lived in Las Vegas where gambling on the NFL is legal? Just out of curiosity, I wondered how the gamblers and the Las Vegas bookies fared in the first two weeks of the NFL season. According to my research, in week one, the Sunday night game between the Patriots and the Cardinals was the “make or break” match-up for each side. 80% of all the money wagered on that game was on the Cardinals. After all, Tom Brady was out, Rob Gronkowski was out, and other key players would not play. Four times as much money was bet on the Cardinals to win and the Cardinals were, also, seven times more likely to be on wagers that included more than one team.
As you know, New England won the game 23-21 on a field goal and many a bettor’s ticket was torn up and thrown away. As a matter of fact, six underdogs won on the first Sunday, including the Miami Dolphins who were 10.5 point underdogs. It was a good day for the casinos.
Week two proved even more profitable for Las Vegas. With the unlikely wins by the Falcons over the Raiders and the Rams beating the Seahawks, Sunday afternoon created a windfall for the sports books. That scenario got even better when gamblers in Vegas took the Packers over the Vikings in the Sunday night game six times more often than vice versa. The Vikings won and Sunday became a spectacular day for the “bad guys”.
There was, however, one “feel-good” story for the guy who tries to beat the “house” (and, rarely, if ever does). One Nevada gambler won $179,940 betting on college football when he placed three separate bets in three different locations. Believe it or not, he picked twelve out of twelve – TWELVE – college games correctly against the point spread. Although his name was not divulged, he did say he had made a similar bet every week during college football season for years and this is the first time he has ever won. I hope that, with his win, he has at least broken even now. Why do I doubt it?
ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)
- It probably isn’t news to you if I tell you that you can buy a University of Florida Tim Tebow jersey. It is news if I tell you that you can also buy a Tim Tebow Mets jersey. He has signed a $100,000 bonus contract with the Mets and was sent to their instructional league at Port St. Lucie, Florida.
- What is the story with the Seattle Seahawks offense – 15 points in two weeks and to Miami and the Rams? They do not have a healthy running back and QB Russell Wilson can’t run on a bad ankle.
- If Bill Belichick’s Patriots beat Houston this week with their #3 quarterback, then you must admit, even though you may hate him, that he is the best coach in the NFL.
- Five years ago, Lafayette traveled to North Dakota State (where Carson Wentz played) to play the Bison. That team has won the national FCS championship every year since 2011. This past Saturday, they beat #13 Iowa 23-21 of the FBS (those are the big boys). You can use permanent ink when you pick them to win the FCS title again this year.
- On Friday, September 23, RCN-TV offers up undefeated Saucon Valley at Southern Lehigh (7:00pm) followed by Celtic Classic highlights. Lafayette will host nationally ranked Villanova on Saturday. The live broadcast begins at 6:00pm.
Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks – (Last week – 11-5; Overall – 21-11 – 66% )
Week Three
Houston
Cincinnati
Oakland
Arizona
Baltimore
Miami
Giants
Green Bay
Carolina
Seattle
Tampa Bay
Pittsburgh
Kansas City
San Diego
Dallas
Atlanta
