Las Vegas sportsbooks got off to a hot start Sunday morning, as Caesars reported winning seven of its first eight decisions of the day. The Westgate SuperBook, CG Technology and the Stratosphere also had solid mornings.
But the picture wasn't as rosy at the MGM, and as vice president of race and sports Jay Rood watched all three heavily-bet favorites (Denver, Arizona, New England) cover the spread in the afternoon games, he knew he had an issue, potentially a seven-figure one.
Nothing like needing this season's San Francisco 49ers for your lungs.
The MGM and the rest of Las Vegas are still breathing comfortably Monday. The 49ers covered as 7.5-point underdogs in a 30-27 to the New York Giants, giving the books a finishing kick to close out the day.
Two hours before kickoff, eight times more money had been wagered on the Giants than the 49ers at the MGM. Rood told Micah Roberts of The Linemakers on Sporting News that a combination of the Giants covering, the Texas Rangers beating the Toronto Blue Jays and both games eclipsing their over/under totals could cost his book seven figures. In addition to the 49ers covering, the Blue Jays beat the Rangers 5-1 in game that stayed under the total.
The Giants failing to cover the spread against the 49ers capped winning days for the Westgate, Caesars and the Stratosphere. Caesars sportsbook director Leon Bismarck told Chalk the Philadelphia Eagles' 39-17 win and cover against the underdog New Orleans Saints somewhat surprisingly produced his shop's biggest win of the morning, a $185,000 profit.
The best game of the morning slate for the MGM and Westgate was the Chicago Bears beating the Kansas City Chiefs 18-17 as 9.5-point underdogs. The biggest loss of the morning for the MGM came in the underdog Cleveland Browns' 33-30 overtime victory over the Baltimore Ravens. Seven times more money was bet on the Browns than the Ravens, including multiple six-figure bets from sophisticated players, according to Rood.
"We had sharp play all over that, big sharp play [on the Browns]," Rood said. "Plus, the public's parlays were to Cleveland as well. It was one of those games where the public and the sharps lined up on the same side. It would have been huge, a big takedown for us if the Ravens could have won outright. They've been on the Browns the last two weeks."
The Cardinals' blowout of the Detroit Lions cost CG Technology its biggest decision of the day. The Patriots' rout of the Dallas Cowboys also did some damage, and by the time, Denver defensive back Chris Harris Jr. returned a fourth-quarter interception for a covering touchdown in a 16-10 win over the Oakland Raiders, CG Technology was resigned to a losing day.
"We lost over 20 percent to teasers yesterday," CG Technology vice president of race and sports Jason Simbal said. "Packers, Broncos, Giants, Cardinals and Patriots were on almost every ticket."
College football odds and ends
-- Bummer Sooner: Texas, left for dead by many, upset the Oklahoma Sooners as a 17-point underdog, much to the dismay of some heavy-handed Sooner backers. "Someone placed a limit bet on Oklahoma at minus-9 dollars [-900]," said Westgate oddsmaker Ed Salmons, who would not specify what size the bet was.
At William Hill, a bettor risked $1,800 on Oklahoma beating Texas straight up at -900 odds. The bet would've paid $200. Texas beat Oklahoma 24-17, kicking off a decent Saturday for most Vegas books.
"That started off the day really well," CG Technology vice president of race and sports Jason Simbal said. "There was a ton of money-line parlays to Oklahoma, tons of normal parlays with Oklahoma on it and they all got killed to start the day.
-- Rock Chalk: In case you needed proof that people will be on anything, offshore sportsbook 5Dimes.eu reported taking "hundreds" of money-line bets on Kansas, a 45-point underdog, to beat Baylor straight up. Kansas was listed at 650-1 to win straight-up, and 5Dimes director Tony Williams said in an online chat that approximately $2,000 to $3,000 in total was wagered on the Jayhawks. "All small pokes," Williams said in an online chat. "It's better than buying a Cash 5 lotto ticket. At least you have a chance." Baylor, which was listed at -195,000 to win straight up, won 66-7.