By Stephen Nover
October can?t arrive fast enough for most bookmakers. That?s because September was brutal for them in the NFL.
"All the public teams have been winning," said Bob Scucci, race and sports book director at the Stardust Hotel in Las Vegas. "We've been OK against the moves.
"The sharp guys haven't been winning either,? added Scucci. ?From our standpoint, we not only must win against the 'wise' guys but the public as well. Not only haven't we done that, but parlay money has just killed us."
The house had one of its worst mornings a couple of Sundays ago when favorites went 7-0 against the number. The books also had a tough time with the NFL this past Sunday.
"Short road favorites have been treacherous to us," Scucci said.
The public was on the Colts last Sunday night against the Saints. They also were on the Packers this past Monday against the Bears. However, the team that has become public enemy No. 1 to the bookmakers is the Kansas City Chiefs.
"We lose to the Chiefs every week," Scucci said. "They (bettors) play them until they lose and I don't blame them."
It's the same thing with the Carolina Panthers, Scucci said. Gamblers have also been on the undefeated Panthers each week.
"The Chiefs and Panthers are public teams right now," Scucci said.
The Panthers being a public team has to be a first.
College football has been better for the bookmaker.
"College football has been good," Scucci said. "But we do so much more business on NFL."
Bookmakers are confident the NFL will turn around for them, figuring the oddsmakers will keep adjusting the numbers and more 'dogs will start covering.
Traditionally, favorites and 'dogs cover at about a 50/50 rate. But somebody might want to tell the Chiefs and Panthers it's time for them to start losing.
October can?t arrive fast enough for most bookmakers. That?s because September was brutal for them in the NFL.
"All the public teams have been winning," said Bob Scucci, race and sports book director at the Stardust Hotel in Las Vegas. "We've been OK against the moves.
"The sharp guys haven't been winning either,? added Scucci. ?From our standpoint, we not only must win against the 'wise' guys but the public as well. Not only haven't we done that, but parlay money has just killed us."
The house had one of its worst mornings a couple of Sundays ago when favorites went 7-0 against the number. The books also had a tough time with the NFL this past Sunday.
"Short road favorites have been treacherous to us," Scucci said.
The public was on the Colts last Sunday night against the Saints. They also were on the Packers this past Monday against the Bears. However, the team that has become public enemy No. 1 to the bookmakers is the Kansas City Chiefs.
"We lose to the Chiefs every week," Scucci said. "They (bettors) play them until they lose and I don't blame them."
It's the same thing with the Carolina Panthers, Scucci said. Gamblers have also been on the undefeated Panthers each week.
"The Chiefs and Panthers are public teams right now," Scucci said.
The Panthers being a public team has to be a first.
College football has been better for the bookmaker.
"College football has been good," Scucci said. "But we do so much more business on NFL."
Bookmakers are confident the NFL will turn around for them, figuring the oddsmakers will keep adjusting the numbers and more 'dogs will start covering.
Traditionally, favorites and 'dogs cover at about a 50/50 rate. But somebody might want to tell the Chiefs and Panthers it's time for them to start losing.
