Thursday, September 11, 2003
Copyright ? Las Vegas Review-Journal
Texans conquer big odds
Money-line bet would have paid well for victory over Miami
By MATT YOUMANS
REVIEW-JOURNAL
In the NFL's opening week, one apparent certainty was that the Miami Dolphins would get a straight-up victory over the lowly Houston Texans. But anyone who bet on that was just carrying an expensive slip of paper.
The Texans, 14-point underdogs, stunned the Dolphins 21-20 and reminded everyone that there are no guarantees in the parity-stricken NFL.
Stardust sports book director Bob Scucci said he took no significant money-line bets on the game, and he pulled it off the board when the point spread hit 14.
"We don't book big money lines when it gets above 13 points," Scucci said. "We don't get a lot of guys who like betting $10,000 to win $1,000. We get smaller 'dog players."
When the line opened at 13 points, the Dolphins were minus-800 on the money line, and the Texans returned plus-600, which would have made underdog players a fat profit.
Most books post money lines on Wednesdays. This week's biggest NFL number is on the Oakland Raiders (minus-625) hosting the Cincinnati Bengals (plus-425). The point spread opened at 11 1/2, and Scucci said it is headed higher.
"We've already got a few thousand dollars on the Raiders (on the money line)," Scucci said.
? COACHING HEADS TO ROLL -- Many offshore books offer interesting prop bets to attract attention from potential customers, and one (BetWWTS.com) has posted odds on the first NFL coach to be fired or to resign.
After his team's 49-7 loss at San Francisco, Chicago Bears coach Dick Jauron has become the 3-1 favorite. The second choice is Arizona Cardinals coach Dave McGinnis at 5-1.
St. Louis Rams coach Mike Martz is 6-1, followed by Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt at 8-1. Of the long shots, the Washington Redskins' Steve Spurrier is 18-1, and the Dallas Cowboys' Bill Parcells is 40-1.
? COLLEGE EDUCATION -- Picked by some preseason magazines as the nation's No. 1 team, Auburn opened the season 0-2 with a 23-0 loss to Southern California and a 17-3 loss at Georgia Tech. The Tigers proved to be money-burning favorites.
At the Stardust, Auburn opened this week as a 14-point pick at Vanderbilt. But Scucci said money on the underdog has dropped the line to 11.
"Initially, we had a lot of money on Auburn, and we did well on them, and I guess the bettors gave up on them," Scucci said.
Notre Dame-Michigan has been the top draw for bettors this weekend, Scucci said. The Wolverines are 10-point home favorites.
? HINDSIGHT IS 750-1 -- A majority of favorites failed to deliver in college football last week. If a bettor had played a "Ties Win" parlay card at Coast Casinos and taken the first 10 underdogs listed Saturday, a bet would have paid off 750-1. The first 12 underdogs covered or tied the point spread, and six of those teams won straight up
Copyright ? Las Vegas Review-Journal
Texans conquer big odds
Money-line bet would have paid well for victory over Miami
By MATT YOUMANS
REVIEW-JOURNAL
In the NFL's opening week, one apparent certainty was that the Miami Dolphins would get a straight-up victory over the lowly Houston Texans. But anyone who bet on that was just carrying an expensive slip of paper.
The Texans, 14-point underdogs, stunned the Dolphins 21-20 and reminded everyone that there are no guarantees in the parity-stricken NFL.
Stardust sports book director Bob Scucci said he took no significant money-line bets on the game, and he pulled it off the board when the point spread hit 14.
"We don't book big money lines when it gets above 13 points," Scucci said. "We don't get a lot of guys who like betting $10,000 to win $1,000. We get smaller 'dog players."
When the line opened at 13 points, the Dolphins were minus-800 on the money line, and the Texans returned plus-600, which would have made underdog players a fat profit.
Most books post money lines on Wednesdays. This week's biggest NFL number is on the Oakland Raiders (minus-625) hosting the Cincinnati Bengals (plus-425). The point spread opened at 11 1/2, and Scucci said it is headed higher.
"We've already got a few thousand dollars on the Raiders (on the money line)," Scucci said.
? COACHING HEADS TO ROLL -- Many offshore books offer interesting prop bets to attract attention from potential customers, and one (BetWWTS.com) has posted odds on the first NFL coach to be fired or to resign.
After his team's 49-7 loss at San Francisco, Chicago Bears coach Dick Jauron has become the 3-1 favorite. The second choice is Arizona Cardinals coach Dave McGinnis at 5-1.
St. Louis Rams coach Mike Martz is 6-1, followed by Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt at 8-1. Of the long shots, the Washington Redskins' Steve Spurrier is 18-1, and the Dallas Cowboys' Bill Parcells is 40-1.
? COLLEGE EDUCATION -- Picked by some preseason magazines as the nation's No. 1 team, Auburn opened the season 0-2 with a 23-0 loss to Southern California and a 17-3 loss at Georgia Tech. The Tigers proved to be money-burning favorites.
At the Stardust, Auburn opened this week as a 14-point pick at Vanderbilt. But Scucci said money on the underdog has dropped the line to 11.
"Initially, we had a lot of money on Auburn, and we did well on them, and I guess the bettors gave up on them," Scucci said.
Notre Dame-Michigan has been the top draw for bettors this weekend, Scucci said. The Wolverines are 10-point home favorites.
? HINDSIGHT IS 750-1 -- A majority of favorites failed to deliver in college football last week. If a bettor had played a "Ties Win" parlay card at Coast Casinos and taken the first 10 underdogs listed Saturday, a bet would have paid off 750-1. The first 12 underdogs covered or tied the point spread, and six of those teams won straight up
