|
One game so many ways to wager on it, that's what the Super Bowl has become. From the coin flip (pick'em heads or tails?) to the question of will there a score n the final two-minutes of the game?, the men who make the numbers in some sportsbooks will give you over 300 ways to make a wager on Super Bowl Sunday.
Even local bookmakers have gotten into the act, handing out printed sheets with the likes of total passing yards by Ben Roethlisberger (over/under221 ½ yards) and Jerome Bettis rushing for more or less than 39 ½ yards to which kicker will make the longest field goal, action this Sunday takes the form of more than just the final score.
Jay Kornegay, the linesmaker and director of the sportsbook at the Las Vegas Hilton, in an interview posted on the website covers.com said, "Last year, we wrote approximately 60-percent on props and 4- percent on the game… I would expect about the same this year."
This same article went on to say that a record $90.7 million was wagered at Nevada sportsbooks last year on the Super Bowl, according to the state Gaming Control Board. Offshore books took in $450-$600 million. And looking to the offshore business, "The Super Bowl coin toss generates one of the highest volumes," said Alex Czajkowski, marketing director for Sportsbook.com.
When it comes to sports gambling, those who bet, do it because they think that their opinion is better than the person making the number. In short, they see a weakness in the odds and thus an opportunity to make money in addition to satiating a primal need or habit. But when it comes to betting propositions, the opinion is rooted in the way each gambler sees the game being played.
If you envision the run defenses for say both teams being stout, you will naturally lean to passing yards being eclipsed with rushing totals going under. Me, I'll tip my hat and tell you that I like Seattle meaning that I'll play the following props listed by the Glanz-Culver line service each to make $300.
*Total Points Scored by Seattle Over 21 laying $330 to make $300.
Double Result Straight Up 1st Half Winner and Game Winner Seattle/Seattle 5-2 risking $120 to make $300
Any Score in First 7 Minutes of Game? Yes -145 laying $435 to make $300
Total Quarterback Sacks by Both Teams Over 4 (-120) risking $360 to make $300
For those interested in seeing how a professional gambler attacks the props, the self-proclaimed King of Props, will analyze some individual player as well as team total propositions at the website lasvegassporstline.com. As he told me, "When the linesmaker offers you so many ways to gamble, all you have to do is find one or two mistakes to make a nice score."
Listen to I.M. Bettor every Sunday morning from 9-10 a.m. on AM-890 ESPNBoston Radio.
Contact I.M. Bettor at IM@LasVegasSportsLine.com and get a free play by calling 617-520-8065.
|