Legends Weekly Betting Report: Pretty Even Action Between House and Players as Football Begins to Wind Down
December 5th 2011
By B. Sharps / Head Linesman
Hello again players! Let’s see how things went for the sportsbooks this week, starting with another Monday Night Football favorite and over winner. The New Orleans Saints crushed the New York Giants 49-24 a week ago Monday and, ironically, I get to end my report with the Saints crushing the Detroit Lions 31-17 last night. Outside of the Green Bay Packers, the Saints seem to be playing at an elite level the last few weeks. Monday’s game wasn’t a total disaster as there was some Giant money and teasers so, overall, it was a wash for the night for the books.
Tuesday there was no football but a good card in college basketball betting as the sharps took down the public in two TV games when the Virginia Cavaliers and the Ohio State Buckeyes rolled to victories; the public liked Michigan Wolverines and Duke Blue Devils in these spots but both NCAA hoops games turned in easy wins for the sharps and a good result for the books.
Wednesday was also void of football and the public faired a little better in college hoops with Pittsburgh Panthers and Indiana Hoosiers covering. The books got a little back with Wisconsin Badgers covering 7 versus the North Carolina Tar Heels. Overall, Wednesday was a small winner for the house as the action is good in the baskets as the steam catches fire which leads to followers, which leads to moving numbers, which leads to buyback action. It’s the way to do it, Bookmaking 101.
Thursday’s NFL was a good football game for the house as the Pete Carroll-led Seattle Seahawks beat ‘the mess of a Philadelphia Eagle team’ 31-14; the public won the total but still a good win for the books.
Friday was going to be a good day and – boom! – Northern Illinois Huskies falls 3 siding the books on the number in the college football Mid-American Conference (MAC) Championship game. Rick Neuheisel’s last game as the Bruins coach was good for the house with UCLA covering against the Oregon Ducks’ offensive machine, but the total going over ate up most of the profit becoming a small winner for the night overall. The books turned a small earn because of juice, not decisions.
Saturday was the transition period day of football to basketball; normally I’d be sad but after this football season I’m ok with it. The first game out of the box with Cincinnati Bearcats landed 8 for a big middle for the players as the game opened 10 and closed 7; 8 would be the worst number for the house in that scenario and guess what happened? 8 happened. The San Diego State Aztecs game also landed 7; another game that opened 8 and closed 7, once again all bets win or push at the worst. The house basically won one game, Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles handling the undefeated (and BCS bound with a victory) Houston Cougars in front of a 32,000 packed house in Houston, Texas. The players won with Les Miles’ LSU Tigers, Oklahoma State (murdering Oklahoma University in the Bedlam Series) and RG3’s (also known as Robert Griffith the 3rd) Baylor Bears beating the sharps on Texas to have a big day for the betting side of the counter. Rumblings are now being heard about Mack Brown’s job stability in Austin, maybe those can be put to rest with a successful showing in their bowl game against California Bears in the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl.
Sunday some decisions were good for the house, including the Kansas City Chiefs over a quarterback-less Chicago Bears team, the Eli Manning-led New York Giants team covering against the only undefeated team left in the NFL, the Green Bay Packers, and the Arizona Cardinals breaking Dallas Cowboy fans’ hearts with a 6 point over time win. Garret’s timeout at the end of regulation iced his own kicker who put it through the uprights, but after the timeout was way off the mark. The public also had their winners with Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, Cam Newton’s Carolina Panthers, Harbaugh’s workhorse San Francisco 49ers team, and Tim Tebow’s Denver Broncos proving his critics wrong for another week handling business against the Minnesota Vikings. The killer was, and I know you may have heard this, before teasers: Steelers, Ravens, Packers, Saints, and Tennessee Titans. The house beat one teaser with the Bears so at least it wasn’t the usual trend of players sweeping teasers.
Now we head into Bowl Season and NBA on Christmas Day.
Want to get in on this week’s action? Check out the current lines at Legends. And check back with us next week to see how your betting dollars impacted the week’s outcome.
Good luck to you players; talk to you next week!
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