LVH releases Week 1 NFL
By Micah Roberts
VegasInsider.com
The crew at the LVH Super Book in Las Vegas didn't waste any time in producing a line once the NFL released their 17-week schedule on Tuesday night. By early Wednesday afternoon, all 16 games were posted with not only point spreads on the sides, but totals and money-lines as well.
The speed of producing a line so soon may seem a bit quick, and almost reckless for some conservative bookmakers, but LVH assistant book manager Jeff Sherman says they've already had their team ratings set and were just waiting for the schedule to be released.
"We've been doing this every year the day after their schedule is released," said Sherman. "The only thing different the last two years for us has been to offer a total and money-line so soon.
"It's really no different from the process we go through on any Sunday during football season when we open the ensuing week's lines; we collaborate as a group, agree on a number and then open it up to the public and let them bet it."
The posted limits at the LVH are very fair for such an early number. Sides are set at $5,000, totals $1,000 and money-lines at $2,000.
Most of the key free-agents have already been signed and the only real intangible remaining for any team rating is the NFL Draft, but Sherman and his crew have already factored in the key personnel that could possibly make an impact on the number.
"We have the Colts number figured with Andrew Luck as the starter along with Robert Griffin III penciled in for the Redskins on opening day."
Some of the most intriguing matchups of Week 1 are tied to off-season acquisitions and pivotal games sure to have an impact later in the season when playoff seeds become clearer.
Right out the gate, last year's best regular season team, the Packers, are 6 ½-point home favorites against the 49ers.
Peyton Manning and the new-look Broncos are two-point home favorites in a Sunday night game against the Steelers, a rematch of last season's Wild Card game which Denver won in overtime
The star from that wild card game in Denver, Tim Tebow, is already causing a stir in New York. Did Rex Ryan have a plan all along to use Tebow as his ground control quarterback and oust Mark Sanchez, or will he be used for simple gimmick plays like Brad Smith did for the Jets? Sanchez is likely to get the opening day start and the Jets are six-point home favorites against a vastly improved Bills defense.
The Saints get life started at home without key members of their coaching staff and are 11-point favorites as they'll welcome the Redskins and an expected rookie quarterback, Griffin III.
Here's a complete look at the early, early lines of week 1 from the LVH Super Book:
(Money-Line odds listed in parenthesis)
Wednesday, Sept. 5
COWBOYS 47 (+155)
GIANTS -3 -120 (-175)
Sunday, Sept. 9
COLTS 41.5 (+425)
BEARS -9.5 (-550)
EAGLES -6.5 (-310)
BROWNS 42 (+260)
BILLS 42.5 (+240)
JETS -6 (-280)
REDSKINS 51.5 (+500)
SAINTS -11 (-700)
PATRIOTS -6.5 (-310)
TITANS 48.5 (+260)
JAGUARS 39 (+180)
VIKINGS -3.5 (-210)
DOLPHINS 44.5 (+240)
TEXANS -6 (-280)
RAMS 47 (+425)
LIONS -9.5 -(550)
FALCONS 42 (-110)
CHIEFS PICK (-110)
49ERS 45 (+250)
PACKERS -6.5 (-300)
PANTHERS -2.5 -120 (-150)
BUCCANEERS 47 (+130)
SEAHAWKS 42 (+120)
CARDINALS -2.5 (-140)
STEELERS 45 (+115)
BRONCOS -2 -(135)
Monday, Sept. 10
BENGALS 40.5 (+300)
RAVENS -7 (-360)
CHARGERS 48 (-110)
RAIDERS PICK (-110)