Super Bowl Recap
By Micah Roberts
VegasInsider.com
After two weeks of wild betting action in Las Vegas sports books the Super Bowl was finally played and the Giants' 21-17 win turned out to be a very favorable decision for most of the bettors. The Giants opened as 3.5 and 4-point underdogs, but closed at 2.5 to 3-point underdogs. Despite the majority of the public siding with the Giants, the sports books still came away on the plus side.
"We ended up a small winner on the day," said MGM Resorts sports book director Jay Rood. "Our best decision would have had the Patriots winning the game, but in the end I think the majority of people on both sides of the counter were happy."
The main story in Las Vegas for the last two weeks was the major differences in lines offered throughout the city in dealing with the most prominent margin of victory number in pro football. A few major books like Cantor Gaming and Station Casinos held strong at Patriots -3 for the duration while others like Wynn Las Vegas, MGM Resorts and South Point played around with -2.5.
In the South Point's case, they bounced back and forth from -3 to -2.5 several times over the two week period, but still found themselves in the same boat as the others with a small win.
"We created some large action on each of our moves, but the majority of the betting public didn't seem to care what the line was," said South Point sports book director Bert Osborne. "Most of the public's mind was made up on who they liked. The line really didn't matter to them and it's the masses like them who control our outcome of a big game like this every year."
Osborne had to have his heart beating faster than most in the final minute following Ahmad Bradshaw's clinching touchdown. The Giants failed two-point conversion after the TD set up the opportunity for the Patriots to win by three if they marched down the field and scored which would have been a disaster for Osborne.
"Let's just say I was happy with the way it turned out," said Osborne.
Most sports books reported either flat or slightly better number than last year, but official state-wide numbers won't be available until Tuesday.
"We were up close to 2% in handle from last year," said Rood who dealt the game at -2.5 (-125) for most of the two weeks.
Last year's Packers-Steelers Super Bowl handled $87.4 Million with a tiny win of $724,176 (0.8%), both numbers that could be eclipsed. If the handle does exceed last years, it would signify the fourth straight year handle has increased, a great sign that the economy is turning in Las Vegas.
The game started out with a bang for a few prop bettors who played the first score of the game to be a safety. In the Patriots first play of their first possession, Tom Brady was flagged for intentional grounding while throwing out of his own end zone.
"We were in a 100-to-1 hole right off the bat with the first score being a Safety, as well as several others having the 'Yes' at 8-to-1, but after all the props were graded we still came out a small winner overall," said LVH Super Book executive director Jay Kornegay.
Kornegay says that 55 to 60% of his overall handle on the game come from his propositions which is a much higher figure than most books who generally write about 35% of their overall handle on props.
With everyone saying they had a small win on the day, it can be assumed that the majority lost on the game itself minus the props and futures. Las Vegas sports books always do very well on the props and they rarely lose on the futures. After posting everything and coming away with small win means Giants bettors got the best of the books on the spread and money-line.
Despite the sports books only being a small overall winner, the bigger picture is that the Super Bowl once again proved to be one of Las Vegas' biggest draws. Between sold out rooms for the entire weekend, jam packed table games and occupied slot machines, every casino in the city was a big winner.
For everyone that came to Las Vegas for the Super Bowl experience, we hope you had a good time with lasting memories. Come again and thanks for visiting!
OK nothing has changed in superbowls proven over 45 years DEFENSE Wins championships PERIOD
yes i postedwhy I liked Patiots but whenyourdefense is ranked at bottom half of league as In Packers , Saints, Colts , Chargers, YOU ain't winning no superbowls NO matter how strong emotional revenge is YOU need a Fence around yourhouse to protect it !
Looked blaek in 3rd qtr after patriots scored 3 striaght times and took a commanding 8 point lead BUT Giants stopped them hit two fg's and a TD to win it s/u !
I admit i changed my bet game day main reason was ML was too low +120 a 3 point dog on neutral field should be +130 minium
Vegas won on option bets they got slaughtered with many players on Giants to win conf at long odds and to win the bowl at 150 - $1 yes 150 to your dollar a $100 wager on giants even if you lost money all season in NFL put YOU way plus ! Wish i saw it coming but didnt !
Giants had the players from both colleges on roster Patriots only one Brady and special teams Zoltan !
WILL giants repeat next year NO freking way in hell not 9-7 plus changes in asst coaches on Giants is going to hurt them especailly the QB coach gone !
Plus this fact the super bowl host city NEVER gets there so put an X through the saints no matter how high the odds the are they will falter end of year losing 3 out of final 4 squeak in playoffs and wind up losing out even at home expect massive changes now that def. corridinator is gone and the defesive players they had GONE also !
It was great reading your Super Bowl recap!
I am from the UK and that was the first superbowl final i have watched as it is usually aired live at about 2am uk time!....lol
But it was very exciting to watch as it was a close game of football!!!
It was one of the better Superbowls in a long time, glad you enjoy the site and hopefully you find all the different things I post helping you pick more winners.
TY Blade but i just saw you posting something fropm another website and did not correct the errors !
OK i guess using info from somwhere else but whatever media says i just read it and read bewteen the lines
I handicap every game my own way and know when any team is going to get slaughtred !
I knew the Heat would not cover after a huge 30 point win the sprread just stunk ! WIN by 30 as a 14 point fav play at home again vs another subbie team and now only a 10.5 chalk ?
BINGO Heat squeaked a 3 point win
LOVED 76ers last night cathing the old Celts on a B 2 B game after truggling in ot at home to beat the rockets
also rockets i knew would suffer from that loss BOTH teams got waxed !
This happens often in NBA older teams get gassed playing 4 games in 5 nights on a B 2 B the younger faster teams will destroy the old boys of the league
SPEED and emotion are key factors in every sport
DO NOT care if your bigger at all points if other team is quicker and makes thier safe shots the ones they have high % with like 10 - 15 ft ones YOUR Old boys will LOSE ats and s/u and burn your wallet every time !
INJURIES play an imoratant part not the straters it's the relief guys that are imporatant the bench when thin forces the starters to play more mins on both sides of the ball and very fast get worn out when playing 35 - 40 mins in games with short rest or 4 games in 6 nights