By Daniel Behringer for LVSportsBiz.com
In fact, there were the Vegas Golden Knights laying -140 on the road at the New York Rangers. The Vegas team had showed signs of turning things around, and we were curious how the first leg of their three-game road trip would play out.
We weren’t the only ones. Handicappers on afternoon radio thought the VGK might be in a good spot to notch a win but demurred on the -140 price. We agreed.
But the first Golden Knights goal elicited a smattering of applause at a local race and sports book, and the second one brought more cheers as the Golden Knights rolled to a 4-1 victory over the Rangers.
Knights’ coach Gerald Gallant after the game: “We found a way, we made some good saves.”
The ‘cappers on afternoon radio also had some thoughts on the MNF game with the Minnesota Vikings at the Seattle Seahawks. And their opinion was the Minnesota Viking at +3 was the “play of the day.” We, however, definitely did not agree with that.
While it was an entertaining game, we were not particularly surprised when the Seahawks rolled to a 37-30 win over the Vikings.
But if it was entertainment you craved, you had only to tune into the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels game on Wednesday as coach T.J. Oztelberger’s team visited the Fresno State Bulldogs at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California.
The Runnin’ Rebels were +5.5 for the first game of Mountain West Conference play. And 40 minutes later at the end of regulation, the scored was tied 65. Considering UNLV’s record of 0-3 in overtime games this year, fans and bettors clutching tickets that read +5.5 or or +190 on the money line had to be at least slightly anxious about overtime.
That anxiety turned out to be justified since the score was still tied, this time at 72, at the end of overtime. But the Runnin’ Rebels fended off a late rally from the Bulldogs in the second overtime to win, 81-80.
Oztelberger after the game: “We know how hard it is to win on the road. We talked a lot about a new season here in conference play.”
On Thursday, there were at least two games of interest to bettors, the Thursday Night Football Game with the Dallas Cowboys at the Chicago Bears and the NHL game with the Golden Knights at the New York Islanders.
It was evident to sharps and squares that the listless Cowboys at 6-6 and were trying to find their way, but the Bears were also 6-6 and banged up. Was their value in the Bears at +3 or +145 on the money line? Judging from the final score of Bears 31, Cowboys 24, there was. And if you parlayed the Bears with over 43, you can buy lunch next time we see you in the book. One of those tall club sandwiches with a kosher dill on the side will be fine.
We weren’t the least surprised at the betting line on the VGK or the final score. Wrapping up their three-game road swing, the Golden Knights were even money in their first visit to the Islanders’ original home at Nassau Coliseum. A vocal contingent of Golden Knights fans was on hand to cheer for the Las Vegas team, according to The Associated Press, but an even louder home crowd drowned them out.
The Islanders won in overtime, 3-2, snapping the Golden Knights’ win streak at four, and the total came in under 5.5
Gallant after the game: “It was a real good road trip. If we keep playing like this, we’ll win a lot of hockey games.”
Got it. Just let us know when, preferably a few hours before the puck drop.
We were out and about to take in the college football championship games on Saturday and heard raucous cheers for LSU, -7, as they rolled over Georgia, 37-10. Though the Wisconsin-Ohio State arguably unfolded with more suspense as the Badgers bolted to a 21-7 halftime lead. The Buckeyes responded, however, with 27 unanswered points in the second half to win, 34-21. Still, that was a cover for Wisconsin wagerers, who were getting anywhere from 15.5 to 17 points.
UNLV basketball could have been lost amid the nonstop football on Saturday. But there were 11,356 fans, the official attendance, at the Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City as the BYU Cougars hosted the Runnin’ Rebels. UNLV was anywhere from +8 to +10. But it didn’t appear that close as the Cougars staked a 46-25 halftime lead en route to an 83-50 win.
Oztelberger after the game: “It was an unacceptable effort by our guys. I know we’ve had a heck of a stretch of games, an emotional win on Wednesday. That’s not good enough. The effort’s not good enough. The energy’s not good enough. I’m excited to get to practice on Monday, and we will address all of those things wholeheartedly.”
Whew.
The soon-to-be-Las Vegas Raiders were not a popular pick in Sunday’s NFL games. In fact, the team they were hosting, the Tennessee Titans, -3, were one of the top plays in the Westgate Las Vegas SuperContest at -3. And they showed why, thumping the Raiders, 42-21, and easily sending the total over 47.
Though Sunday appeared to be an ideal spot for the Golden Knights. Back at home at T-Mobile Arena, the VGK were a pricey -200 vs. the New York Rangers — the same New York Rangers they had beaten six days earlier.
Though in the NHL, things aren’t always as they appear. Despite country star Shania Twain cranking the pregame siren before the puck drop, the Rangers blanked the Golden Knights, 5-0.
To the dismay of bettors, apparently this just wasn’t one of “those hockey games” that Gallant referred to earlier.
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So what’s next?
— Monday Night Football has the New York Giants visiting the Philadelphia Eagles with the Eagles -9.5 and the total at 44.5 or 45.
— The Golden Knights host the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday.
— The Runnin’ Rebels return home and will host Pacific on next Wednesday, Dec. 18.
— Finally if you’re hankering to bet the Super Bowl LIV on Feb. 2, you can do that now. At Station Casinos, the AFC team is -2.5 and the total is 49.5.