Monday Morning Gambler: Raiders Confound Betting Experts, Beat Dolphins, 31-28, In OT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
By Dan Behringer for LVSportsBiz.com
Numerous betting analysts had an opinion on the Miami Dolphins at the Las Vegas Raiders game on Sunday.
One at Covers.com called the game “a sticky spot for the Raiders, who have overperformed by some expectations in the opening two games.”
Another at CBS Sports wrote, “The Raiders should win this game and cover easily. But the number is red flagging this for me. … I’m smelling an upset.”
ADVERTISEMENT: Presenting sponsor of story, click for info
ADVERTISEMENT
But another at Vegas Insider observed, “Miami has had trouble getting to the quarterback. The Dolphins have just two sacks on the year, so they won’t be able to punish Las Vegas’s offensive line like other teams have done. … (Derek) Carr in a comfortable win for the home team.”
By late Sunday afternoon, after four periods and the Raiders’ second overtime game of the season, the verdict was in. None of the experts mentioned above nailed it, but the Raiders won, 31-28. However, it was the Dolphins, who closed at around +3.5, who gained the cover. The total went over 44.5 in regulation.
“It was tough,” Raiders coach Jon Gruden said after the game. “We gave up fourth-and-20, and we missed an extra point. We make things awfully difficult sometimes, but it was a good team win.”
Legions of Raiders bettors hoping for a cover had a tough day, too.
But if you had a bar bet that the Raiders would be tied for first place in the AFC West and the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs would be in last place after three weeks, you can claim your prize.
Underdogs fared well again on Sunday, going 8-5-1 ATS going into Monday Night Football. Combined with the first two weeks, they are now a startling 29-16-1 — an NFL win percentage any handicapper could (and would) boast about. Remove the dreaded J teams — Jaguars and Jets, a combined 0-6 ATS — and the percentage becomes even more impressive.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Elsewhere:
— The UNLV Rebels confounded a few analysts, too, by night by jumping out to a 14-9 halftime lead over ranked Fresno State on Friday. The Rebels, +30 underdogs, even led, 30-29, in the fourth quarter before finally falling, 38-30.
Head coach Marcus Arroyo, 0-10 since taking over the reins, said after the game, “There’s no moral victories. … We want that win, but we have to go find it. We’re disappointed, but I’m proud. We’re going in the right direction.”
Still, the Rebels are 2-1-1 ATS this season.
UNLV will be on the road at the Texas San Antonio Road Runners (4-0) on Saturday. The Road Runners rallied to stun Memphis on Saturday, 31-28, and even gained four votes in The Associated Press poll. Oddsmakers have made UNLV +21 ‘dogs with the total at 56.
— Denny Hamlin collected the overall win in the South Point 400 on Sunday at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He paid bettors about +700. The NASCAR postseason now heads to the Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama, on Sunday for the YellaWood 500. Hamlin is defending champion and will probably have short odds for that race.
— The Vegas Golden Knights were heavy -209 favorites as the preseason opened Sunday. But they disappointed backers in a 4-2 defeat. They next face the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday. No line yet for that game.
— The Las Vegas Aces (24-8) host the Phoenix Mercury (19-13) in Game 1 of the WNBA Semifinals on Tuesday. No betting line as of this post. The Aces, at +200, are favored to win the WNBA title, followed by the Connecticut Sun at +225.
— Alexander Volkanovski defeated Brian Ortega by unanimous decision in the featherweight championship at UFC 266 at T-Mobile Arena. on Saturday night. He was about -200. Over 4.5 rounds at -125 was also a winner.
In the main event of UFC 267 scheduled for Oct. 30, light heavyweight Champion Jan Blachowicz defends his title against divisional veteran Glover Teixeira in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. Blachowicz is generally around -275 with Teixeira +225 on the buyback.
— Laugher of the week. If you were up early Saturday and played the total over 62.5 in the Texas Tech at Texas in college football, you were able to enjoy plenty of Lone Star State offense. The Longhorns won, 70-35, sending the total over by 42.5 points or about seven touchdowns to spare.
— Nevada personalized license plate of the week: AU EN. Vegas hockey fans with a working knowledge of the periodic table should be to translate.
