Monday Morning Gambler: Da Bears Show They Have Da Number Of Raiders Bettors
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By Dan Behringer for LVSportsBiz.com
Da Bears?
Who would bet their money on the lowly (2-2) Windy City Ursines vs. the high-flying, Derek Carr-led Raiders (3-1) on a balmy Sunday in October? Even if the Bears were +5.5 after opening around +4.5?
In fact, most of the money was indeed on the Raiders. And the popular transplants from the Bay Area struck first, taking a 3-0 lead in the first quarter.
But in an ominous sign, Da Bears scored 14 unanswered points to the delight of many vacationing Bears fan in the crowd of 59,122 at sun-splashed Allegiant Stadium to lead at halftime, 14-3.
Raiders bettors had to be anxious. That anxiety was well-founded. After a scoreless third quarter, Da Bears and the Raiders each put up six points in the fourth quarter. The final: Da Bears 20, the Raiders 9.
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Observed a writer for the Chicago Sun-Times: “(Bears quarterback Justin Fields) can offset a poorly planned offensive line, musical-chairs play calling and completely confounding misuse of timeouts. The Bears can do everything wrong, and Fields is talented enough to make it right.”
It was definitely the right outcome for bettors who backed Da Bears on the money line. That number was as high as +235 at one point, but closed at around +200 at most shops. More often than you think, the public is largely on a team like the Raiders. But the books need a team like Da Bears for them to have a successful day. The outcome is almost predictable.
Coach Jon Gruden’s comments after the game were largely directed at answering accusations of alleged racism over comments a 2011 email: “I’m not going to answer all these questions today. … I’m a guy that takes pride in leading people together, and I’ll continue to do that for the rest of my life.”
The low-scoring affair that never seriously threatened the total of 46 was an anomaly on Sunday — nine of the 14 games went over the total. The Los Angeles Chargers-Cleveland Browns game saw 89 points scored, easily eclipsing the total of 47.
The Raiders, now 3-2, are next at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium on Sunday to play the Denver Broncos. Denver, also 3-2, is currently -3 with the total at 44.5.
Elsewhere:
— Semifinals showdown: The Las Vegas Aces treated WNBA fans to a photo finish in Game 5 of their semifinals series on Friday with the Phoenix Mercury. The game at Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas went back and forth in the waning minutes and in-game wagering apps were blinking and teasing bettors with Aces -1.5 and even Aces -3.5. But when the horn sounded, it was the Mercury that prevailed, 87-84. While that may have disappointed Aces fans, it rewarded bettors who jumped on the Mercury at +5.5 before the game. The total slid just over 169.
Aces coach Bill Laimbeer after the game: “We’re still a young team. We’re learning. … We need that mental toughness.”
Oddsmakers made the Mercury -160 to win the best-of-five WNBA Finals that began on Sunday. But the Chicago Sky, +2.5, won Game 1 outright, 91-77. Game 2 is on Wednesday. The Sky are 16-16 on the season but may be getting hot at the right time.
On a run: Sungjae Im, 23, cruised to a relatively easy victory at the Shriners Children’s Open in Las Vegas.
The South Korean turned TPC Summerlin into his own personal playground, sinking seven birdies in an eight-hole stretch at one point on Sunday.
He finished with a 9-under 62 and a four-shot win over Matthew Wolff.
“Very meaningful win,” Im told ESPN. “It was hard coming, but I think today how everything went, I think it was a gift from above. I played so well and I’m glad I got the win.’
So are bettors who had him at about +3200 for the victory. Wolff had been about +4500.
— Laugher of the week: The Red River shootout between Texas and Oklahoma in college football has produced plenty of points in recent years. Saturday was no exception. Oklahoma rallied to win, 55-48, and the total of 103 points blew past the total bet up to 65.5 by 37.5 points.
— Get Kracken: The Vegas Golden Knights are still around -240 vs. the expansion Seattle Kracken in their season opener on Tuesday. The total is 5.5. An analyst at Covers.com has touted the Golden Knights on the puck line at about -105.
— Back in action: The UNLV Rebels (0-5 and still winless under coach Marcus Arroyo) return to action on Saturday with a home date against Utah State (3-2). Oddsmakers have made the Aggies -7. The total is 57.
