9/27/2008
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DIRECT FROM NEVADA
WITH NICK BOGDANOVICH[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]WHAT THE SHARPS ARE THINKING ABOUT THIS WEEK'S NFL GAMES[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]We've come to the first bye week of the NFL season. That means we have fewer pro games than you've gotten used to. Oddsmakers don't mind having a smaller card in terms of putting up the numbers. But, they know that any game not on the schedule is a game people aren't betting! It's all about foot traffic, so sportsbooks wouldn't mind having a full schedule each and every Sunday, 52 weeks of the year. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The sharps have been getting very aggressive with totals of late. I've never been a fan of handicapping totals myself. I have respect for the guys who specialize in that area. We saw some late moves last weekend, and some early moves this week on the Over/Unders. I'll mention the highlights as we go game-by-game. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]First, a quick thanks to all of you who keep coming back week after week to read this report. The popularity continues to grow. I know a lot of that comes from word of mouth, meaning that YOU are telling your friends about it or sending them copies. Much appreciated. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Let's get to the games...[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DENVER AT KANSAS CITY:
Not much interest at the early line of 9.5. Sharps tend to look at underdogs at this price, particularly home underdogs in divisional games. That doesn't always work, but it works more than it doesn't. The ugly home team catches a flat favorite napping. Sharps are hoping the public bets the line up to 10. Oddsmakers know the sharps are waiting for that to happen, so they might just keep the line at 9.5 and root for the home dog themselves. Sportsbooks take positions in games more often than is commonly acknowledged. They learned that from booking years of sharp action! The total is hanging round 46.5 and 47. The announcement that Kansas City was changing quarterbacks didn't cause any movement...but may have encouraged the books to take a position on the hosts. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]CLEVELAND AT CINCINNATI:
We saw a big jump to the Over here. The total opened at 42, and has been bet up to 44.5 or 45 as I write this. I can understand the move. These teams are known to play high scoring games against each other. Their current stats are artificially lowered because of games against Baltimore...and that one Cleveland played in bad weather against Pittsburgh. I think the oddsmakers missed this one pretty badly on the opener. I can see why it was pounded. Cincinnati got a lot of love at -3. The line is now -3.5. This tells you the sharps really like the favorite and acted early. If they liked the dog they would have waited until the weekend hoping the public drove the line to 3.5. Anyone liking the dog would go ahead and act at +3.5. It isn't happening. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]HOUSTON AT JACKSONVILLE:
Here's another total that jumped from the opener. It started at 39, and is now up to 42. Houston's not playing much defense this year, so I could see why the sharps liked that. The Jaguars also opened things up last week in a win at Indianapolis that went Over. The team side is sitting at Jacksonville by 7. There were 7.5's for a few days. You regulars know that's a key number for basic strategy teaser plays. Sportsbooks are wary of that (particularly offshore). And, news reports about injuries to the Jaguars encouraged some Houston money too. Sportsbooks were much happier sitting at 7 than 7.5 in this game because of how the money was coming down. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]ARIZONA AT NY JETS:
This is a game that was also in the teaser window for awhile. The Jets were -1.5 for a few days. That means you could take Arizona in two-team six-point teasers and cross by the 3 and the 7. The line has come down to Jets -1. I'm hearing a few sharps who like Arizona to win this game outright...so this is another case where both teaser and team side money influenced a line move. Nobody was betting the Jets out of the gate. The public might this weekend because they love getting Brett Favre cheap. That may be wearing off though given his poor start. Nothing much is happening with the total. Weather might change that. There's a chance for rain in the Northeast this weekend. Look for the number to come down if it's going to be rainy or windy at the Meadowlands. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]SAN FRANCISCO AT NEW ORLEANS:
A lot of action here. The total opened at 51 and came down to 48.5. I have to say that surprised me because New Orleans looks like a team that will play a lot of high scoring games again this year. I asked some sharps about it. As best I can tell this a math play from the computer guys more than anything else. Few NFL games grade out in the 50's any more, so sharps look to go Under any number that high. San Francisco got a lot of early respect too. They opened +6 but are now down to +4.5. That win over Detroit impressed some people last week. And, the New Orleans defense never impresses anyone! San Francisco can be like a home team in Las Vegas and Reno in their good years. Sportsbooks are hoping for good things for the Niners because that will increase traffic to the casinos on Sundays. If you've ever been out here on an NFL Sunday, you know there are a lot of Raiders and 49ers fans in the crowds. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]ATLANTA AT CAROLINA:
The sharps made an early move on the dog. Atlanta opened at +7.5. I'm now seeing +7's and +6.5's out there. Seven is a critical number, so we're talking serious play on the dog if it stays below that number. Carolina's offense has looked really bad since the upset of San Diego. Atlanta is 2-1, and is at least showing enough offense to hang within a TD in the minds of the sharps. Remember, they bet at +7.5 early to get full value. A few more bet at +7 afraid that they'd lose the full touchdown. And, I should mention that there was probably some teaser money on Carolina at the early 7.5 mark. It's possible for sharps to love a team side +7.5, but the other team in the teaser at -1.5 because of the way the percentages work out. The 3 and 7 are that common for final results. It's going to be a continuing theme all year...lines moving out of the teaser windows. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]MINNESOTA AT TENNESSEE:
The money so far has come in on the dog, but not enough to move the line off of Tennessee -3. Sportsbooks were afraid that people would hit undefeated Tennessee at home at the field goal price, so there was some extra juice added on the favorite at first. Sharps took the plus juice and the dog, so the line has come down to -110 either way at three. This is definitely such an evenly matched game that we won't see a move off the field goal unless something huge happens late. Tennessee -2.5 or Minnesota +3.5 would generate heavy one-sided action because field goal results are so common. For now, be aware that the sharps prefer the dog, but aren't really acting much at -110. The total has come down from 36.5 to 35.5 because of the defensive quality on the field. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]GREEN BAY AT TAMPA BAY:
Tampa Bay opened at -1.5, which is now down to -1. Again, we see a game moving out of the teaser window. This one looks a lot like Arizona/NY Jets. The prices are the same, and there's generally more affection for the road dog than the home favorite. Green Bay looked good enough before the Dallas game that they're still seen as the better team here in Vegas. The total went up from 42 to 43. Both teams played Overs last week. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]BUFFALO AT ST. LOUIS:
Unlike the Denver/Kansas City game that has been sitting at the opener all week, this big road favorite got bet down quickly. Buffalo opened at 9.5, but is now just -8. Interestingly, that's in the teaser window and not getting affected. This might be telling you that oddsmakers are expecting personnel changes with St. Louis to set up some upset potential. More likely, they're not sold that Buffalo is as good as its record. Buffalo/Oakland was the main early TV game out here last week because of all the Oakland fans in the area. The Bills didn't look ready to lay big chalk in that game. That may have influenced early sharp betting, and taken some of the enthusiasm from teaser players too. I'm seeing anywhere from 41.5 to 43 on totals as I write this...which means something may be happening right when I'm writing! You don't normally see such variety these days. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]SAN DIEGO AT OAKLAND:
This one is shaping up to be pretty interesting this weekend. San Diego opened at -7, and is now sitting at -7.5. The Chargers look like they have their act together. And, they were robbed of a road win at Denver...which is the same Denver team that crushed Oakland on this field. So, it's possible to make a math case for San Diego...it's likely too that the public will come in on San Diego over the weekend because of that...and the Chargers are currently sitting in the teaser window. If you can make a math case at 7.5, than -1.5 in teasers is going to look great to people. The problem is, sharps generally like divisional home underdogs because they figure to get peak intensity from the lesser team. You'll be seeing sharps who want to take Oakland plus the points, and San Diego in teasers. They'll have to walk that tightrope creatively to get the best value on both props. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]WASHINGTON AT DALLAS:
We may see a return of a strategy that many sharps used with New England last year. Dallas is seen as the most explosive team in the NFL right now, particularly off a big nationally televised victory. The public is going to bet them at most any price. I expect sharps to bet any Dallas opener to try and set up middles. If they like Dallas (which is relatively rare because sharps want to go against public teams), they'll buy back less on the dog later when setting up their middle. If they like the dog, (which will be even more likely if the public does move the line up significantly), they'll come back over the top just before kickoff. Here, Dallas opened at -10.5 and went up to -11 early. I'm not hearing that the sharps love Dallas. I'm hearing they're looking to come back over the top late Sunday. The total has come down from 47 to 46, as sharps expect the Washington defense to play a big role here. The total coming down is kind of a Washington bet too, which helps you see the true sentiment of the market movers. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]PHILADELPHIA AT CHICAGO:
Big move here, as the sharps are really impressed with what they're seeing from Philadelphia this season. The oddsmakers knew that, and thought an opener of Philly -2 on the road would counteract the sentiment. Wrong! The Eagles have been hit hard, with the line now up to -3, -120 or -125. The sportsbooks are very afraid of moving the number to -3.5 and getting middled by sharps who play back on the dog. This is a big stand on Philadelphia by the sharps, many of whom tell me they have Philly as one of the best few teams in the league right now. The total has come down from 43 to 40.5, which tells you that the sharps are impressed with what they're seeing defensively from the Eagles. Well, some of that is probably anti-Kyle Orton sentiment as well. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]BALTIMORE AT PITTSBURGH:
I have to admit this one surprised me. Pittsburgh was -7 at the opener, and is down to -5.5 as I write this. There's a sportsbook in Las Vegas that puts up lines about 11 days in advance of the games for limited action. That number was around -10 or -11 last week in this game. So, the opener came way down from that, AND the sharps still bet the dog! I'm reading this as sentiment that Ben Roethlisberger is more banged up than is being publicly reported. The sharps aren't raving about Baltimore QB rookie Joe Flacco. So, this is a vote for Baltimore's defense against the suddenly struggling Pittsburgh offense in my view. [/FONT]