Week 6 of the 2024 NFL season will live in infamy, for better (if you’re a guest) or worse (if you’re the Sports Books.)
In what is almost always a winning scenario for the guests, favorites went 12-2 against the spread, and overs went 10-4.
“From our side of the counter, this was the worst weekend that I can remember in a very long time, if ever,” said Chuck Esposito, Station Casinos Race and Sports Book Director, “arguably our worst ever two-day stretch in pro football.”
With all that in mind, let’s quickly review the past week in sports and peek at what’s ahead on the STN Sports app and the STN Sports Books…
Jets Future
On Monday night, the Buffalo Bills dropped the New York Jets like an October thermometer in a 23-20 win. But, about 12 hours later, the Jets announced that they had traded for former Raiders star Davante Adams and reunited him with his pal Aaron Rodgers.
The move, which happened the same day the team permitted pass rusher Haason Reddick to seek a trade, had been long-rumored and is being celebrated by Jets fans. The STN Sports Books reacted to the move with a “meh” mentality. There was no real adjustment from the future book standpoint, but the Jets were moved to a slight favorite against the Steelers in Week 7. Adams flipped the game by three points.
“The Jets can’t stop the run. To me, sign Reddick before you go out and make the trade for Davante Adams,” Esposito said. “I think it just speaks volumes how much power Rodgers has with that team. The Jets had the easier part of their schedule early, and it’s a more difficult schedule later, so I see no reason to overreact to Davante Adams because he can’t stop the run either. They’re just not a good team and are extremely dysfunctional.”
TNF
The Saints are getting abandoned like the Dream Las Vegas project for the upcoming Thursday night game. Amid Derek Carr’s injury, New Orleans has turned to rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler, but, the public isn’t buying it.
“I think it’s a product of the Saints being really beat up. There’s a really good chance on the short week their two top receivers don’t play,” Esposito said. As the game is against the Broncos, this marks Sean Payton’s return to the Big Easy, having led the team to a Super Bowl win in 2010. “We’ve seen a huge shift in that game from the Saints. They were a small favorite, but the Broncos are now the favorite,” Esposito said.
Last Man Standing
Last Man Standing contestants are continuing to descend like Titan submersible. Only 94 entries remain active in the NFL contests (the week started with 178 people still in the running.) On the college side, 72 entries remain, down from 180 to begin last week.
UNLV Football
The UNLV Rebels have largely delivered for guests week after week, and they appeared well poised to do it again last week when they were up 42-7 against Utah State. While the Rebels still coasted to win, they failed to cover the 19-point spread when the Aggies outscored them 27-9 in the second half.
“That backdoor cover was huge for us,” Esposito said. That ATS loss is not phasing UNLV backers, and guests are sticking with them against Oregon State this weekend. Typically, lines don’t shift much until the hours before kickoff, but guests are having their say early, like a Clark County ballot box.
The line has already gone up, and the Rebels are now over a touchdown favorite. Speaking of the UNLV line, Esposito said, “It seems like a big number to me with them on the road, but they score in bunches. They can score with anybody in the country.” Corvallis, Oregon, where the game takes place, has historically been a tough place for away teams (they’re 15-2 at home since 2022.)
“It’s not going to surprise me if we see some Oregon State money show late. UNLV’s defense has been a little bit suspect. They’ve given up a lot of points,” Esposito added, “but there’s no question that the Rebels are point spread darlings, and the betting public continues to back them every week.”
Bets To Know
The MLB postseason has hit a fever pitch, with the ALCS and NLCS delivering drama from big market teams! Looks for huge menus of options through the World Series, and cheer on the Dodgers, Padres, Mets, or Yankees – or any combination of the four.
Weekly Winners
Some teasers and parlays cashed over the weekend had more legs than Folies Bergere. On Sunday, one STN bettor placed a $25 wager on a 5-leg parlay of Anytime TD Scorers. Those players: Terry McLaurin, JK Dobbins, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Tank Dell and Najee Harris. The ticket cashed for $16,387. Another bettor took home $19,975 from a $25 10-team 1/2 Point Teaser Card. “There were several 5, 6, 8, 10 team parlays that hit in a weekend dominated by favorites,” Esposito said.