The NFL season is nearly a quarter of the way through, the NHL regular season is beginning, baseball playoffs are here and the WNBA is ready to crown a champ. Even UNLV’s quarterback room doesn’t have this much intrigue. 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…
The Book’s Bad Beat
STN Sports Books were feeling low during Monday night’s Titans/Dolphins game and loving it. In the first half, points were harder to come by than a construction-less Vegas roadway, with only 12 scored. Nearly 60% of the tickets for that game were on the over, including a $50,000 wager.
Things were going swimmingly for the Book and under bettors, but the game took a turn after bizarre circumstances in which an onside kick went too far (under the new onside kick rules.) Suddenly, with just over two minutes to play and the score 24-12, Tennessee got the ball on Miami’s 10-yard line and proceeded to score a touchdown with just 24 seconds remaining. Final: 31-12. The game went over.
“I don’t think anybody really knew how that rule worked on the onside kick. It was kind of bizarre,” said Chuck Esposito, Station Casinos Race and Sports Book Director. “It looked like we were totally in control of that game. We were Titans and under fans, and we got one side, but that’s one of the worst beats I can remember on a total. I don’t even think anybody understands the rule because when they were talking about it during the game, they didn’t understand it.”
In Command
Raise your hand if you thought the Commanders would be good (anyone, anyone, Bueller?) Before the season, it seemed obvious that the Eagles and Cowboys would battle for the NFC East, and most thought Washington would get less attention than a Green Day rant. But, rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels is proving everyone wrong, especially after thumping the Cardinals 42-14 in Arizona last weekend.
“The Commanders are definitely a huge surprise,” Esposito said. Bettors are jumping on the bandwagon, too, as money is already coming in on the Commanders this weekend against the Browns. “This Browns team is arguably one of the bigger disappointments in the league, and the Commanders are going the opposite way,” Esposito said.
“If you had asked me before the season started, I would’ve said the Browns were going to over a field goal favorite in Washington. Now Washington’s over a field goal favorite, so there’s been about a touchdown move on that game.”
A Real Raid
The Raiders aren’t stacking up wins in the standings or in Davante Adams’ heart, but they’re undefeated in the eyes of the Book through four weeks. In week one, STN Sports Books needed the Chargers, and that happened.
In Week 2, oddsmakers desperately needed the Silver and Black against Baltimore, and the Raiders pulled off the outright win in what was the biggest decision of the day. In Week 3, the Book needed Carolina against the Raiders, and the Panthers won outright. On Sunday, STN Books needed the Raiders to win, and they did. Even your grandma’s home cooking doesn’t taste as good as that.
College Ball
Despite UNLV’s Quarterback situation, it was the same old song and dance for the Rebels. Last weekend, the Rebels took Fresno State to the woodshed, winning 59-14. As has been the case for two seasons, the public won big. After quarterback Matthew Sluka left, Books briefly took the game off the board but put it back up as a pick ‘em.
“The public quickly bet UNLV and really rode them,” Esposito said. “There’s no question that you can kind of put UNLV in the same breath now as the ACEs, the Raiders, the Knights, especially when they’re playing well. Our guests really support the local teams.” Over the past two seasons, UNLV has gone 13-4 against the spread, translating to money into guests’ pockets. Unlike Pete Rose’s Hall of Fame aspirations, U-NIL-V can’t be stopped.
While the handle in the UNLV game was large, it paled in comparison to the money generated in the Georgia/Alabama game. “It was like BCS championship game-esque, from the handle to the atmosphere to the bets that came in,” Esposito said. Oddsmakers lost the game with Bama’s 41-34 win, as they needed the Bulldogs and the under. Truthfully, that game was more dizzying than the hard-to-follow power structure of the Resorts World C-suite team.
“We took a lot of Bama moneyline bets, which hurt us, but it was clearly a game for the ages,” the Station oddsmaker said. “I think the best part that came out of that game is that there’s a real chance these two meet again.
Last Man Standing
Even Spirit Airlines can’t jettison people like the Last Man Standing contests. Only 311 entries remain active in the NFL contests (the week started with 649 people still in the running.) On the college side, 280 entries remain, down from 436 to begin last week. Even 2024 Life is Beautiful ticket sales didn’t see a drop like this.
MLB Playoffs
The Major League Baseball Playoffs are headed for a historic Yankees/Dodgers World Series if everything holds to form, but that doesn’t always happen. Detroit is about as hot as anyone, and Houston is built for playoff baseball.
“If it’s not the Dodgers in the National League, I’m going to say Padres would be live. They’re really good,” Esposito said. “I could easily make the case for Houston in the American League, but I’m going to say Detroit just because you had Tarik Skubal pitching and winning game one and could always pitch another game in that series.” Coincidentally, STN Sports Books have liability on the Tigers to win the AL pennant.
Bets To Know
NBA and NHL player props are up! Check the STN Sports App for a growing list of player prop options as we head into the regular season for hoops and puck.
Weekly Winners
Teaser Cards pay off! Check out this hit from over the weekend: $10 to win $3,000!
-Jaguars/Texans over 40
-Colts +8
-Packers/Vikings over 39
-Falcons +2
-Panthers/Bengas over 42
-Ravens/Bills over 42
-Rams +8
-Commanders +8
-Packers +2
-Chargers +12
-Raiders/Browns over 31
-Jets/Broncos under 44
-Buccs/Eagles over 37
-Chargers/Chiefs under 47
-49ers/Patriots over 37