The colors outside are starting to change as fall begins, but the theme inside the STN Sports Books is all Browns. On Sunday, the Cleveland Browns stunned NFL bettors when they pulled off an improbable 13-10 victory over the Green Bay Packers, a team many feel is the best in the league. While the Browns were not the Sports Books’ single biggest need (hey, Bears!) they were certainly among the largest with 80 percent of the tickets on Green Bay.
“The Bears game was huge. Everybody pretty much bet the Cowboys that game,” said Chuck Esposito, Station Casinos Sports Book Director, adding that 88% of tickets were on Dallas. “There was an onslaught of Cowboys action in that game.” In losing 31-14, Dallas looked worse than a Strip hotel resort fee. All in all, it was the best NFL weekend for the Sports Books so far.
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…
A Dart Throw
The Giants are going to the dartboard and shaking things up like a James Bond martini. On Tuesday, New York announced that Jaxson Dart, the team’s first-round draft pick, would start in Week 4 and replace Russell Wilson, whose on-field performances have been more laughable than Tom Brady’s flag football league. Giants fans are fed up with the team’s offensive struggles and have been angrier than Donald Trump at a Jimmy Kimmel taping.
This week, the G-Men host the Chargers, a team that is unquestionably in the upper echelon of the AFC. Los Angeles’s defense, thus far, has given up the fewest points this season, and they’re now going up against a rookie quarterback. After New York’s quarterback switch, the line for the game moved up, and the Chargers became a larger favorite.
“There’s a real chance the Chargers are 4-0 after this weekend,” Esposito said.
Dolla Bills, Y’all
Speaking of teams who could be 4-0…. The Buffalo Bills head into Week 4 as MASSIVE favorites. This upcoming Sunday, Buffalo, a Super Bowl contender, hosts the Saints, a contender for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 Draft, and the Bills enter as three-possession favorites. And why wouldn’t they be! The Saints are giving up 30 points per game, so far, and that’s against teams that aren’t offensive stallions.
The Bills’ offense, meanwhile, flows nicer than the Colorado River, as it averages 34 points per game. This isn’t uncharted territory for Buffalo. Last season in Week 18, they closed at 16.5-point favorites against the Jets. In 2021, there were 17.5-point favorites against the Texans. Buffalo covered in both of those games. “It’s one of the largest lines I can remember this early in the season in a long time,” Esposito said.
“You look at how the Saints got clobbered in Seattle, and the schedule makers really do them no favors. They fly from New Orleans to Seattle, and then have to literally fly to what is probably the farthest place they could possibly fly, in Buffalo.” Still, in today’s NFL, even with New Orleans and Buffalo going different directions, Esposito admits, the game’s line “is a big number.”
Last Man Standing
The Last Man Standing competition in the NFL began with 7,141 entries. The college competition started with 3,318 entries. In less than a month, those numbers have plummeted like a Caesars stock price. Only 10% of the entries for the NFL’s Last Man Standing competition remain, with 690. Over in the college football competition, just 15% remain active, with 497.
Playoff Push
While major market teams tend to get all the ink regarding baseball, two under-the-radar teams could make some serious noise in October. The Mariners and Guardians, neither of whom has officially clinched a playoff spot, are heating up like a Twitter feud. Meanwhile, the Tigers, who had the best record in MLB for a good stretch of the season, suddenly find themselves struggling to stay afloat like Jack Dawson in Titanic.
“For me, the teams that I like to look at for the playoffs are playing well, getting healthy and have that swagger going into the postseason,” Esposito said.
VGK
The NHL preseason can be as bland as desert landscaping at times, but it also means the season is upon us! The Vegas Golden Knights have officially returned to the ice, and Esposito expects big things from the team in Season 9.
“I think they’re going to be really good,” Esposito said. “The addition of [Mitch] Marner makes them extra special, I think, and everyone wants to watch them going into the year.”
The Knights, to little surprise, are the Sports Books’ most significant liability, but other teams like the Kings, Wild, Panthers and Hurricanes are getting some future book action.
Bets To Know
It’s Ryder Cup time! It’s one of the best times of the year for golf fans, and anyone who loves lots of props, because the STN Sports App is LOADED with tons of options to keep the weekend interesting.
Weekly Winners
Even small bets are cashing for big wins! Congrats to this STN Sports football bettor who cashed for $603 on a $5 bet!
– Commanders moneyline
-Browns +7.5
-Jaguars moneyline
-Steelers moneyline
-Eagles -3.5
-Bears +1.5
-Lions moneyline