Books take hit with Colts' win - Improbable comeback starts downward spiral

[clevfan]

Oct. 06, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Books take hit with Colts' win

Improbable comeback starts downward spiral

By MATT YOUMANS
REVIEW-JOURNAL

In the past, Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts made winning look easy early in the season. But this season, the story line has changed dramatically.

Everything appears to be difficult now for Manning, and the Colts are winning only because of late-game miracles.

Manning got a lot of help Sunday when he directed another great escape in Indianapolis' 31-27 victory over Houston. It will be remembered as one of the greatest comebacks -- and collapses -- of the NFL season.

The betting public rode the Colts to an improbable win that started a downward spiral for Las Vegas sports books.

"The biggest game of the day was the Colts, and what an unbelievable way to lose that game," Orleans sports book director Bob Scucci said. "I think a lot of people were ready to throw their tickets away, and then they got a reprieve. We were already counting the Texans as a win for the house."

Indianapolis trailed 27-10 before scoring 21 points in about a two-minute span late in the fourth quarter. Manning passed for two touchdowns, and linebacker Gary Brackett returned a fumble 68 yards for a touchdown.

The Colts were 3-point road favorites until Sunday morning, when Texans quarterback Matt Schaub was scratched because of an illness. The line was adjusted to 4 at most books and 41/2 at a few others. Scucci said a majority of the Colts wagers came with the line at 3.

Sage Rosenfels, Schaub's replacement, played well until losing two fumbles and throwing an interception to hand Indianapolis (2-2) a victory it desperately needed over Houston (0-4).

"It wasn't a good day at all. It's just a matter of how bad it is," Scucci said.

Pittsburgh upset Jacksonville 26-21 in the night game to help the books avoid "horrible" results, according to Scucci. The public bet the Jaguars from 4- to 6-point favorites.

Chicago, New England and the New York Giants all won and covered as favorites to deal blows to the books.

The Bears, 31/2-point road favorites, pounded the Detroit Lions 34-7 as Kyle Orton passed for 334 yards and two touchdowns.

Scucci said the Giants, favored by 7 in a 44-6 home victory over Seattle, were played heavily on parlays and teasers.

The public also bet the Patriots, 31/2-point road favorites, in their 30-21 victory over San Francisco.

"The Patriots game was just a dagger. That was the nail in the coffin," Scucci said. "After losing all the morning games, those afternoon games grow exponentially with all the parlays."

In addition to the Steelers, upsets were produced by Atlanta, Miami and Washington.

"Some late money was on the Dolphins, and some big money," said Scucci, who closed Miami as a 51/2-point home underdog.

The Dolphins' 17-10 victory helped the books by killing parlays and teasers on the Chargers.

Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers was questionable because of a shoulder injury, but he played in a 27-24 home loss to the Falcons. The Packers went from 4 to 51/2-point favorites after it was determined Rodgers would start.

In today's finale to Week 5, New Orleans is a 3-point home favorite over Minnesota, and Scucci said most of the early money is on the Vikings.

In the top game of Week 6, San Diego opened as a 5-point home favorite over New England.