Hotline to Vegas: Dallas bandwagon grows quickly

[clevfan]

Dallas bandwagon grows quickly

By STEVE SERBY
NY POST
Last Updated: 7:21 AM, November 7, 2009


The hotline to Las Vegas takes you inside Week 9 of the NFL season, telling bettors what direction the lines are moving, and by how much.

COWBOYS-EAGLES

Eagles –3: MGM Mirage Race and sports book director Jay Rood took a “pretty decent wager” early on the Cowboys from the sharp money. The line moved from 31⁄2 to 41⁄2 before dropping.

“It doesn’t take much to start attracting money on the Cowboys,” Las Vegas Hilton Sports Book executive director Jay Kornegay said. “ ‘They’re back! ... How ‘bout them Cowboys! ... Here they come!’ That bandwagon can fill up pretty quick.”

Viva Tony Romo!

“There’s a feeling about the Cowboys when they have it together,” said John Avello, director of race and sports operations for the Wynn Las Vegas Casino Resort. “They go as Romo goes.”

The Eagles annihilated the Giants, 40-17, and Brian Westbrook (concussion) is due back. But is he ready to be Westbrook? “Local Fox showed 49ers-Colts instead of the Giant-Eagle game,” Kornegay said. “I think a lot of people still envision that Eagle team that played the Redskins on Monday Night.”

CHARGERS-GIANTS

Giants –41⁄2: Rood opened the game at 4. “We saw a little early sharp money come in on the Giants,” Rood said. “They laid the 4 pretty quick with us.”

Avello also opened the game at 4. “It’s the look for a bounce-back from the Giants,” he said.

“The Chargers haven’t looked that good themselves,” said Sean Van Patten of the Las Vegas Sports Consultants. “Plus a West Coast team traveling to the East Coast.”

The Giants, who have lost three in a row after Sunday’s loss to the Eagles, have fallen from 10-1 to win the Super Bowl to 15-1.

Eli Manning’s right foot?

“We don’t think it’s a factor,” Kornegay said. “The bigger concern is the lack of a running game. These guys can pretty much pin their ears back because the running game is not a threat.”

A vintage LaDainian Tomlinson might have dropped the line to 3. “If he was right, the way the Giants are going, this spread may only be 3,” Avello said.

PANTHERS-SAINTS

Saints –131⁄2: Kornegay opened the line at 14.

“This is just telling me the sharp money is telling us we over-adjusted, taking the value and the Panthers here,” Kornegay said. “But by the time we get to kickoff, this thing is probably gonna be at 14 again.”

The Saints blowing the cover, following a late Mike Bell fumble, in their 35-27 victory over the Falcons on Monday night will not discourage players from betting on Drew Brees.

“No, because they’re putting a ton of points on the board,” Avello said. “You can feel comfortable they can cover a big number.”

Van Patten opened at 141⁄2 and dropped to 131⁄2.

“Carolina kinda clicked a little bit, and the Saints having somewhat of a short week and they’re coming off a huge divisional win,” he said. “At some point, the [inflated] number’s gotta start catching up to these teams.”

DOLPHINS-PATS

Patriots –101⁄2: Van Patten gives Bill Belichick coming off the bye week an additional half-point to one point, scheming here against a novice quarterback (Chad Henne) after an emotional 30-25 victory over the Jets.

“It’s a tough spot for Miami,” Avello said. “They can try all the shenanigans [Wildcat] that they want. The Patriots just look to have it going again. I could see this game going to 11, possibly to 111⁄2. I betcha I have more teaser money on the Patriots than any other team.”

No Nor’easter is in the forecast, but advantage New England anyway.

“No matter what the weather is,” Rood said, “it’s still gonna be adverse conditions compared to what Miami’s used to.”

STEELERS-BRONCS

Steelers –3: “The early money is all public money on the Broncos,” Rood said. “If it continues to trend this way, this game might go down to 21⁄2 by kickoff. I think we’re gonna get nothing but Denver money until we come off the 3.”

The Broncos are coming off a 30-7 drubbing in Baltimore. “We think they’re good, but we’re not sure they’re as good as everybody made them out to be after six games,” Avello said.