Title games never have kicked off with two home 'dogs

      The two NFL conference championship games Sunday mark several significant milestones.
      It is the first time both home teams are underdogs, according to Bruce Marshall of The Gold Sheet, the respected weekly sports betting publication.
      The visiting Denver Broncos were a consensus 2 1/2-point favorite Friday over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC championship game. And the visiting Green Bay Packers were a consensus 2-point favorite over the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC championship game.
      Although the numbers vary among Southern Nevada casinos, the trend is that the two visiting favorites are going up in the point spreads.
      "Never (before) have both home teams been the underdog," Marshall said Friday. "The only road favorite in recent memory was Buffalo (minus 2 1/2) in its 29-10 win at Miami five years ago."
      Marshall said the only previous home underdog in the conference championship round was after the 1982 season when Washington (plus 2) beat Dallas, 31-17.
      The Gold Sheet records also show that this year's two point spreads are among the lowest in the history of the conference playoffs.
      Marshall said the previous two lowest conference final point spreads were after the 1982 strike season when Washington (plus 2) beat Dallas 31-17 and Miami (minus 2) defeated the New York Jets, 14-0.
      It is the first time San Francisco has been a home underdog since the NFC championship game after the 1981 season when the 49ers (plus 3) nipped the Cowboys, 28-27.
      At the Las Vegas Hilton, sports book director Art Manteris opened the Steelers minus 1 1/2.
      "Now it has reversed itself up to the Broncos minus 2 and could go higher," Manteris said. "It's been all Denver money all week from Sunday evening. The betting public is very decisive behind the Broncos right now. That could change by game time."
      The Las Vegas Hilton opened Green Bay as a 1 1/2-point favorite Sunday during the fourth quarter of the Packers' 21-7 victory over Tampa Bay.
      "That immediately drew a lot of 49ers money," Manteris said. "In the last 48 hours it has come back dramatically the other way. There has been a lot of Green Bay money the last two days. It is back to Green Bay minus 1 1/2."
      On the totals, the Las Vegas Hilton opened the AFC game at 41, went to 41 1/2 and is back at 41. Manteris opened the NFC game at 44, and it is up to 44 1/2.
      "The total in games like these that are of such national importance don't really concern me as much as the sides," Manteris said. "There are a lot of parlays played on the favorite and over, but they are not going to get the movement the games themselves get."
      At the MGM, sports book director Will Hall opened Denver minus 1 Monday and pick 'em on the Packers-49ers. The Broncos and the Packers were minus 3 late Friday afternoon at the MGM at even money.
      But those taking the Steelers and the 49ers at plus 3 points at the MGM had to lay minus 120.
      "We are the highest (in town) on both games," Hall said. "There has been very little action on either one. I just tried to stay a half-point ahead. I just anticipated the money would go that way.
      "I am trying to stay on keel with everybody else. I'm trying to anticipate on the correct number or what I feel the closing number will be."
      On the totals, the MGM opened the NFC game at 45 and dropped it to 44 1/2. It opened the AFC game at 41, and it was at 41 Friday.
      "They bet the Niners game under a little," Hall said. "I guess there is a 50 percent chance of rain. But who knows in San Francisco? The weather changes every 15 minutes."