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| SACK NOT ALWAYS A SACK IN OREGON CONTEST
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Oregon's definition of a sack differs from that of the NFL.
Those who bet New England and St. Louis would combine for more than 4 1/2 sacks in Sunday's Super Bowl thought they were winners in the Oregon Lottery Sports Action game.
After all, official game statistics showed five sacks, two by the Patriots and three by the Rams.
Some gamblers were disappointed to learn that Oregon lottery officials counted only four sacks, refusing to count a play in which New England running back Kevin Faulk was tackled for a loss on an attempted halfback option pass.
"Some people consider that a sack," lottery spokesman Lou Torres said. "But we specify quarterback sacks."
-- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS | Thursday, February 07, 2002
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal BETTING: Super Bowl draws big handle Nevada books attract $71 million, but win only 3.3 percent By KEVIN IOLE
REVIEW-JOURNAL
Nevada sports books attracted $71 million in wagers on the Super Bowl, the largest total since 1998 and the third-largest in state history. The Gaming Control Board released unaudited figures Wednesday that showed a combined $71,513,304 was wagered in the state's 151 sports books on Sunday's game between the New England Patriots and the St. Louis Rams. Sports books won $2,331,607, or 3.3 percent. It was the smallest win and lowest hold percentage since 1998. Still, the increase in handle was good news to sports book operators. "We didn't see those big crowds because we're a relatively new place, but it means a lot to see the sports books busy," said Jeff Sherman, a sports book supervisor at The Palms. Nevada's record handle came in 1998, when bettors wagered $77,253,246. The second-largest handle was $75,986,520 in 1999. Last year's handle was just over $67.6 million. • BIG 'DOG SUCCESS -- The Patriots were the second underdog of more than 10 points to win the Super Bowl. And although the public rarely bets on underdogs of 10 1/2 or more points in NFL games, history shows that is a mistake. In the 2001-2002 season, including playoffs, underdogs of 10 1/2 or more points were 18-13-1 against the spread. New England was 4-0 as an underdog of 10 1/2 or more. Since 1991 in the NFL, underdogs of 10 1/2 or more points are 166-147-8 (53 percent). "Sharp players realize the value in taking those points," handicapper Tim Trushel said. "If you turn it around, you really would have gotten hurt had you played the favorite every time that situation came up. "If you had taken the points, you wouldn't have gotten rich, but you definitely wouldn't have been hurt, and you would have had some profit." • LINE TURNS -- There was one oddity in NFL lines involving the New York Giants this season. On Oct. 7, the Giants were 14-point favorites over the Washington Redskins and won, 23-9. The next week, playing at St. Louis, the Giants were 12-point underdogs. That means there was a 26-point difference between the Redskins and the Rams at that point in the season in the eyes of the oddsmakers. • FUTURE ODDS -- The Patriots still aren't getting respect. New England is 15-1 to win the 2003 Super Bowl at The Palms sports book. The Indianapolis Colts (6-10 this season) are 12-1 to win the Super Bowl. The Super Bowl-champion Patriots defeated the Colts twice last season, by 31 and 19 points. • TORREY PINES CHANGES -- Organizers of the PGA Tour's Buick Invitational, which will begin today at Torrey Pines Golf Club in La Jolla, Calif., put the South course through a redesign last summer in the hope of attracting a U.S. Open. The course was made longer, narrower and considerably more difficult. Sherman, perhaps the leading golf oddsmaker in town, said he had to make some adjustments to his prices as a result. Lee Janzen, who has historically played well in the Open and has won it twice, was dropped to 30-1. Long-hitting John Daly, who has a tendency to spray the ball, was moved up to 30-1. The top three choices are Tiger Woods, who hasn't won this year and is now at 7-2; Phil Mickelson at 7-1; and Vijay Singh at 10-1. In the matchups, Mickelson, a two-time defending champion, is a $1.50 underdog to Woods, who is minus-170.
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