Detroit Lions quarterback Jeff Garcia is slow to get up after being hit by Chicago Bears cornerback Charles Tillman during Sunday's tilt in Detroit. Photo by The Associated Press

One bad pass from Detroit Lions quarterback Jeff Garcia summed up the Sunday and the month for a lot of Las Vegas sports books.

"This whole month has been dismal for us in the NFL. I'm glad October is over," MGM Mirage sports book director Robert Walker said.

One of the day's biggest decisions for the books was the Chicago-Detroit game, and the betting public was on the Bears as 3-point road underdogs.

Defense decided the game, as expected. Charles Tillman intercepted a Garcia pass and returned it 22 yards for a touchdown as Chicago won 19-13 in overtime.

The Bears sit atop the NFC North at 4-3, and they are 5-2 against the spread despite starting a rookie QB in Kyle Orton.

The Lions' switch from Joey Harrington to Garcia under center has done little to solve their problems.

"I couldn't get any money at all on the Lions. They don't inspire confidence," Walker said. "Garcia looked like Harrington out there. I couldn't really tell the difference."

Walker said his book lost two more big decisions Sunday on Dallas and San Diego.

The Cowboys closed as 9 1/2-point favorites over Arizona and cruised to a 34-13 victory.

The Cardinals are 1-23 straight up and 5-19 against the spread on the road, with previous road losses this season by 23 and 25 points.

"Apparently the Cardinals are not a good road team," Walker said. "Everybody was on the Cowboys. It wasn't a good game for us."

The Chargers closed as 6 1/2-point home favorites over Kansas City and covered in a 28-20 win behind three touchdowns passes from Drew Brees.

"The funny thing about the Chargers is they are 4-4 and probably one of the top five teams in the NFL," Walker said.

Three important games went in his book's favor, Walker said. Those were San Francisco's 15-10 victory over Tampa Bay, Denver's 49-21 blowout of Philadelphia, and St. Louis' 24-21 victory over favored Jacksonville.

The 49ers were 11-point underdogs and their win wiped out several parlay bets and teasers, Walker said.

The Eagles, 3 1/2-point underdogs, were popular on teasers that pushed the line up to about 10 points.

"The San Francisco game probably saved the day," Walker said.

First-half bets hurt the house, Walker said. The public bet the Cincinnati Bengals as 6-point first-half favorites over Green Bay.

The Bengals, favored by 9 in the game, led 14-7 at halftime and went on to post a 21-14 win over the Packers.

The betting also was one-sided for New England and Pittsburgh.

The Patriots closed as 10-point favorites in the Sunday night game, and the Steelers are 11-point favorites over Baltimore today after the line opened at 8 1/2.

There were five Sundays in October and most of them were bad days for the books, continuing a trend from last year.

"I used to say nobody could beat the NFL, but the last two years I've been corrected," Walker said. "The last two years have been disappointing for us."