Late Broncos money balancing out betting action

It took almost two weeks before some Super Bowl bettors bought into the other side of the story, but significant money is finally siding with Peyton Manning and the underdog Denver Broncos.

A week ago, the Carolina Panthers were attracting around 90 percent of the action at most Las Vegas sports books. On the eve of today's game, the story changed.

"The tide has definitely shifted a little bit. We're taking quite a bit of Broncos money," MGM Resorts sports book director Jay Rood said. "I'm feeling better about the game because it's a little more balanced. It's a good game to book right now."

Carolina was holding steady as a 5½-point favorite over Denver at the MGM and a majority of books. The line dropped to 5 at the Westgate and a few other spots.

"In the Super Bowl, there has to be some interest in the opposite side," Wynn Las Vegas book director John Avello said. "That's why we have the point spread, the equalizer. We're still a little heavy on the Panthers. I would think the sharps would be on the 'dog in this game, but their money is not going to overwhelm the public money."

Avello said his book was "totally balanced" on the money line with Carolina priced at minus-210 to win outright.

At the Westgate, where long lines had formed at betting windows by noon Saturday, book director Jay Kornegay said the Panthers' side accounted for around 60 percent of the money and tickets.

Jason Simbal, vice president of CG Technology books, said, "It's mostly Broncos money today. We are now 50/50 on money, but 65/35 on tickets in favor of Carolina."

A rush of late support for the underdog dispelled the theory the line on Super Bowl 50 could close as high as 6 or 6½. The total is either 44½ or 45.

"The wiseguys mostly bet 'under' in Super Bowls," Avello said. "The guests are going to bet 'over' and have the 'over' in parlays."

The game closed as a pick'em last year, when New England held on to defeat Seattle 28-24. In the previous seven Super Bowls, underdogs went 6-1 against the spread.

In what appears to be the final game of his NFL career, Manning is a Super Bowl 'dog for the first time. Manning is 1-2 in three previous appearances. Two years ago, the Broncos were 2½-point favorites in an embarrassing 43-8 loss to the Seahawks, and Nevada's wagering handle was a record $119.4 million. Last year, the state's handle was almost $116 million.

"My feeling from the look of some of the bets we're taking, I think the handle is up," Avello said. "We're taking quite a few six-figure wagers. My feeling right now is we're going to surpass $120 million. People have opinions both ways, and that's always good for betting. Everything revolves around this game. It's just growing and growing."

Avello and Rood each said they had fielded inquiries for $1 million wagers, but none materialized as of Saturday night. The biggest bets to show up were from $100,000 to $500,000.

"We're getting good six-figure wagers on both sides," Rood said.

— Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907. Follow him on Twitter: @mattyoumans247.