Books see big action for hyped matchup

If not for an ill-timed interception thrown by Brett Favre, the Minnesota Vikings might be hosting today's NFL season opener. But that's the fine line between winning and losing in a league defined by parity and quarterback play.

Favre limped off with regret after the NFC Championship Game on Jan. 24, and the New Orleans Saints went on to win the Super Bowl.

The rematch is perfectly timed. The Saints are about 5-point home favorites over the Vikings as the most serious betting season of all kicks off for Las Vegas sports books.

"It's almost like a Super Bowl-type betting game," Wynn Las Vegas sports book director John Avello said. "This game has got a ton of hype around it. We decided we should do something special."

A few casinos, including the South Point and Wynn, are hosting parties for today's game. The Wynn is opening its Encore showroom, usually reserved for Garth Brooks, for NFL fans.

Most books are posting several proposition bets, so every pass thrown by Favre and Saints quarterback Drew Brees, the Most Valuable Player of the Super Bowl, will mean a little more.

"The way I see it, it's Brees in the prime of his career against a guy on his downswing," Avello said. "Can Favre dig deep and find a little extra? I don't know where the game goes. I'm not a fortune teller. I just book the games. But the matchup really works."

Avello said there has been a "steady flow of money on each side." On Wednesday, the Saints were favored by as many as 5½ points at the Las Vegas Hilton and Leroy's. The line was 4½ at MGM Mirage books. The total is either 48 or 48½.

The Vikings should probably have won the teams' previous meeting, but a trend points to the Saints in this one. Since 2000, the defending champions are 10-0 straight up and 7-2-1 against the spread in the season opener.

The Pittsburgh Steelers, 5- to 6-point favorites, failed to cover in their 13-10 overtime victory over Tennessee last season.

■ R-J CHALLENGE -- Two of 10 competitors in the Review-Journal NFL Challenge, which is published Sundays, are playing today's game based on the Hilton SuperContest line.

R-J assistant sports editor Allen Leiker is siding with the Saints minus-5½, while Dave Tuley of Viewfromvegas.com is on the Vikings.

Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907.