Champion Giants take on new role
On the road and in the underdog role, the New York Giants were almost unbeatable last season. They roll into a new season in a different situation.
The Giants are 4-point home favorites over the Washington Redskins in today's NFL regular-season opener. The total is 41. The point spread could hit 41/2 if the betting public continues to support the defending Super Bowl champions.
"I think they're going to come in and bet the Giants," MGM Mirage sports book director Jay Rood said. "I don't see the line coming back down to 31/2."
The Giants went 3-5 at home and 7-1 on the road last season. As quarterback Eli Manning got hot in the playoffs, the Giants won at Tampa Bay, Dallas and Green Bay before upsetting New England to win the title.
Rood said wagering has been slow -- possibly because the Redskins-Giants matchup is somewhat dull -- but he expects it to pick up.
"Everybody loves the NFL," Rood said. "It could be the two worst teams in the league and still draw a lot of attention."
• POPULARITY CONTESTS? -- The South Point's $2,500-entry fee contest, which requires participants to pick five NFL games against the spread each week, guarantees a $250,000 prize pool.
As of Wednesday, South Point sports book director Bert Osborne said he had only 50 signups for the Friendly Frank's Pro Championship Challenge. Osborne needs 100 signups to break even, and the deadline is noon Saturday.
"The advantage players are starting to be attracted to it," said Osborne, who had 84 entrants last year when the contest debuted.
The Las Vegas Hilton's NFL SuperContest, with a $1,500 entry fee, had 305 entrants Wednesday. The deadline is 1 p.m. Friday.
The Hilton drew a record 505 entrants in 2005, but the total dropped to 416 in 2006 and 342 last year.
• ON THE AIR -- A new wagering show, Sports Executives Radio, is on the air weekdays at 5 p.m. on Fox Sports Radio (920 AM).
The hosts, Ken Thomson and Chuck Edel, analyze the football betting rotation and offer free picks.
