Packers’ victory boon for books

A lot of critics questioned whether Aaron Rodgers was the best quarterback for the Green Bay Packers this season. It was the NFL's biggest and most controversial issue in August.

But after what transpired Sunday, the heat is off the Packers -- at least for now -- in the burning Rodgers-Brett Favre debate.

Rodgers thoroughly outplayed Peyton Manning to help Green Bay blast the Indianapolis Colts 34-14 in a result that set off celebrations at Lambeau Field and behind the windows at Las Vegas sports books.

Orleans sports book director Bob Scucci said the Packers' win was the biggest decision of Week 7 for the books. A majority of bettors backed the Colts, who closed as 3-point favorites after the line opened at 1.

"The Colts game was an absolute monster," Scucci said. "Any time you get a good team on the road as a short favorite, the general public is going to lay the points."

Rodgers, playing through the pain of a sprained right shoulder, completed 21 of 28 passes for 186 yards and a touchdown. Manning threw two interceptions that were returned for touchdowns.

Meanwhile, Favre was a flop in the New York Jets' 16-13 overtime loss to the Oakland Raiders. Favre failed to pass for a touchdown and was intercepted twice.

Scucci said the public supported the Jets as 3-point road favorites.

After favorites went 6-2 in the morning games to put the books in a hole, the Packers and Raiders led the underdogs to a four-game sweep in the afternoon.

"We desperately needed an underdog in the afternoon games," Scucci said.

Underdogs finished the day 7-6 after Tampa Bay's 20-10 victory over Seattle in the late game. The Seahawks scored on a TD pass with 1:55 left to cover as 11-point underdogs.

Carolina, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Tennessee and the New York Giants all won as favorites. The Panthers, Steelers and Titans won in blowouts.

Buffalo defeated the San Diego Chargers, 23-14. The Bills were 1-point home favorites at some books, and the game also was a pick'em.

Scucci said the Colts-Packers game was "much bigger" than the day's second-biggest decision -- Tennessee's 34-10 win over Kansas City. The Titans closed as 81/2-point road favorites and improved to 6-0 straight up and against the spread.

"All the public money was on Tennessee," Scucci said.

In one of the most stunning results of the season, the St. Louis Rams routed the Dallas Cowboys, 34-14. The Cowboys closed as 8-point road favorites, but they never were in the game as the Rams' Steven Jackson rushed for 160 yards and three touchdowns.

Dallas quarterback Tony Romo did not play because of a broken finger and was replaced by Brad Johnson, who was intercepted three times. The Cowboys have failed to cover four in a row and five of six.

"The Cowboys not covering really helped us. They really looked terrible," Scucci said. "It's not just a quarterback issue because they were playing terrible when Romo was in there."

New England is a 3-point home favorite over Denver in today's game. The total is 481/2.

Looking ahead to Week 8, San Diego opened as a 31/2-point favorite over New Orleans in a game to be played in London.

The Steelers are 21/2-point home favorites over the Giants, and the Titans are 31/2-point home favorites over the Colts.

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