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STN Sports Weekly Rundown
December 29, 2021
The only yardstick for success our society has is being a champion. No one remembers anything else. —John Madden
With all due respect to the late great Madden, in the sports betting world, we remember our wins and we remember our losses even more. This past weekend, the house was on the losing end. Thanks to some huge favorites covering their lines on NFL Sunday, such as Tampa Bay, Kansas City and Dallas, Station Casinos Sports Book guests and STN App users had a much better day than the oddsmakers. The only real saving grace for the other side of the counter came in the form of the Texans and Bears’ outright wins, as both were underdogs of more than a touchdown. With the exception of Sunday, both teams aren’t playing good football. Or, as Madden says, “Well when you’re playing good football, it’s good football and if you don’t have good football, then you’re not really playing good football.” Speaking of that, the Texans are one of the worst teams in the league, and yet they beat the Chargers? It’s a Christmas miracle! With Santa’s day behind us, let’s relive some of the past week in the sporting world, take a peek at what’s ahead in the New Year and explore what you can find on the STN App.
Who’s In, Who’s Out
There’s a special talent to handicapping games, but this season is much, much different. “You’re almost not handicapping teams anymore as much as you’re handicapping the impact of COVID right now, especially with these key and skill position players,” said Chuck Esposito, Station Casinos Sports Book Director. Need examples? On Sunday, the Ravens started a third-string quarterback, and the Saints started a fourth stinger on Monday Night. This coming weekend, the Colts likely won’t have Carson Wentz after he was placed on the COVID list. These second, third and fourth stringers are being asked to win with virtually no time to prepare, which can be a benefit to bettors who are looking to bet the other side of the game. The NFL saw a record 106 players placed on reserve/COVID-19 lists on Dec. 27. The lesson here: pay close attention to the COVID reports. “Every day now, we’re seeing reports of teams with COVID and guys that are in and out, and it’s just been really difficult for both sides of the counter,” Esposito added. “It’s been so fluid. I can’t ever remember something like this in the past.” You know what they say, the best ability is availability.
Beat It
Sunday’s Giants vs. Eagles game had all the makings of an under bet, even with the fairly low total of 41. After all, Philly likes to run the ball, which kills a lot of clock, and the G-Men were starting Mike Glennon at quarterback, which is hardly inspirational (and when he finished with 93 yards passing, you felt vindicated). Under bets looked prime for a payday when the game was scoreless after one quarter and 3-3 at halftime. Then, well, it happened. The Eagles rattled off 17 points in the third, but the under was still well within play. Philly poured on another 14 points in the fourth quarter, and the Giants looked like even the cast of Grey’s Anatomy couldn’t resuscitate them. “If this team doesn’t put points on the board, I don’t see how they can win,” Madden once said. The Giants were light years away from winning, but with less than four minutes to go in the game Glennon threw for a meaningless touchdown, his only one of the contest. The TD wasn’t meaningless to total bettors, as the game somehow went over with a 34-10 final. Under bettors of this one will bristle more than a water-parched Christmas tree.
Best Of The Best
The big ones are almost here… and contrary to what you’ve heard, size matters. On Dec. 31, college football’s final four will square off for a chance at NCAA immortality, aka, a championship. Thus far, the lines in Alabama vs. Cincinnati and Georgia vs. Michigan are staying pretty stable. The total has crept up a bit in the latter game. Still, by kickoff, Esposito expects some Michigan money to come in. “I think we’re gonna be Georgia and Cincinnati fans once these games go off,” he said. Georgia remains about a touchdown favorite over the fighting Harbaugh’s, whereas ‘Bama is nearly a two-touchdown favorite against Cincy. Over the years, the first round of the playoffs has amounted to a LOT of blowouts. Will it be any different this time? The key to winning these games or any games, Madden will tell you, is points. “Usually the team that scores the most points wins the game,” he once said. A wise man.
The Irish Curse
You’ve heard of The Curse of the Bambino, The Curse of the Billy Goat and the Madden Curse… Why is no one talking about the Curse of the Notre Dame QB’s? On Monday Night, Fighting Irish alum Ian Book took the reins of the New Orleans Saints, and he didn’t bode well. In Book’s 20 pass attempts, he made two completions to the other team, and never got his own squad into the end zone. In fairness, Book, a fourth-string quarterback, had no time to prepare for Miami, who is now riding a seven-game winning streak. But maybe we should have seen this coming. After the Saints loss, Notre Dame quarterbacks have now lost 24 straight starts in the NFL. Book joins an uncelebrated list of Irish-educated NFL losers that includes Brady Quinn, Jimmy Clausen and DeShone Kizer. This is the longest losing streak by starting quarterbacks from a particular college since 1950. The luck of the Irish? Yeah right. Teams would have as much of a chance with Rudy Ruettiger starting at QB. Even if he lost, you’d at least get to chant “Rudy, Rudy, Rudy!”
Wayyyyy Down The Road, Just Down The Road
Spoiler Alert: the 2022 Super Bowl has yet to be played. Heck, zero games have been played that count toward the 2023 Super Bowl. But, STN bettors can already bet on the 2024 Super Bowl. There are off-Strip restaurants that don’t have an early bird special this fun! The AFC team has been established as a small favorite in the more-than-two-years-away big game, which will be played at Allegiant Stadium in Vegas. You can currently bet 10 props, too, including which conference will win the coin toss, whether or not there will be a safety, or if the game is overtime-bound. Call the psychic hotline and make yourself a fortune.
NBA Disappointment
Christmas and the NBA go together like eggnog and heartburn. And this year’s Christmas Day schedule in the NBA showcased some of the best teams in the league. (We see you, Warriors, Suns, Jazz, Nets, Bucks). It also featured arguably the most disappointing team in the Association: the Los Angeles Lakers. “The Lakers are under .500 and just don’t look good,” Esposito said. “I’m not sure they make the playoffs.” Due to Vegas’ proximity to L.A., the Lakers still get a lot of love at the Station Casinos counter. Right now, LeBron James is losing games faster than he’s losing his hairline.
Ice, Ice Baby
Due to rising COVID concerns, the NHL took a short break between Dec. 22-28. Will that mandated hiatus hurt teams that were rolling pre-break? That’s the question. Teams like the Penguins, Lightning, Maple Leafs, Predators, Golden Knights and Canucks probably wish they could have kept playing, as all had won at least seven of their previous 10 games at the time of the unplanned pause. The break, though, allows teams to possibly get a few players back into the rotation who were on COVID lists. Despite the break, it’s highly likely that the Knights will continue to be an unsurprising favorite of bettors. “We’re seeing the public not just back the Knights with their hearts, but they’re starting to back them with their pocketbook again. The public just pounds the puck line pretty much every game they play,” Esposito said. An insider’s tidbit: if you like the over in a Knights game, you might want to sprinkle some money on VGK, too. “When their games are going over, they’re covering the line and winning,” Esposito pointed out. “We wanna see them continue to win and do well, but from our side of the counter, if they win, we sure hope it’s by only one goal.”
App For The Win
Christmas Day saw two NFL games and five NBA games. Talk about holiday cheer! Of course, those who had the STN App could enjoy the games without ever stepping foot in a casino — not that we don’t want to see your smiling faces. App users were able to bet a game total while opening gifts and assembling toys, and they could take a side better than those lumpy mashed potatoes. The book is literally at your fingertips with the STN App. Download the App, win with the App.
Winning is a great deodorant. —John Madden
Bets To Know
Bet spreads, money lines, and totals on every game through the New Years, with the ability to buy points along with fun props on select games. Futures are also still live, meaning you can pick either Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, or Cincinnati to win it all in early January.
STN Sports Weekly Winners
