Saints-Colts attractive to fans, bettors

So many stars are coming out for the NFL regular-season opener, it's almost possible to consider New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush a background performer.

The league is raising the curtain today by showcasing the Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts and the up-and-coming Saints in what bettors believe will be an offensive shootout.

Wynn Las Vegas sports book director John Avello expects business will be brisk.

"It's going to be a good betting game," Avello said. "With the anticipation for the NFL to start, people are ready to fire, and you've got the best matchup possible for an opening game."

The Colts are 5 1/2-point home favorites, and the total is 52 at Wynn. Those numbers differ only slightly on the Strip. The line is 6 at the Las Vegas Hilton and MGM Mirage books. The total is as high as 53 at Caesars Palace and the Hilton.

The public seems divided in picking the pointspread winner.

"It's absolutely great two-way action," Caesars Palace sports book director Chuck Esposito said. "Right now, there's nothing that would cause us to move the number."

Indianapolis went 10-0 straight up and 7-3 against the spread at home last season.

Bettors are more convinced that the quarterbacks, the Colts' Peyton Manning and the Saints' Drew Brees, will put on a display worthy of two Pro Bowl starters.

Brees led the league in passing yards with 4,418 last season, and New Orleans ranked No. 1 in total offense. Manning led the league in touchdown passes with 31, and Indianapolis ranked No. 3 in total offense.

Manning has a pair of Pro Bowl receivers to work with in Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne.

Brees' supporting cast includes Bush, one of the league's most exciting players, running back Deuce McAllister and a several talented wideouts.

It's easy to see why the total has been climbing.

"The perception is going to be that these two teams are going to score a lot," Esposito said. "Neither team plays a lot of defense, and both offenses are capable of lighting it up."

• SUPER PROPS -- The Saints-Colts matchup is being called a potential Super Bowl preview, and the Hilton is giving it big-game treatment by posting 10 proposition wagers.

Bush is a minus-200 favorite to score a touchdown. Bush scored eight combined rushing and receiving touchdowns in 16 regular-season games as a rookie, making the plus-175 on Bush not scoring an attractive bet.

The total for Brees' completions is set at 23 1/2. Manning is featured in props for passing yards (284 1/2) and touchdown passes (2 1/2).

• CONTESTS COLLIDE -- The prestigious Hilton SuperContest, which requires entrants to pick five NFL games against the spread each week for a $1,500 entry fee, is declining in popularity for the second consecutive year.

That's because four high-end contests, with similar rules, are competing for the same customers.

The SuperContest drew a record 505 contestants in 2005, and the total dipped to 416 last year. About 290 contestants had entered as of Wednesday.

"I know that every time a high-end contest pops up, that's going to take away a few of the entries that we normally get," said Hilton sports book director Jay Kornegay, who expects about 350 entrants by Friday's deadline.

The Hilton limits entries to one per person. Kornegay said he is considering allowing two or three entries per person next year to build the prize pool.

The South Point has introduced competition with the Friendly Frank's Pro Championship Challenge, a $2,500-entry fee contest that guarantees a $250,000 prize pool.

South Point sports book director Bert Osborne said he had 37 entries by Wednesday. Because of a probable overlay that will attract advantage gamblers, Osborne hopes to see a late rush.

"I thought maybe with the four of us going at each other, we would kind of knock each other down a little," Osborne said. "It seems like it's starting to catch some steam.

"If we get anything close to 100, I'll be ecstatic."

The $1,000-entry fee Gamblers Challenge at Station Casinos had about 125 contestants as of Wednesday.

The Glory of the Gridiron contest at Harrah's properties also has a $1,000 entry fee. Esposito said he has 50 entrants and expects about 100.

"There are a lot of really good contests out there," Esposito said. "I think there's something for everybody."