Football contests can offer nice value

In one corner is Steve Fezzik, a back-to-back winner of the Las Vegas Hilton SuperContest, the most prestigious of all NFL handicapping contests.

In another corner might be Floyd Mayweather Jr., one of the greatest boxers in history and a sports bettor on the side.

This fall's megafight between Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao is off, but Mayweather and Fezzik could be ready to get it on. And if that's true, Fezzik is a heavy favorite.

Rumors are circulating that Mayweather plans to enter the new $100,000-entry fee Cantor High Stakes Football Contest at the M Resort. Fezzik is a confirmed contestant; Mayweather is not in yet.

"You've got to really know what you're doing," said Fezzik, who would "strongly discourage" square bettors from entering sharp contests.

Football handicapping contests at Las Vegas sports books attract all kinds, and there's something for everyone. High-end contests bring in sharps like Fezzik. But equally important are the free and $25-entry fee contests tailored for Joe the Plumber and women who want to prove they know more than the men.

"I would recommend all the free contests in town," Fezzik said, "and if you have a bankroll of $250, use it on all the $25 entries."

Play for fun or play to win. The casinos market football contests to trigger foot traffic, but the contests can offer great value to the public. A cheap entry fee can turn into a mini-lottery ticket.

At Station Casinos, the Great Giveaway Football Contest awards approximately $1.4 million in prizes, and $50 gets three entries. At Lucky's sports books, $5 is a ticket to a shot at $10,000 or more.

Almost every off-Strip casino hosts contests catered mostly to locals, but this year the Wynn Las Vegas is joining the party with its Pro Football Survivor Contest. The entry fee is $100, limit 10 per person. Select one NFL side with no point spread each week -- the most lopsided games will be excluded -- and lose once and you're out.

The Wynn needs 1,000 entries to break even because it is guaranteeing a $100,000 minimum payout. But the contest will almost certainly be an overlay, meaning the amount the casino will pay out is greater than what is brought in by entry fees.

"I don't think we ever thought we would get 1,000 in the first year," Wynn sports book director John Avello said. "It takes awhile for any contest to get established."

No handicapping challenge is more established and respected than the Hilton SuperContest, which has a $1,500 entry fee and requires contestants to select five NFL games against the spread each week.

Fezzik (LVASports.com) won the SuperContest in consecutive years, a feat never before achieved. He topped a field of 328 contestants in 2009 and a field of 350 in 2008. A three-peat is obviously unlikely.

"It's really hard to win these things," said Fezzik, who posted a 53-29-3 record against the spread last year. "There's a lot of luck involved. I hear people saying, 'Fezzik is the best contest player, but he's not the best handicapper.' I would agree with that. I always feel Billy Walters is the best betting guy in the world."

Fezzik, who also enters the high-end South Point contest ($2,500 fee and $250,000 guaranteed), is the contest king. In the past three years he has won about $750,000 on an estimated $100,000 in entries.

To put his Hilton accomplishments in perspective, consider that Johnny Chan won the World Series of Poker main event in 1987 and 1988 by beating 152 other players the first year and a field of 167 the following year. In fact, Fezzik often draws comparisons to another poker star, Phil Hellmuth, a notoriously sore loser.

"He's kind of an ass, and I can be kind of an ass, so I can see that," Fezzik said. "I'd like to think the difference is I respect people who are out there playing their own money. Phil is critical of everybody."

Fezzik said he's pledging to stop ridiculing the unsophisticated crowd as "squares, donkeys and losers." His new term for squares is "recreational bettors."

If any recreational bettors think they can top 57 percent winners in the Hilton contest, Fezzik said he is accepting side bets.

As for the M Resort, which also offers a free contest, at least eight players are committed to its High Stakes game, according to sports book director Mike Colbert. The format is similar to the Hilton and perfectly simple -- pick five NFL games against the spread.

There are contests for players of all shapes and bankroll sizes, and maybe even Mayweather will put his money on the table.

■ BOTTOM LINES -- Fezzik recommends betting against Brett Favre enjoying a fairy-tale year. He said it's a "no-brainer" to bet the Minnesota Vikings under their regular-season win total of 9½.

Ken Thomson has moved his "SportsXradio" show to KDWN-AM (720). Thomson, who's on from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, is hosting from the M Resort book tonight.

Contact sports betting columnist Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907.