Jets’ overtime TD stings Browns bettors

It was heartburn and a headache at the same time for backers of the Cleveland Browns.

But for those with tickets riding on the Jets, it was maybe the most improbable point-spread cover of the NFL season. So take the money and run.

The Jets, favored by 3 to 3½ points at Cleveland, escaped with a 26-20 win as Holmes scored on a 37-yard touchdown pass from Mark Sanchez with 16 seconds remaining in OT.

“Sanchez really hit him right on stride. It was a great pass and catch,” said Vic Salerno, chief executive officer of American Wagering Inc. and Leroy’s sports books. “When it got to the end, it looked like they could play to a tie. When you get into overtime, most of the time it’s not going to be a touchdown.”

Salerno said he has been “sweating a lot of games” for a lot of years, and he has seen just about everything. The books were on the bad end of this one Sunday. The betting public will gladly take the rare gift.

Thirteen games have gone to overtime this season, with only two decided by a touchdown. Pittsburgh, a 1½-point underdog, defeated Atlanta 15-9 in OT in Week 1.

I checked with handicapper/researcher Andy Iskoe (Thelogicalapproach.com) for the overtime results from 2009: Three of 15 games were decided by a touchdown. So a cover like the Jets’ is very rare, and almost unthinkable for it to happen in the final 30 seconds.

Even before Holmes’ score, the Browns fumbled in Jets territory, the Jets missed a field goal, and Cleveland’s Colt McCoy threw an incomplete pass from his own 3-yard line on first down with 1:35 left — an illogical play call that led to a punt.

The strange events of this season continue to amaze. So it’s not really a shocker that a new coach worked a near miracle for the Dallas Cowboys. Interim coach Jason Garrett, who replaced fired coach Wade Phillips last week, guided the inspired Cowboys to one of the biggest upsets we’ve seen in 10 weeks.

Jon Kitna passed for 327 yards and three touchdowns to lead Dallas to a 33-20 victory over the New York Giants, who opened as 14-point home favorites. The line closed at 12½ at most books, and the Cowboys were anywhere from plus-425 to plus-550 to win straight up on the money line.

“The Giants, in some eyes, were considered the best team in the league. With the Cowboys winning as about 13-point underdogs, that pretty much sums up the season,” Las Vegas Hilton sports book director Jay Kornegay said. “The sharper, bigger plays were on Dallas. Most of the betting public came in on the Giants.”

The public was smart to side with the New England Patriots as 4½-point underdogs at Pittsburgh. Tom Brady and the Patriots, so poor a week ago in a 20-point loss at Cleveland, were razor sharp. Brady passed for 350 yards and three touchdowns in a 39-26 victory.

Seeing the Steelers’ defense get shredded was a rare experience. And so was the finish in Jacksonville. The Jaguars beat Houston 31-24 on a 50-yard Hail Mary touchdown as time expired.

Two other teams, Indianapolis and Minnesota, annoyed me to ruin yet another Sunday.

The Colts, 7-point home favorites, led 17-0 but left the back door wide open and the Cincinnati Bengals snuck in with a late touchdown for a 23-17 final.

Brett Favre, fading fast into retirement, led the Vikings to a 27-13 loss in a must-win game at Chicago. The score stayed under the total of 40½.

At least the Buffalo Bills won’t go winless. But the Bills, favored by 1½ to 2½ points, almost blew a 14-3 fourth-quarter lead before holding off Detroit, 14-12.

Salerno said Sunday was a “small winner” for Leroy’s books, and the same seemed true for most books in Las Vegas.

It’s OK to be a sore loser if you bet the Browns.

■ BOTTOM LINES — Last month, I started using the Leroy’s mobile wagering application for BlackBerry phones, and I’ll give the system a thumbs-up recommendation. It saves time and, except for occasional login problems, it works well.

“We’re really getting a great response from people,” Salerno said. “We’re going to have a new version soon, and it’s going to be faster.”

The application can only be used in Nevada, where we’re crazy enough to bet the NFL every week.

Contact sports betting columnist Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907. He co-hosts “Las Vegas Sportsline” weeknights at midnight on KDWN-AM (720) and thelasvegassportsline.com.