Preseason winnings still paid in real cash
It was good to see the Pittsburgh Steelers back on the field, even if it was their junior varsity offense. Ben Roethlisberger wore a gray shirt and stood on the sideline while his stunt double played quarterback.
None of the stunts pulled off Sunday night were particularly impressive, but this is the norm for the first week of the NFL preseason. It's ugly. Star quarterbacks pose for camera shots while wannabes like Landry Jones struggle to pick up a first down.
A field-goal attempt sailed wide. A backup tight end dropped a sure touchdown pass at the 1-yard line. Penalty flags were thrown on seemingly every other play. There were interceptions on back-to-back plays. But it was good to see it all anyway.
"It's football, and people love it," Sunset Station sports book director Chuck Esposito said. "People start talking about it and you can hear the buzz and the excitement in the room."
It's OK to bet preseason games. It's not just mindless entertainment for degenerates, lunatics and action junkies. Winning tickets still pay off real money. Handicapping skill can be rewarded.
Ask the bettors who wisely backed the Minnesota Vikings in the Hall of Fame Game at Canton, Ohio. The Vikings opened as 2 ½-point favorites and drew sharp money. The public followed until the line briefly hit 4 and closed at 3.
No game is meaningless when money is on the line, but the Steelers did not deem the preseason opener meaningful enough to play their offensive stars, and that's why they were underdogs.
"That just screams Vikings," Esposito said. "It's a young team that was on an upward swing last season and is getting a lot of hype in the futures book."
The Vikings, a trendy pick as a team on the rise, beat the Steelers 14-3 even though starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater made only a cameo appearance and running back Adrian Peterson did not play.
The defenses dominated, the offenses were inept and the score stayed way under the total of 36. It's not crazy or impossible to handicap and bet preseason. Sure, there can be more luck involved in these glorified scrimmages in early August, but plenty of regular-season games are unpredictable, too.
It's not quite the same as throwing a bet on black or red and spinning a roulette wheel. If there is a key to winning, it's to find an angle and try to reduce the random factors by digging for valuable information. Form a game plan and be prepared for when things get more realistic in preseason Weeks 2 and 3.
"Information is key, and now there is so much information out there," Esposito said. "You hear what the quarterback rotations are and how long the starters are playing from so many different outlets. It makes the games a little bit easier for the guests to handicap."
Preseason wagering has changed in that not much is top secret anymore. Information is available to everyone, not just the wiseguys with connections, and the public has more of a clue. We usually know how long the starters are expected to play and which coaches are game planning to win.
"There are certain coaches who don't put a lot of emphasis on the preseason," Esposito said, "and there are other coaches who do take it more seriously."
Quality teams facing fewer question marks — Green Bay, New England, Seattle and even Pittsburgh — tend to play their starters less in August. New coaches and coaches off losing seasons typically care more about preseason results.
Esposito pointed to Bears coach John Fox as one who should be out to "change the overall perception in Chicago." Jack Del Rio will be looking to do the same as the new Oakland Raiders coach. Ken Whisenhunt, who went 2-14 with the Titans last season, has a rookie quarterback to break in and a poor perception to change in Tennessee.
Rex Ryan might be the most intriguing case in Buffalo. Ryan will be aiming to establish a winning mentality with the Bills while a heated quarterback competition plays out with Matt Cassel, EJ Manuel and Tyrod Taylor.
"I think it's a positive when you've got three quarterbacks trying to make the most of their opportunities in the preseason," Esposito said. "It's conceivable that any one of those guys is the starter, and it's not going to stun me if one of the three is not on the opening-day roster."
While the Bills appear to be a potential bet-on team during the preseason, the Cowboys could be the opposite.
Dallas coach Jason Garrett is not too concerned with wins in August, and Tony Romo rarely will be taking snaps. Reports from training camp indicate all of the Cowboys' backup quarterbacks — Brandon Weeden, Dustin Vaughn, Jameill Showers — have been flopping.
So, it was Sunday night, and there were two games on TV. The Los Angeles Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates were playing an important baseball game while the Steelers and Vikings kicked off the football season. Which game attracted more tickets and interest in Las Vegas sports books?
"In many cases," Esposito said, "your handle on a prime-time preseason football game will dwarf that of a prime-time baseball game."
A majority of bettors got the NFL game right. What we found out — Landry Jones is not a good backup plan for the Steelers — was not a surprise.
Betting the preseason, similar to every other form of gambling, is only a problem if you're losing.
-- Las Vegas Review-Journal sports betting columnist Matt Youmans can be reached at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907. He co-hosts "The Las Vegas Sportsline" weekdays at 2 p.m. on ESPN Radio (1100 AM). Follow him: @mattyoumans247
