The NFL Wild Card Weekend starts Saturday. Regarding betting action at the Jersey shore, I spoke with Tom Gable, Director of Race and Sports at the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa, and got some of his insights. We connected for 5 questions about the action this week and the NFL Playoffs leading up to the Super Bowl.
Going into Wild Card weekend, are you getting a great deal of action on who will win the Super Bowl?
The Super Bowl futures always pick up once the playoffs are set, and this year has been no exception. The Eagles are still our biggest liability, as they have been pretty much since last spring. They are certainly our worst-case scenario to win the NFC and the Super Bowl. The normal local money we get on them, along with the way they have played this year, never dampened enthusiasm and it has sort of created the perfect storm for us on Eagles futures. All we could do was adjust numbers as best we could, but people were still betting them no matter what number you put up on them.
What game is getting the most action of the 6 Wild Card matches?
Currently the Monday night game between Tampa and Dallas and the Sunday mid-day game between the Giants and Vikings have attracted the most action. We have a big New York customer base so I’m sure we are going to need the Vikings to cover in that game. With the Monday night game being a standalone game between Brady and the Cowboys, that is going to attract a big handle. The most intriguing game though for us right now is the Chargers vs the Jaguars. We have seen respectable money on both sides in this game.
What game is getting the least interest from a betting standpoint?
The Ravens-Bengals has the least amount written on it. The uncertainty around the QB situation in Baltimore and the potential for this number to go a lot higher, I think is causing some people to stay away right now.
What second round or semifinals game would attract the most attention?
Obviously for us, once the Eagles get back in action that will automatically be a huge handle. Depending on who their opponent is (possibly Tampa or maybe even the Cowboys or Giants) it could set up to be a monster for us.
If the Eagles and Chiefs were to meet in the Super Bowl, share your thoughts about an opening line and total.
If the Eagles and Chiefs meet in the Super Bowl, I would make Kansas City a 2-point favorite right now. Obviously, we have to see how Jalen Hurts looks as he didn’t look great against the Giants, coming back from his shoulder injury. The total would probably be around 51.
In conclusion, Tom added,” I would encourage anyone looking to come to Borgata for the Super Bowl to make their reservations soon, as spots are going fast. Visit the Borgata website to reserve your spot. We will have multiple venues throughout the property set up as viewing and wagering areas. We will also be broadcasting VSIN shows from property throughout the weekend.”
I want to thank Tom for taking the time to preview the NFL Wild Card Weekend and the NFL Playoffs.
Follow me on Twitter LinkedIn and Instagram. My tweets and photos include Gaming,Casinos,Sports Betting and Entertainment.