Jay Cutler's thumb injury and possible absence for the rest of the regular season caused a small downgrade in the Chicago Bears' future odds in Las Vegas, but it presented a major change for the team's game this weekend in Oakland.
Jay Kornegay, the director of the sports book at the Las Vegas Hilton, raised the team's odds at winning the NFC championship from 12-1 to 15-1, and from winning the Super Bowl from 25-1 to 30-1. MGM doubled its Super Bowl odds for the Bears from 13-1 to 25-1.
"It's not the end of the world for Bears fans," Kornegay wrote in an email. "It's a drop-off, but (replacement starter Caleb) Hanie is capable. He can move in the pocket (needed by any Chicago QB) and has a strong arm. In most cases he'll be dropping off passes to (Matt) Forte so it's a small downgrade in our eyes."
At the Hilton, the Bears opened as a "pick 'em" over the Oakland Raiders immediately after their 31-20 victory over San Diego (some sportsbooks had Raiders -1 ½), but once Cutler's injury was revealed, the line changed in a big way.
The Hilton quickly reposted the line at Oakland -3 ½ and it had gone up to 4 ½ by Monday afternoon. Other sportsbooks, as listed on vegasinsider.com, have a similar line, as do online sites.
"We have taken nothing but Raiders money since then," Kornegay said. "We think it's an over-reaction at this point."
Link so you can read some of the comments from the masses. It's worth a few minutes of your time.
I love it when they knock us down like this. If I'm Caleb Hanie and I see my team went from a pick 'em to a slight favorite to a 4 1/2 point underdog because I'm playing I'm lacing up my own orange shoes and goin' out to kick ass and take names come Sunday.
You guys have to take a few minutes and read some of the comments. They bring back memories of what things were like on the junior circuit (the official site) before Rick started us off here. If anyone is even vaguley curious about why we exist as we do just take a gander at some of the "call and response" in these comments. If you don't "YOU MUST BE ON DRUGS MAN"!!!!! etc., etc.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap.
Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
Reply With Quote
etc., etc. 