Bookies make Patriots a 3-point pick with record over/under
LAS VEGAS (AP) Oddsmakers like the New England Patriots by a field goal over the Atlanta Falcons in what experts think will be a high-scoring Super Bowl.
Most are also expecting an offensive showdown, with an over/under of 59 at some sports books the biggest ever in Super Bowl history.
''You've got the Patriots and then you have this scoring machine in Atlanta,'' said veteran oddsmaker Jimmy Vaccaro at the South Point. ''There should be a lot of points on the board.''
The AFC title game had barely entered the fourth quarter when oddsmakers around town began putting up their numbers. There was agreement all around that the Patriots should be a 3-point pick, though some had the over/under at 58 instead of 59.
There was also agreement that the legal handle on the game could exceed the record $132.5 million bet on last year's Super Bowl.
''I think we have a real shot at a record handle,'' said Chuck Esposito, oddsmaker for Station Casinos. ''These teams are huge offensive teams and you're going to see a lot of action on the total.''
Oddsmakers had plenty of history on their side in finding a line that could stick at 3 points all the way until kickoff. The Patriots have won four Super Bowls and the margin of victory in all but one was 3 points.
''Three seems to be the prevailing number for them in Super Bowls,'' Esposito said.
Westgate Super Book oddsmaker Jeff Sherman said the Super Bowl handle might have gone even higher had Green Bay made the title game. Atlanta doesn't have a big following among casual sports bettors, but there will still be plenty of action.
''It won't be any problem,'' he said. ''There are plenty of people with opinions on the game.''
Sherman said the 3-point spread will probably stand because if it moved to 3 1/2 casual bettors would be putting money on the Falcons and if it dropped to 2 1/2, the so-called ''sharps'' would be all over the Patriots.
In addition to the point spread and total bets, sports books will offer hundreds of different parlay bets ranging from which team will win the opening coin flip to how many points will be scored in the third quarter.
---
For more NFL coverage: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL
-
2024 NFL strength of schedule: Ranking every team's slate
2024 NFL schedule release: Win-loss predictions, analysis for every team
NFL Week 1 odds, predictions, best bets: Lines for all 16 games
-
Julian Edelman reveals backstage tension between Kraft, Belichick at Brady roast
2025 Super Bowl LIX odds: Arizona Cardinals on the move after schedule release
Tom Brady admits his departure from Patriots was due to Bill Belichick
-
2024 NFL free agency tracker: Signings, updates, best players available
2024 NFL schedule released, full slate for every team revealed
2025 NFL mock draft: Who are next year's top prospects
-
2024 NFL strength of schedule: Ranking every team's slate
2024 NFL schedule release: Win-loss predictions, analysis for every team
NFL Week 1 odds, predictions, best bets: Lines for all 16 games
-
Julian Edelman reveals backstage tension between Kraft, Belichick at Brady roast
2025 Super Bowl LIX odds: Arizona Cardinals on the move after schedule release
Tom Brady admits his departure from Patriots was due to Bill Belichick
-
2024 NFL free agency tracker: Signings, updates, best players available
2024 NFL schedule released, full slate for every team revealed
2025 NFL mock draft: Who are next year's top prospects