Books get desired matchup
Another record handle expected after Patriots advance
Nevada’s recent run of record Super Bowl betting handles hung in the balance with the Jacksonville Jaguars leading the New England Patriots late in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s AFC championship game.
Suddenly, the specter of an NFL title game featuring Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles and Philadelphia Eagles signal caller Nick Foles loomed as a very real possibility.
But Patriots quarterback Tom Brady rallied New England to a 24-20 comeback win to set up a Super Bowl
LII showdown against the Eagles, who later whipped the Minnesota Vikings 38-7 for the NFC championship.
“The reason the handle keeps going up is more
SUPER BOWL
people are betting and more people are betting more money,” Wynn Las Vegas sports book director Johnny Avello said. “But it would’ve mattered if it was the Jaguars and the Eagles. That wouldn’t have produced a record handle.”
The Patriots opened as 5½-point favorites over the Eagles with a total set at 48 for the Feb. 4 game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
Multiple Las Vegas sports books listed New England as a 6-point favorite Sunday night, while William Hill sports books posted the Patriots as 5-point favorites.
“The Eagles looked great. I think 5 is high enough,” William Hill sports book director Nick Bogdanovich said. “Philadelphia’s a live (underdog). They were the best team all year long. There’s no reason they should be getting 6.
“The Patriots were life-and-death to beat the Jaguars.”
Before Sunday, New England was a 7-point favorite over Philadelphia at William Hill in a possible Super Bowl matchup. But the line was adjusted after Foles, who replaced injured MVP candidate Carson Wentz late in the season, completed 26 of 33 passes Sunday for 352 yards and three touchdowns.
“The whole question from the start of the playoffs was Foles. But just watching him play in each game, he looks more comfortable,” Westgate sports book director Ed Salmons said. “I think this spread will come down to 4½, maybe as low as 4.
“This Philadelphia team, to me, is real similar to those Giants teams that beat the Patriots.” Salmons was referring to the New York Giants’ Super Bowl victories over the Patriots in 2008 (17-14) and 2012 (21-17).
New England, which erased a 20-10 deficit in the final nine minutes, played the second half without tight end Rob Gronkowski, who was knocked out of the game with a hit to the helmet.
“The Gronk factor will drive the early wagering on this game,” MGM Resorts sports book director Jay Rood said. “If Gronk was in and played a good game today, you’d be looking at 6. With him questionable and Philadelphia playing a great game, I think that’s what’s driving this number below 6.”
The Super Bowl has generated four consecutive handles of more than $100 million, with a record $138.5 million wagered on last year’s thrilling 34-28 comeback win by the Patriots over the Atlanta Falcons.
“New England always draws really great when it’s in the Super Bowl,” Rood said. “As much as people are tired of them being there, you can’t argue that they’ve produced exciting games. And I expect Philadelphia’s fan base to show up really strong on this.”
Bogdanovich said it’s a lock that the game will produce another record handle.
“It’ll go past ($138.5 million). We’ll get over that number,” he said.
Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com. Follow @tdewey33 on Twitter.