Oddsmakers give muted reaction to Garoppolo deal
QB doesn’t move needle for Raiders
The Raiders’ odds to win the Super Bowl worsened at the Westgate Superbook on Monday after it was reported that the team had agreed to terms with former 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
The Westgate raised the Raiders’ odds from 30-1 to 60-1 to win the 2024 Super Bowl at Allegiant Stadium.
“Our belief is that they were betting the Raiders thinking that they were getting Aaron Rodgers,” Superbook oddsmaker Ed Salmons said. “Obviously, they didn’t get Rodgers, and going from Derek Carr to Jimmy Garoppolo, I don’t see how that’s an upgrade.
“I think that’s a big downgrade. Jimmy G is injury-prone. And the Raiders lost their backup quarterback (Jarrett Stidham), who signed with Denver (Monday). We don’t know who the backup is now.”
Garoppolo, 31, reunites with Raiders coach Josh Mcdaniels, his offensive coordinator with the Patriots during the first three seasons of his career in New England.
Caesars Sportsbook, where the Raiders are 40-1 to win the Super Bowl, didn’t move the odds. Neither did BETMGM (40-1), Circa (30-1), South Point (25-1) or Station Casinos (22-1).
“Seems like an equal swap between him and Carr,” Caesars assistant director of trading Adam Pullen said. “We knew they’d be in the market for a quarterback, but Jimmy G doesn’t move the needle as far as the odds go.”
Said Red Rock Resort sportsbook director Chuck Esposito: “He was the hot rumor to the Raiders. So it’s not a surprise. Raiders still need help on D. Plus they are still in the same division with the Chiefs, Chargers and the Broncos.”
Mad about hoops
According to a new survey by the American Gaming Association, 18 million more Americans plan to bet on the NCAA men’s basketball tournament than on February’s Super Bowl.
One of every four American adults will have money riding on March Madness in some form after one of every five had money on the Super Bowl.
In all, 68 million American adults plan to wager $15.5 billion on the tournament, which will comprise 67 games over three weeks and feature Las Vegas as a regional host location for the first time.
The online survey, conducted March 1 to 3 among a national sample of 2,200 adults, produced the following projections:
■ 31 million American adults plan to place a traditional sports wager online, at a retail sportsbook or with a bookie.
■ 21.5 million plan to bet casually with friends.
■ 56.3 million plan to participate in a bracket contest.
Handle it
The Nevada Gaming Control Board doesn’t separate NBA and college basketball numbers. But, based on feedback from the books, GCB senior economic analyst Michael Lawton estimates 70 percent of the state’s March basketball handle is from the NCAA Tournament.
Last year, the state set a March record for basketball handle with $709 million in wagers, which equates to $497 million on the tournament. That’s more than three times the amount of money that was wagered on the Super Bowl at Nevada books ($153.2 million).
No horsing around
Paul Calia of Kansas City, Missouri, topped a field of 779 entries in the National Horseplayers Championship at the Horseshoe Las Vegas to win the grand prize of $800,000 and an Eclipse Award crowning him Horseplayer of the Year.
Calia also won another $150,000 for finishing in fourth place with his second entry in the world’s richest and most prestigious horse handicapping contest. Players attempt to earn the highest possible bankroll based on mythical $2 win and place wagers.
Calia amassed $362.50 on his first entry and $305.50 on his second entry during the three-day tournament that ended Sunday.