Giants getting heavy betting action at sportsbooks

Jan 23, 2008 / By Rob Gerein

The New York Giants continue to be a favorite of NFL bettors at online sportsbooks, even though they’re 12-point underdogs against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII on Feb. 3.

BodogLife Bookmaker Richard Gardner said that the Patriots’ narrow, come-from-behind win over the Giants in Week 17 of the regular season is a big reason why bettors are throwing money at the Giants to cover the spread.

“A lot of early sharp money has come in on the Giants as Patriots backers are starting to wonder if they can cover a double-digit number against a team that had them on the ropes in Week 17,” Gardner told Total Odds on Tuesday.

He said he anticipated early action on New York, and set BodogLife’s line accordingly.

“The line has gone how we thought it would go,” Gardner told TotalOdds.com on Tuesday. “Most sites opened the lines at 13, where as we opened up (Monday) at 12 and have already dropped the line a full point to 11.”

At Sportsbook.com, bettors poured money on the Giants as soon as odds became available.

Spokesperson Dave Staley said 82 per cent of Super Bowl money is on the Giants so far.

Another big factor in early Super Bowl betting action is simply the play of both the Patriots and Giants against the spread in recent games. The Pats have are not putting up points like they did in the first half of the season, while the Giants have been covering the spread with ease.

New England is a highly suspect 2-8 ATS in its past 10, after starting the season 8-0 ATS, while the Giants are 8-2 ATS as the underdog this season.

Overall, 63 per cent of online bettors are backing the Giants as of Wednesday, two days after the line dropped into the 11 to 12 range.

The Las Vegas line opened at 14 but has now dropped to 12 or 12½ at most Nevada sportsbooks. Some still have the Patriots as 13- or 13½-point favorites.

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