ODDS ’N’ ENDS:

Sneak peek at NFL

Early betting lines set up early story lines for football regular-season games

associated press file

Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) is congratulated by teammates after throwing the game-winning touchdown pass in Super Bowl XLIII.

By Jeff Haney (contact)

Tuesday, June 23, 2009 | 2 a.m.

Upon Further Review

Losers lovable on prop bet (6-5-2009)
To find value in prop bets, toss out favorites (6-1-2009)
Detroit Lions bet fun, not profitable (5-13-2009)
Betting lines posted for NFL team season wins (4-27-2009)
Early NFL betting lines at Hilton set up action (4-17-2009)
Prop payoff is in the details (2-12-2009)
Prop bets make small outcomes big in Super Bowl (1-29-2009)
A bettor's guide to sports books (8-23-2008)
Jeff Haney analyzes the numerous offbeat Super Bowl 'prop' bets (1-23-2008)
Jeff Haney points out the NFL's hypocrisy in staging a game in betting-crazed England while taking a hard line on Las Vegas (10-26-2007)

Football bettors looking to take an early stand on any number of NFL games this season have a couple of attractive options in Las Vegas.

The Las Vegas Hilton sports book has posted betting lines on 80 “games of the year” for the 2009-10 regular season — five a week from Week 2 through Week 17, including each Monday night game. That’s in addition to point spreads on the full slate of Week 1 games.

The M Resort, meanwhile, has posted lines on every game of the regular season, including over/unders on each Week 1 game.

Besides giving bettors a chance to establish a position on games on which they have an early opinion, the lines on the games of the year and the full-season lines can serve as a valuable reference point as the season progresses. Lines inevitably change, after all, and sometimes substantially.

It can be illuminating, in the middle of the season, to review what the line on a particular game was back in the summer, when bettors and oddsmakers were looking at the schedule with such a limited amount of information.

The Steelers, whose betting lines figure to be monitored closely because they’re the defending Super Bowl champions, open as a 5-point favorite against the Titans on Sept. 10 in a game with an over/under of just 35 1/2 points — the lowest total on the board in Week 1. (As always, odds are subject to change.) Pittsburgh opened as a favorite in each of its other regular-season games as well, with the exception of Week 12, when the Ravens are favored by 1 point against the visiting Steelers.

The defending NFC champion Arizona Cardinals command much less respect. They opened as an underdog in three of their first eight games alone. The Jaguars are favored by 2 against the Cardinals on Sept. 20; the Giants by 5 1/2 on Oct. 25; and the Bears by 4 on Nov. 8, according to M Resort lines.

Among other notable games on the 2009 regular-season schedule:

• In a big upset last season, the Dolphins beat the Patriots outright, 38-13, as a 12 1/2-point underdog in New England. This season the Dolphins are an 8 1/2-point underdog Nov. 8 at New England, according to M Resort opening lines.

• In another upset, the Chiefs beat the visiting Broncos, 33-19, as a 9 1/2-point underdog.

The Chiefs are favored by 2 points on the early line against Denver on Dec. 6 at Arrowhead Stadium.

• In the Redskins’ biggest upset victory last season, they beat the Cowboys, 26-24, as a 10 1/2-point underdog on the road. This season Dallas is favored by only 5 1/2 points Nov. 22 at Cowboys Stadium.

• In an upset in the divisional playoffs, the visiting Cardinals beat Carolina, 33-13, as 10-point underdogs. The Panthers get another shot at Arizona on Nov. 1, with the Cardinals a 2-point favorite at University of Phoenix Stadium.

• The Oct. 25 game at London’s Wembley Stadium isn’t projected to be a tight match, with the Patriots favored by 10 against the Buccaneers.

• The Bills are favored by 3 points against the Jets in their Dec. 3 game at Toronto’s Rogers Centre.

• The largest spread on the early line is 11 points, with the Saints favored by that amount against the Lions in Week 1; the Giants against the Raiders in Week 5; the Steelers against the Raiders in Week 13; and the Ravens against the Lions in Week 14.

2009-10 NFL GAMES OF THE YEAR

Las Vegas Hilton
(lines subject to change)

Week 2

Saints
Eagles -6

Steelers -2
Bears

Ravens
Chargers -4

Giants
Cowboys -2.5

Colts -3 even
Dolphins

Week 3

Titans -2.5
Jets

Falcons
Patriots -9.5

Broncos -1
Raiders

Colts
Cardinals PK

Panthers
Cowboys -3.5

Week 4

Bengals
Browns -3.5

Ravens
Patriots -8

Cowboys -1.5
Broncos

Chargers
Steelers -4.5

Packers
Vikings -3 -120

Week 5

Cowboys -3
Chiefs

Jaguars
Seahawks -2

Patriots -6
Broncos

Colts
Titans -3

Jets
Dolphins -3

Week 6

Cardinals
Seahawks -2.5

Titans
Patriots -7

Bills
Jets -3 plus 105

Bears
Falcons -3

Broncos
Chargers -7

Week 7

Vikings
Steelers -6

Patriots -10
Buccaneers

Falcons
Cowboys -3.5

Cardinals
Giants 7.5

Eagles -2.5
Redskins

Week 8

Vikings
Packers -3

Dolphins
Jets -3

Panthers
Cardinals -2.5

Giants
Eagles -3

Falcons
Saints -3 -120

Week 9

Redskins
Falcons -3 -120

Cardinals
Bears -5

Chargers
Giants -4.5

Cowboys
Eagles -4

Steelers -3
Broncos

Week 10

Bears
49ers PK

Cowboys
Packers -3

Eagles
Chargers -3 even

Patriots -3 even
Colts

Ravens -3 plus 105
Browns

Week 11

Dolphins
Panthers -4.5

Colts
Ravens -2.5

Chargers -1.5
Broncos

Eagles
Bears -1

Titans
Texans -2.5

Week 12

Packers -6
Lions

Raiders
Cowboys -10.5

Giants -3 even
Broncos

Steelers
Ravens PK

Patriots -4.5
Saints

Week 13

Jets
Bills -3

Eagles
Falcons PK

Cowboys
Giants -4

Patriots -6.5
Dolphins

Ravens
Packers -3 even

Week 14

Steelers -4.5
Browns

Packers
Bears -3

Chargers
Cowboys -3

Eagles
Giants -3 -120

Cardinals
49ers PK

Week 15

Colts -1
Jaguars

Cowboys
Saints -3 plus 105

Patriots -5.5
Bills

Vikings
Panthers -3 plus 110

Giants -2.5
Redskins

Week 16

Chargers
Titans -3 even

Panthers
Giants -6

Ravens
Steelers -6

Cowboys
Redskins PK

Vikings
Bears -3 even

Week 17

Colts
Bills PK

Eagles
Cowboys -2.5

Giants
Vikings -2

Packers
Cardinals -2.5

Redskins
Chargers -5

2009-10 NFL GAMES OF THE YEAR

M Resort
(lines subject to change)

Week 1

Titans
Steelers -5 (total 35.5)

Jaguars
Colts -6.5 (44.5)

Lions
Saints -11 (49)

Eagles
Panthers -2 (44.5)

Cowboys -3
Buccaneers (41.5)

Jets
Texans -4 (44.5)

Chiefs
Ravens -8.5 (37.5)

Broncos
Bengals -2 (44.5)

Vikings -3
Browns (40)

Dolphins
Falcons -4 (42.5)

Redskins
Giants -6 (40)

49ers
Cardinals -6.5 (47)

Rams
Seahawks -7 (43.5)

Bears
Packers -3 (43.5)

Bills
Patriots -10 (46.5)

Chargers -6.5
Raiders (44)

Week 2

Texans
Titans -5.5

Panthers
Falcons -2.5

Vikings -6
Lions

Cardinals
Jaguars -2

Raiders
Chiefs -5

Saints
Eagles -5.5

Bengals
Packers -5.5

Rams
Redskins -7

Patriots -6
Jets

Buccaneers
Bills -3.5

Seahawks
49ers -2

Ravens
Chargers -4.5

Steelers -1
Bears

Browns
Broncos -4

Giants
Cowboys -3

Colts -1
Dolphins
Week 3

Chiefs
Eagles -9

Redskins -4.5
Lions

Packers -2.5
Rams

49ers
Vikings -6

Titans -2
Jets

Steelers -5
Bengals

Falcons
Patriots -7.5

Jaguars
Texans -3.5

Giants -3
Buccaneers

Browns
Ravens -7.5

Bears
Seahawks -1

Saints
Bills -1

Dolphins
Chargers -6

Broncos
Raiders PK

Colts
Cardinals -1

Panthers
Cowboys -4

Week 4

Buccaneers
Redskins -4

Ravens
Patriots -7.5

Titans -1.5
Jaguars

Raiders
Texans -8

Bengals
Browns -3

Seahawks
Colts -9

Giants -4
Chiefs

Lions
Bears -9.5

Bills
Dolphins -3.5

Jets
Saints -5.5

Rams
49ers -4.5

Cowboys -3
Broncos

Chargers
Steelers -3.5

Packers
Vikings -4.5

Week 5

Bengals
Ravens -8

Buccaneers
Eagles -7.5

Browns
Bills -5

Steelers -7.5
Lions

Redskins
Panthers -4.5

Cowboys -3
Chiefs

Raiders
Giants -11

Vikings -3.5
Rams

Falcons
49ers -1

Texans
Cardinals -3.5

Patriots -5
Broncos

Jaguars
Seahawks -1

Colts
Titans -2

Jets
Dolphins -3

Week 6

Rams
Jaguars -7

Chiefs
Redskins -5.5

Texans -2.5
Bengals

Ravens
Vikings -2.5

Lions
Packers -9

Browns
Steelers -8.5

Panthers -1.5
Buccaneers

Giants
Saints -1

Cardinals -1
Seahawks

Eagles -6
Raiders

Bills
Jets -2.5

Titans
Patriots -7

Bears
Falcons -3

Broncos
Chargers -8.5

Week 7

Colts -7
Rams

Vikings
Steelers -5.5

Patriots -8.5
Buccaneers

Bears -2
Bengals

Chargers -4
Chiefs

Packers
Browns PK

49ers
Texans -5.5

Bills
Panthers -5.5

Jets -1.5
Raiders

Falcons
Cowboys -4

Saints
Dolphins -1.5

Cardinals
Giants -5.5

Eagles -1.5
Redskins

Week 8

Seahawks
Cowboys -7

Texans
Bills -3

Vikings
Packers -2.5

Rams
Lions -1

Dolphins
Jets -2

49ers
Colts -9.5

Browns
Bears -6.5

Broncos
Ravens -7

Jaguars
Titans -6.5

Raiders
Chargers -10.5

Giants
Eagles -3.5

Panthers
Cardinals -2

Falcons
Saints -3.5

Week 9

Ravens -45.
Bengals

Dolphins
Patriots -8.5

Chiefs
Jaguars -5.5

Packers
Buccaneers -1.5

Redskins
Falcons -4

Cardinals
Bears -4

Texans
Colts -6

Panthers
Saints -3

Lions
Seahawks -7

Titans -2.5
49ers

Chargers
Saints -3.5

Cowboys
Eagles -3.5

Steelers -4
Broncos

Week 10

Bears
49ers -1

Lions
Vikings -9.5

Broncos
Redskins -4

Buccaneers
Dolphins -5.5

Bills
Titans -5.5

Saints -4.5
Rams

Jaguars
Jets -2.5

Falcons
Panthers -4

Bengals
Steelers -9.5

Chiefs
Raiders -1

Cowboys
Packers -1.5

Eagles
Chargers -3

Seahawks
Cardinals -4

Patriots -2
Colts

Ravens -3
Browns

Week 11

Dolphins
Panthers -4.5

Steelers -4
Chiefs

Colts
Ravens -2

49ers
Packers -5.5

Bills
Jaguars -3

Falcons
Giants -5.5

Saints
Buccaneers PK

Browns -1.5
Lions

Redskins
Cowboys -5.5

Seahawks
Vikings -5.5

Cardinals -3
Rams

Jets
Patriots -9.5

Chargers -3
Broncos

Bengals
Raiders -2.5

Eagles
Bears -1

Titans
Texans -2

Week 12

Packers -5
Lions

Raiders
Cowboys -8.5

Giants -3.5
Broncos

Dolphins
Bills -3

Seahawks
Rams PK

Redskins
Eagles -5.5

Buccaneers
Falcons -5.5

Cardinals
Titans -5

Colts -1
Texans

Browns
Bengals -2

Bears
Vikings -3.5

Panthers -1
Jets

Chiefs
Chargers -8.5

Jaguars
49ers -1.5

Steelers
Ravens -1

Patriots -3.5
Saints

Week 13

Jets
Bills -3.5

Rams
Bears -7.5

Buccaneers
Panthers -5

Texans
Jaguars -2

Broncos
Chiefs -2

Titans
Colts -4

Eagles
Falcons -1

Saints
Redskins -1

Raiders
Steelers -11

Lions
Bengals -5

Chargers -3.5
Browns

Cowboys
Giants -4

49ers
Seahawks -3.5

Vikings
Cardinals -2.5

Patriots -5
Dolphins

Ravens
Packers -1.5

Week 14

Steelers -4.5
Browns

Saints
Falcons -2.5

Broncos
Colts -8

Seahawks
Texans -6

Panthers
Patriots -7.5

Bills
Chiefs -1

Lions
Ravens -11

Bengals
Vikings -6.5

Jets
Buccaneers -2.5

Rams
Titans -8.5

Dolphins
Jaguars -2

Packers
Bears -3.5

Redskins -2.5
Raiders

Chargers
Cowboys -3

Eagles
Giants -3

Cardinals
49ers PK

Week 15

Colts
Jaguars PK

Cowboys
Saints -2.5

Browns
Chiefs -3.5

Falcons
Jets PK

Dolphins
Titans -6

49ers
Eagles -8.5

Patriots -4
Bills

Cardinals -5
Lions

Packers
Steelers -7

Bears
Ravens -5

Texans -3
Rams

Raiders
Broncos -5

Bengals
Chargers -9

Buccaneers
Seahawks -3

Vikings
Panthers -3

Giants -2
Redskins

Week 16

Chargers
Titans -3

Buccaneers
Saints -7

Bills
Falcons -5

Broncos
Eagles -7

Texans
Dolphins -3

Seahawks
Packers -5.5

Panthers
Giants -4.5

Raiders
Browns -4

Jaguars
Patriots -8.5

Chiefs
Bengals -1.5

Ravens
Steelers -5

Rams
Cardinals -7

Lions
49ers -6

Jets
Colts -7

Cowboys -1
Redskins

Vikings
Bears -2.5

Week 17

49ers
Rams PK

Giants
Vikings -1

Jaguars
Browns -1

Steelers -1.5
Dolphins

Patriots -4
Texans

Falcons
Buccaneers PK

Saints
Panthers -3

Bengals
Jets -4.5

Eagles
Cowboys -2.5

Colts -1
Bills

Bears -4.5
Lions

Redskins
Chargers -4

Ravens -4
Raiders

Chiefs
Broncos -3.5

Packers
Cardinals -3

Titans -2
Seahawks

Live chat: Tuesday, noon PST; Chat with Krista Creelman; Problem Gambling Center executive director Krista Creelman will answer questions about gambling addiction from Las Vegas Sun readers from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. ... Submit question