Steelers and Packers attracting equal betting support in Las Vegas sports books

By Case Keefer (contact)

Saturday, Feb. 5, 2011 | 2:05 a.m.

Those looking to bet on a side in Super Bowl XLV based on where the smart money is coming in are going to run into a problem.

Sharps or professional sports bettors have split opinions on Sunday’s game where the Green Bay Packers enter as 2.5-point favorites over the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to one prominent Las Vegas bookmaker.

“We’ve gotten a lot of large plays on the Steelers and a lot of large plays on the Packers,” said Jay Rood, MGM Resorts International sports book director. “I’ve taken money on both sides from guys who we’ve dealt with in the past and whose opinions we really respect.”

The betting public’s feelings are also equally divided. Walk into any sports book in town this weekend and chances are half the room would prefer Terrible Towels, while half would rather take cheeseheads.

That was the case at the Mandalay Bay sports book Friday night. Scanning the room revealed an equal number of Steelers and Packers hats.

In the back of the book, two friends from Fresno, Calif., debated the betting options detailed on the board. The first mentioned Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers as a reason why he leaned toward the Packers. The second naturally disagreed.

“I’m going to throw down on the Steelers for sure,” said Rocco Diciccio, 21. “The Packers have never been there before and they are 2.5-point favorites. I think the Steelers defense is a little too good. It’s just too tempting to pass up.”

Rood and other sports books directors are not surprised by the lack of consensus surrounding this year’s Super Bowl. After all, the Steelers and Packers are two of the most storied and popular franchises in the NFL.

Both have easily been in the top five of bettors’ favorite teams to wager on for years. That’s why the game is seen as a dream matchup for sports books.

“With these two teams, I’d say this Super Bowl should set a record for biggest handle of all time,” Mike Colbert, sports book director of Cantor Gaming, said last week.

Pittsburgh was in the 2006 Super Bowl against the Seattle Seahawks when bettors set a record by wagering $94.5 million on the game. In the four years since, the average state betting handle has been only $87 million.

“I think we’re going to do well and increase from last year,” Rood said. “I’m hopeful we can somehow break a record. If we can get to 88, I think that’s a number everyone would have to be happy about.”

Rood estimated that 70 percent of the money bet on the game would come in the next two days as visitors arrive in town and people make their final decisions.

Unlike the side, there will be uniformity on how the public plays the 45-point over/under. The "over" is an annual favorite in the Super Bowl for bettors, who would rather root for points.

That hasn’t changed this year as Rood reported 80 percent of the money is on the "over" so far. The Super Bowl has notably gone "under" in five of the past six years.

“You can’t underestimate the Super Bowl and the stage that it is,” Rood said. “Sometimes it takes a little while for these teams to get going on offense.”

Another reason the action is so close to 50/50 on the two sides is the small point spread. If the number stays at 2.5 as it’s expected to, this year’s Super Bowl will be the first in 29 years with a spread of less than a field goal.

It’s a close to a pick’em as bettors may ever find in a Super Bowl.

“You’ve had at least one pretty dominant team coming into the Super Bowl for the most part,” Rood said. “Neither of these teams were talked about like that. The Patriots were the team people were talking about this year and they didn’t get there.”

Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.