Super Bowl 55

Since this is the week I am starting at screens looking at all the numbers, I may as well use the time to give my review of Las Vegas sports apps, as well as some of the stronger Super Bowl numbers they've been offering:

Stations:
One of my favorites just because of the way they shade their lines. Probably the place I most often find an extra half-point. Cash back in points is 0.1% (0.3% on parlays) which is nice. Gave my $50 when I signed up, and at one time it was $100. The app itself is pretty basic, which I like. Brady under 2.5 TDs - 150, KC 1h under 14.5, 1q under 10 +115, 4q under 16.5, TB +6.5 -155

Boyd:
Finding a lot of bugs since they went to a new format, sometimes kicks me out and sometimes takes a few tries to even open it. Don’t like the presentation, makes it hard to find the numbers. I think 0.05% cash back; also got a $50 resort credit, which I think was later changed to a hard $50. Only place I have available that is good for college basketball 1h parlays, so I have been using it for that, but nothing else. If they don’t have good numbers on baseball props, I might be mostly done with this one. They did lock my account one time after I bet a bad number, I planned to just give them a hard time, by withdrawing small amounts at a time. But then after a few months, it worked again. I’ll give them credit for that. KC scoreless quarter -145

William Hill:
They backed me off very quickly, low limits and could only bet a number one time. Then they locked my account. If I could bet with them, I would probably use them as much as anyone, but I can’t. They do advertise “cash back, win or lose” and I got $50 when I signed up.

Westgate:
Biggest betting menu, and lower vig than most anywhere else. That makes it my favorite along with Stations. Unlike Stations and Boyd, they'll take a stand and leave a number up even after it's been hit for a couple max bets. I respect management for doing that. Can earn restaurant and hotel comps, but no cash. Brady 3q TD +160, Brady no 2 TDs in any quarter -200, Chiefs rushing TD -175, Watkins no TD -300, Kelce no 1h TD -200, Godwin under 5.5 receptions +105, Fournette under 3.5 +110. Those were from last night and this morning. Won't list any I made from Thursday or Friday, because they're probably gone.

Southpoint:
I did like it. Similar to Westgate, just a little bit not as good. Sometime around the coronavirus shutdown, they lowered my limit to $0.00. I think this might just be a tech issue and I need to go there and see what’s up. Also, Rampart and Southpoint are the sportsbook, but can only post up / cash out at the place you signed up, which is kind of weird.

Circa:
Another one similar to Wesgate. When looking at their numbers, I often think they run the sportsbook the very best way possible. Which isn’t good for me, because it makes it a little bit harder to find value. Open 24-hours which is cool. They said they would be giving points / comps, but I didn’t have any when I checked my card at their kiosk. If they do, sports is separate from the machine / table play. Fournette TD +145, Chiefs to punt before score +100.

Golden Nugget:
Very small betting menu and high vig. I can understand the benefit to that from a business position, but makes it pretty worthless to me. I did win nicely the one year they offered parlay cards on the app. Just waiting until after the Super Bowl to cash out; it’s been a full week since the matchup was set and they still don’t have any props up.

BetMGM:
Just started with them. Look promising. They are the first one in Las Vegas to copy FanDeul and DraftKings “odds boosters”, or whatever they call it, which is why I opened an account. Never found too much whenever I visited an MGM casino, but it does look like they are slow to move on some numbers and are targeting tourists, which could mean good things. The literature they have says bets on the app earns rewards. I bet both Chiefs and Bucs, a lot heavier on KC. Only one I will comment on is TB +4 -120

Caesars:
Never used it.

Wynn and TI:
Never deposited. These ones are independent, so might have something good. Wynn looks fairly similar to Stations and seem to shade their numbers the same way. Think I’ll put my GN money in one of these, then I’ll be able to comment from experience. Wynn has Mahomes over 19.5 rush yards -105, but since I can't bet them, I'm not looking very hard

As I prepare to give my SB bets to Mike, I’ve hit a snag...


I'm not a sports person AT ALL. I used to watch the SuperBowl more for the commercials than the game.

Then, after Mike talked about his Bridge Jumpers bet a few years ago, I started betting on the 'yes' for some bets that I knew Mike took the 'no', and Mike took my action for a number in the middle, using William Hill's or Westgate's prop sheets. Now I watch for the commercials AND the props I have action on. 😁

FYI: In the past, I've bet on the Missed Extra Point, Safety, Overtime, Scoreless Qtr, Successful 2pt Conv, and Interception run for a TD, always taking the Yes on all of them.

My problem is the Interception -> TD. WH has it, but I couldn't find it at WG. Ditto for last year.

However, I notice that WG has Special Team or Defense TD. I see that WH has it, as well as the Int -> TD. I started to scratch my head to figure out the difference. (I also checked Circa’s sheets. They don’t have either, nor the Missed Extra Point.)

So please confim my thoughts:

An interception is a pass that is caught by the defense. As such, an Int -> TD is a Defensive TD, therefore one of the ways the Special Team or Defense TD would win. Correct?

Therefore, a mere fumble picked up by the defense and run for a TD, isn't an interception but counts as a Defense TD.

And Special Teams? That's a kickoff or punt team, right? Are there others? I think not. Therefore the Special Team TD is a kick (onside?) that is somehow caught or picked up by the kicking team and run all the way.

Am I right?
Am I missing anything?

Thanks.

All that sounds right to me. If there is any dispute on a bet, I think we could use Mission to mediate as he seems to know the fine points of football quite well.

I am still looking for someone to take my bet. I will take KC -4 even money for US$30.

Special team units are involved in kicking plays:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_football_positions#Special_teams
From Wikipedia:
Special teams can score a touchdown on a kickoff or punt return, or on a return after a missed or blocked field goal attempt or blocked punt.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touchdown

Quote: Keeneone

Special team units are involved in kicking plays:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_football_positions#:~:text=Special%20teams%20are%20units%20that,unique%20to%20the%20kicking%20game.
From Wikipedia:
Special teams can score a touchdown on a kickoff or punt return, or on a return after a missed or blocked field goal attempt or blocked punt.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touchdown

One subtlety. Your punt unit is DEFINITELY a ‘special team.’ HOWEVER, if your punter does not punt and runs it in for a touchdown I am pretty sure (but not 100%) that does NOT count as a special team TD.

Quote: speedycrap

I am still looking for someone to take my bet. I will take KC -4 even money for US$30.

I’ll take they other side of it. Please confirm. Happy to escrow with someone or let it stand on honor to pay after game. Please confirm.

Quote: Keeneone

Special team units are involved in kicking plays:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_football_positions#:~:text=Special%20teams%20are%20units%20that,unique%20to%20the%20kicking%20game....

This link works better, and I think it's what you intended:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_football_positions#Special_teams

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Thanks for all the replies. Those, and the Wikipedia entry, really helps.

I was hung up on the 'teams' aspect, as if an entire 11 man squad is used just for that purpose, and then I didn't know if it was offense or defense. As I interpret it, it's any time there's a kicking play. That's a lot easier to understand.

Quote: SOOPOO

One subtlety. Your punt unit is DEFINITELY a ‘special team.’ HOWEVER, if your punter does not punt and runs it in for a touchdown I am pretty sure (but not 100%) that does NOT count as a special team TD.

I'll keep that in mind. Plus that follows my logic above.


For the record, I like these bets because they're simple yes/no things with long-shot potential, and can be resolved by reading the box score and/or scoring play summary.


Mike, you'll get my list in a day or two.

Quote: DJTeddyBear

Mike, you'll get my list in a day or two.

Okay.

Quote: unJon

I’ll take they other side of it. Please confirm. Happy to escrow with someone or let it stand on honor to pay after game. Please confirm.

Dear Wizard,it is a confirmed bet. I have KC -4 even money. You have TB. US$30.

[edit by Oncedear just to fix tag]