Vegas Sportsbooks Were Hoping For Colts-Falcons Super Bowl

"I’m rooting for the Colts," Director of the MGM Resorts race and sports book, Jay Rood, told the Los Angeles Times. "The Colts were virtually ignored by the public in future-book betting, and if it’s Colts-Falcons in the Super Bowl, I may be seen ... on game day with my feet up, sipping a cocktail."

Sports bettors, for the most part, ignored the Colts future prices and odds to win the 2011 Super Bowl this year.

At press time Saturday evening, the Colts were up on the New York Jets by 7 points early on in the first half.  That could all change.  Bookies hope it doesn’t.

Unlike the Colts, New York has gotten plenty of backing to win the 2011 Super Bowl.  Millions of dollars have been wagered on a Jets Super Bowl victory, according to the books. 

Opening with 20-1 odds to win the big game, the Jets attracted as much attention early on in Vegas as the Minnesota Vikings and Dallas Cowboys.  Neither of those early favorites came remotely close to making the Playoffs.  Vegas books were also relieved to see the San Diego Chargers, another heavily backed team to win the Super Bowl, fizzle down the stretch. 

Atlanta would be another welcome team to win the Super Bowl as the Falcons received little fanfare coming into the regular season. 

"We didn’t get a lot of attention on them when the number was high, and then when (Atlanta) started winning, we immediately reduced their number," said Jay Kornegay, sports book director for the Las Vegas Hilton.

Rood told the Times that his sportsbook has seen a 10 percent increase in profits this season over last year with a 20 percent increase in traffic. 

- Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher