The Eagles win meant the books took a hit. NFL/Facebook
The build-up to NFL finale, mysteriously, featured vast amounts of gamblers backing the Eagles to pull off the upset. While the line opened in the 5.5 point range, It progressively dropped throughout the week showing just how much people believed Brady, would be denied his sixth ring.
"Let it ride."
The all in bettor struck again! How can a single individual impact the spread in the biggest gambling event of the year? Three million was his initial wager at MGM Resorts, and that was the maximum amount that individual book wanted to take in action from the serendipitous European. He would take the rest of his action elsewhere and spread the rest of his bets as follows:
Two separate $1 million bets with William Hill.
$700,000 wager South Point.
$700,000 wager CGT Technology.
Unknown at the Wynn.
(add the original $3 million at MGM)
The exact numbers he was getting on the money line are unspecified but are said to be in the +150 to +170 range. The all in bettor was steadily given bad odds, but still took the numbers and hammered the books. After it was all said and done, he profited over $10 million, once again giving gamblers a tale to narrate for ages.
From the Cashier's Window
With the exception of 2015, the handle sportsbooks take in for the big game has grown every year.
2013 Bal/SF $98.9 Million
2014 Den/Sea $119.4 Million
2016 Den/Car $132.5 Million
2017 NE/Atl $138.5 Million
2018 NE/Phi $158.6 Million
As you can see, the jump in handle from last year to this season was over $20 million. A massive spurt, similar to the one witnessed in the 2014 Superbowl. So $158.6 million is notably the record for cash taken in, but how much was profited in a contest in which the underdog and the over cashed? That's usually a recipe for a Sunday Bloody Sunday for the books
The guys behind the glass profited $1.17 Million in this year's big game. This is the lowest figure of gain for books in 10 years. Much has to do with large money line bets on Philadelphia tacked on to the over cashing easily. Where some books were able to get money back was on the prop bets and Patriot futures which served as some sort of redemption. Sportsbooks have now profited in 26 of the last 28 Superbowls. The two losses coming in 1995 and 2008.
With such a big handle this year the books were hoping to profit more than 0.7%. Even in the 2011 matchup between the Packers and Steelers, books only handled $87.4 million total but profited $724,176, good for a gain of 0.8%. The record for profits happened when the Seahawks routed the Broncos in 2014, the total win was $19.6 million, and a hold of 16.5%.
Overall, the books made the smallest of profits, but they will take it considering the number of bets that were on the Eagles. Futures, Props, and in-game Patriot backers saves would have been an unpropitious day.
ODDS TO WIN SUPER BOWL 53
New England Patriots +500
Philadelphia Eagles +700
Green Bay Packers +800
Pittsburgh Steelers +1000
Minnesota Vikings +1200
Los Angeles Rams +1750
San Francisco 49ers +1800
Houston Texans +1850
New Orleans Saints +1850
Jacksonville Jaguars +2000
Atlanta Falcons +2000
Dallas Cowboys +2000
Oakland Raiders +2100
Carolina Panthers +2500
Seattle Seahawks +2500
Kansas City Chiefs +3000
Los Angeles Chargers +3000
Denver Broncos +3500
Indianapolis Colts +4000
Tampa Bay Buccaneers +4000
Baltimore Ravens +5000
Arizona Cardinals +5000
Tennessee Titans +5000
Detroit Lions +5000
New York Giants +5500
Miami Dolphins +7000
Washington Redskins +7000
New York Jets +10000
Chicago Bears +10000
Cincinnati Bengals +10000
Buffalo Bills +10000
Cleveland Browns +10000
Any questions or comments follow me on twitter @JerryBoknowz
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After dropping a frustrating series to the Chicago White Sox, the Houston Astros find themselves in a familiar position—searching for answers, but still within striking distance. Despite their inconsistency, Houston sits just three games behind the AL West-leading Mariners, who are currently 7 games over .500 and riding an 8-2 stretch. For as up-and-down as the Astros have been, the division remains tantalizingly close.
That inconsistency was on full display throughout the White Sox series. Jake Meyers and Zach Dezenzo each played the roles of both hero and heartbreaker. Dezenzo launched a massive home run in Game 3, a moment that energized the dugout and briefly shifted momentum. But his costly defensive error later in the game flipped the script. Meyers was a spark plug in Houston’s lone win, delivering a clutch performance at the plate, only to run the team out of a rally in the finale when he was picked off second—right before Jeremy Peña ripped what would have been an RBI single.
Jose Altuve’s struggles are quietly becoming more worrisome. He’s recorded just one multi-hit game since April 19 and has only one homer since April 8. On Sunday, he swung at the first pitch after Lance McCullers had grinded through a 33-pitch inning—a decision that raised questions about his awareness in a veteran moment. Should manager Joe Espada have reminded Altuve of the situation? Or is this on Altuve, who should have known what to do as one of the team leaders?
Signs of life
There are flickers of life from the bats. Last week, Houston's team OPS was an underwhelming .667 (23rd in MLB), with a slugging percentage of .357 (25th). They've nudged those numbers up to .684 (19th) and .370 (21st), respectively. It’s modest progress, but enough to suggest this offense might be trending in the right direction. Still, their 5-5 record over the last 10 games feels emblematic of who they are right now—a .500 team with both talent and flaws.
Looking ahead
The upcoming schedule could be a turning point. Three of the next five opponents have losing records, and none of them are elite. This stretch offers a prime opportunity for Houston to finally build momentum and close the gap in the division—assuming the Mariners cool off from their current tear, which seems inevitable given their unsustainable 8-2 pace.
McCullers is officially back!
Lance McCullers returned for the first time since 2022 and, despite being limited to 3.2 innings due to command issues (three walks and a hit batter), there were encouraging signs. His velocity was there, and the stuff looked sharp. It’s a start, and perhaps a step toward stabilizing a rotation that still needs length.
Steering the ship
Manager Joe Espada, however, continues to draw scrutiny. His decision-making in the finale raised eyebrows again. Giving Isaac Paredes a day off when Yordan Alvarez was already sitting left the lineup depleted. Rather than using promising young infielder/outfielder Cam Smith, he opted for Mauricio Dubón and Brendan Rodgers—a defensive combo that didn't inspire confidence. It feels at times like Espada isn’t prioritizing winning the final game of a series, a pattern that could haunt the team down the stretch.
The plot thickens
Meanwhile, Christian Walker’s slump is dragging on. He went 0-for-5 twice in the last two series and looks out of sync at the plate. The Astros need more from their power hitters if they hope to make a real run. And with Alvarez now heading to the IL with hand inflammation, runs will be even harder to come by.
All told, this team still feels like one hovering just above or below .500. But in a division that remains wide open, the path forward is clear: play better, hope the Mariners come back to earth, and capitalize on a soft schedule. The race is far from over—but it’s time for Houston to start acting like contenders.
We have so much more to discuss. Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday!
*ChatGPT assisted.
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